Paultons Park, home to Peppa Pig World, is around 70 miles from Heathrow in Hampshire, roughly a 1-hour drive via the M25, M3 and M27 with free parking on site. There is no direct train or coach, so without a car the realistic public transport journey involves a train to Southampton and a bus or taxi for the final leg, taking around 2.5 to 3.5 hours each way. Checked 2026.
Where is Paultons Park?
Paultons Park sits at Ower, near Romsey in Hampshire, on the edge of the New Forest and just off Junction 2 of the M27. It is signposted from the motorway with brown tourist signs, and parking on site is free, which makes driving the simplest option for most families.
Driving from Heathrow
| Route | Approx. distance | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|
| M25 to M3 to M27, Junction 2 | About 70-76 miles | Around 1 hour 10 minutes in normal traffic |
This is comfortably the fastest and most practical way to get to Paultons Park with children and pushchairs in tow, and free on-site parking removes one more thing to plan for. Allow more time on Friday afternoons and school holiday weekends, when the M25 and M3 corridor can be significantly slower than the free-flowing estimate above.
By train and bus
There is no direct train or coach from Heathrow to Paultons Park, and the public transport journey involves at least one change. The two nearest mainline stations are:
- Southampton Central, about 8 miles from the park, roughly a 10-15 minute taxi ride, and located across from the city's bus terminals.
- Southampton Airport Parkway, about 10 miles away, also around a 15 minute taxi ride.
From either Southampton station, the X7 Salisbury Reds bus service stops at "Ower, Vine Inn," a 5-10 minute walk from the Paultons Park entrance; during some Wiltshire school holidays certain X7 journeys run directly to the park entrance instead. Journey planners typically show a total time of around 2 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 40 minutes from Heathrow to Paultons Park by public transport, depending on your connection at Reading, Woking or Southampton, so build in a buffer if you're working to the park's opening time.
Taxi from Southampton station
If you'd rather not wait for a connecting bus, Paultons Park has a working arrangement with Radio Taxis in Southampton, who can be booked by phone or app for the final leg from either station. Confirm current contact details and any app discount codes on the park's own website before you travel, since these arrangements can change between seasons.
Heathrow to Paultons Park options compared
| Option | Approx. time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Drive (own car or rental) | About 1h 10m | Free parking on site; by far the simplest with young children |
| Private taxi or transfer | About 1h 10-20m | Door to door, no luggage or car seat logistics; fare agreed at booking |
| Train + bus/taxi from Southampton | 2.5-3.5 hours | Requires at least one change; cheapest for a solo adult, harder with pushchairs and bags |
Taking a hire car instead
Because there's no direct public transport link, many visiting families collect a rental car at Heathrow specifically for a Paultons Park day trip, especially if it's combined with other stops in Hampshire or the New Forest. See our guide to collecting a rental car at Heathrow for where each operator's desk is by terminal.
What else to plan for
Paultons Park is a full day out for most families, so if you're travelling straight from a flight, allow time to clear the terminal and collect luggage or a rental car before starting the drive. If you're flying home the same evening, build a generous buffer into your return journey, since the M27/M3/M25 corridor is more prone to delay on Friday and Sunday afternoons than the headline drive time suggests.
Practical tips
- Drive if you can: parking is free and it cuts the journey to about a third of the public transport time.
- Book train tickets to Southampton in advance if going by rail, since walk-up fares on the day are more expensive.
- Check the X7 bus timetable before you travel, since services and stopping patterns vary by school holiday.
- Confirm Paultons Park's current opening times and ticket prices on its official website, since these change by season.
More: Overview, Taxis, Routes, Heathrow to Windsor/Legoland, FAQs.