Gulliver's Kingdom

For the Japanese amusement park of the same name, see Gulliver's Kingdom (Japanese amusement park).

Not to be confused with Gulliver's World or Gulliver's Land.

Gulliver's Kingdom

Gulliver's Kingdom
Slogan	Giant Adventures for Families
Location	Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, England
Opened	1978
Operating season	Selected dates throughout the year
Website	https://www.gulliverskingdomresort.co.uk
Status	Operating

Gulliver's Kingdom (also known as Gulliver's Matlock Bath) is a theme park aimed at children aged 3 to 13 in the Derbyshire town of Matlock Bath, England. Founded in 1978 by Ray Phillips, it is still owned by the Phillips family and now has sister theme parks; Gulliver's World in Warrington, Gulliver's Land in Milton Keynes and Gulliver’s Valley in Rotherham, which opened in 1989, 1999 and 2020 respectively. The park was originally created by Ray Phillips as a model village for his young children to enjoy, and it is close to the site of the Victorian Switchback rollercoaster ride (after which the theme park's main rollercoaster was named). Following the launch of Gulliver’s Kingdom in 1978, Gulliver’s Woodland Lodge Hotel and Chalets opened in the early 1980’s. In 2017 the accommodation area was re-branded and re-launched as the Explorers Retreat.

History

As of 2018, the Theme Park has the following rides and attractions:

• Western World - The log Flume and Silver Mine, Western Play Town and Indian Play Area
• Safari Kingdom - Flying Raft, Tree Top Drop, Safari Dodgems and the Top Entrance for the chairlift
• The Lost World - Dino Falls Water Slide, Dino Cars a Dinosaur Play area and Fossil Dig
• The Party House - The Ladybirds, Fish Ride and Jumping Star
• JCB Zone - and interactive construction site with full JCB Diggers for the children to play with
• Lilliput Land - The Crazy Barrels and the Model Village
• Toyland - The Switchback Coaster, The Magic Bikes, The Monorail, Moon Buggies and Play Area
• Lilliput Woods - The Log Coaster, Crows Nest Quest and Climbing Wall
• Smugglers Wharf - The Double Decker Carousel, Percy Pigs Pirate Adventure and the Pirate Ship
• Bourbon Street - The Bottom Entrance for the Chairlift

Explorers Retreat Accommodation

Gulliver's revitalised their original accommodation offering to launch the Explorers Retreat in 2017. Accommodation units within the Explorers Retreat include themed Pirate Cabins, Princess Suites and Wizard Suites. The original hotel lounge area and its outdoor terraces were redesigned with a new outdoor play area installed.

Explorers Retreat is aimed towards families, large groups and to tourists exploring the Peak District and surrounding areas.

Gulliver's Kingdom Lost World

In 2018, the Lost Kingdom dinosaur area was refurbished into the "Lost World: Land of the Living Dinosaurs" and features animatronic dinosaurs that come alive with movement and sound and the chance to have a photo with its resident dinosaur, "Terence", who has been trained by the on-site team. It is a popular attraction and a firm favourite with children.

Pirate Training Camp

In 2017 Gulliver's Kingdom launched the Pirate Training Camp, featuring the Crows Nest Quest, a 17-metre (56 ft) high challenge course

Amenities

Gulliver's Kingdom features two entrances due to the car-parking being so spread out and on a hill side. There are two onsite shops at each entrance. Places to eat in Gulliver's Kingdom include The Happy Haddock, Tamu Feast, and the Canyon Grill. In 2018 Costa Coffee was introduced into the bottom entrance of the park.

The main park opens seasonally, from Easter and throughout summer, then on weekends in September and October - up to Halloween.

The park is home to the Gully Gang. The Gully Gang consists of Gully Mouse, Gilly Mouse, Percy Pig and Leonard Lion. In 2017 in partnership with Sony, saw the Smurfs visit Gulliver's Kingdom and in 2018 sees Johnny and Mavis from Hotel Transylvania 3 on a "Monster Vacation" at Gulliver's Kingdom. These characters can be seen daily and are available to meet children and pose for pictures.

In 2018 Gullivers Kingdom celebrated its 40th Anniversary and to celebrate holds a daily "Ruby Jubilee Street Party" in Bourbon Street where you can get High Tea, cakes and a visit from Gully Mouse.

Rides and attractions

Rides

Under 120cm

Name	Opened	Type	Status	Manufacturer	Height restriction	Park Location	Notes	Images
Chair Lift	1992	Chair Lift	Operational	Montaz Industries	Ride Alone: Over 140cm Ride with Adult: Under 140cm	Bourbon Street/ Adventure Land	Under 1.4m can go on but need to be accompanied by an adult.
Pirate Ship	1992	Pirate Ship	Operational	Zamperla	Ride Alone: Over 120cm Ride with Adult: 90-120cm Can't ride: Under 90cm	Smugglers Wharf	Small pirate ship located by Bourbon Street 90cm is the minimum height to go on.
Percy's Pirate Adventure	1994	Water ride	Operational	Gulliver's (In house built)	Ride Alone: Over 120cm Ride with Adult: Under 120cm	Smugglers Wharf	Under 1.2m can go on but need to be accompanied by an adult. It's also known as the 'Lazy River'.
Double Decker Carousel	1993	Carousel	Operational	Gulliver's (In house built)	Ride Alone: Over 120cm Ride with Adult: Under 120cm	Smugglers Wharf	Two floors for adults and children to go on. Under 09's can go on the horses but only on the second floor. Built by Gulliver's Kingdom, the horse are supplied by I.E. Park.
Log Coaster	1986	Steel Roller coaster	Operational	Cavazza Diego	Ride Alone: Over 120cm Ride with Adult: 90-120cm Can't ride: Under 90cm	Lilliput Woods	Small roller coaster suitable for first time riders between 0.9m (90cm) and 1.2m. Smaller children need to be sat on the right-hand side.
Crows Nest Quest	2017	Rope course	Operational	Rope Course, Inc	Ride Alone: Over 130cm Ride with Adult: 130cm Can't ride: Under 130cm (Awaiting rules to be finalized)	Lilliput Woods	New attraction for the 2017 season. Replacing the Climbing Wall and the Balloon Ferris Wheel. The model is a Sky Trail® Explorer.
Cycle Monorail	1993	Self-driven	Operational	Gulliver's (In house built)	Ride Alone: Over 140cm Ride with Adult: 90-140cm Can't ride: Under 90cm	Toyland	You need to be 1.4m and over to go on this attraction otherwise you can't reach the pedals.
Gully's Magic Bikes	2013	Spinning ride	Operational	Zamperla	Ride Alone: Over 120cm Ride with Adult: 90-120cm Can't ride: Under 90cm	Toyland	The faster you pedal then the higher the ride will rise. It's a self-controlled ride. Riders between 90cm and 119cm must be accompanied by an adult.
Dino Explorer Cars	1997	Slow ride	Operational	SBF Visa	Ride Alone: Over 120cm Ride with Adult: Under 120cm	Lost Kingdom	Under 1.2m can go on including babies/toddlers but must be accompanied by an adult.
Dino Falls	2014	Dingy slide	Operational	Whitewater Leisure Ltd.	Slide 1 (Tunnel): Ride Alone: Over 140cm Ride with Adult: 90-140cm Can't ride: Under 90cm Slide 2 (Open): Ride Alone: Over 120cm Ride with Adult: 90-120cm Can't ride: Under 90cm	Lost Kingdom	New for the 2014 season from Camelot Theme park, this ride has two tracks that you can choose from. Only one person over 1.4m per boat.
Crazy Barrel Ride	1996	Spinning ride	Operational	Gulliver's (In house built)	Ride Alone: Over 120cm Ride with Adult: Under 120cm	Lilliput Land	Spinning ride themed as barrels. Under 1.2m must be accompanied by an adult.
Jumping Star	2003	Tower ride	Operational	Zamperla	Ride Alone: Under 150cm Can't ride: Under 90cm	Party House	Small drop tower, suitable for children under 1.5m but over 0.9m.
Ladybird ride	Unknown	Flat ride	Operational	Modern Products	Ride Alone: Over 90cm Can't ride: Under 90cm	Party House	Moved from underneath the Cycle monorail station (where the puppet show is).
Fish ride	2011	Flat ride	Operational	Unknown	Ride Alone: Under 150cm Can't ride: Under 90cm	Party House	Only for children between 1.5m and 0.9cm.
The Flying Raft	1998	Magic carpet (Ali Baba)	Operational	Zamperla	Ride Alone: Over 120cm Ride with Adult: 90-120cm Can't ride: Under 90cm	Safari Kingdom	Renamed from 'Flying Carpet' to 'Flying Raft' in the 2018 season. Under 1.2m must be accompanied by an adult. 90cm is the minimum height.
Tree Top Drop	2007	Tower ride	Operational	Moser Rides	Ride Alone: Over 140cm Ride with Adult: 110-140cm Can't ride: Under 110cm	Safari Kingdom	12mt drop tower for guests above 1.1m while accompanied by an adult, and 1.4m to ride with an adult.
Safari Dodgems	2014	Dodgems	Operational	C&Q Amusement	Ride Alone: Over 140cm Ride with Adult: 110-140cm Can't ride: Under 110cm	Safari Kingdom	Under 1.4m must be accompanied by an adult and seated in a passenger side. 0.9cm is the minimum height.
Log Flume	1988	Log Flume	Operational	Big Country Motioneering/In-House built (Gulliver's)	Ride Alone: Over 120cm Ride with Adult: 90-120cm Can't ride: Under 90cm	Western World	Under 1.2m must be accompanied by an adult. Under 0.9m are not allowed on this ride.
Silver Mine Ride	2010	Dark ride	Operational	Gulliver's (In house built) I.E. Park - Cars	Ride Alone: Over 120cm Ride with Adult: Under 120cm	Western World	Under 1.2m must be accompanied by an adult.

See also

• Gulliver's Land
• Gulliver's World

External links

• Official Website
• Interview with the Gulliver's Managing Director