Gulliver's Land is a children's theme park resort in Milton Keynes, England. It is the third Gulliver's park, constructed after Gulliver's Kingdom and Gulliver's World but before Gulliver's Valley. It is designed with rides and shows specifically aimed at children aged 2 to 13.

The park was announced in October 1997 and opened on March 31st 1999. The land for the park was purchased from the Commission for New Towns. The resort currently includes the Gulliver's Land Theme Park, Gulliver's Dinosaur and Farm Park, Adventurers Village, and Gulliver's Meadow Camp Site. Former attractions Gulliver's Splash Zone, The SFEAR, and Gulliver's Blast Arena failed to re-open after the COVID-19 pandemic and remain on the site standing but not operating.

The resort operates a number of annual events for Easter, Halloween and Christmas. The "Land of Lights" Christmas light trail has run from the Dinosaur and Farm Park site since 2022.

Gulliver's Land is typically open from February until December.

History After the success of their second theme park in Warrington, the family behind Gulliver's were looking for their next location. Milton Keynes brought the chain within reach of London, and also had the same planning benefits as Warrington, both being part of the new towns scheme. Plans for the new park were initially lodged with the Commission for New Towns in January of 1997.

The Park was officially announced in October 1997, by which point construction work had already begun.

The 31st of March 1999 saw the parks grand opening with over 30 attractions. It opened with the four lands of Lilliput Land, Adventure Land, Discovery Bay, and Toy Land.

The 2003 season featured the opening of the parks largest roller coaster "Python".

The Christmas offering at the park was expanded in December 2003 with the opening of the new Christmas grotto for a cost of £250,000 () that was promoted as the largest in the UK. By the start of the 2004 season this had been re-branded to the "Enchanted Forest" and opened alongside the new rides "Free Fall" and "The Rocking Tug Boat". In June 2004 plans were submitted to Milton Keynes Council for the construction of an "eco-theme park" adjacent to the current park.

The new Eco-Park was officially announced in April 2005. Construction of the park took just over 2 years and it opened in May 2007 as "Gulliver's Eco Park".

In 2009 the park would see the opening of a new indoor play attraction "Gully Town". Additionally, Gulliver's Eco Park would be split in three with the western side becoming "Gulliver's Dinosaur and Farm Park", the eastern side remaining as the Eco Park, and the northern area of the park beginning redevelopment into a camp site known as "Gully's camp". The camp site would open in 2010 as a Camping and Caravanning Club location.

Adventure land got another expansion in 2015 with the construction of the "Jungle Falls" giant waterslides.

Gulliver's Land Resort The theme park has expanded over the years and now includes a selection of accommodation at the nearby Adventurers Village Resort. Accommodation types include cabins, lodges, dens and glamping tents. Accessible accommodation is now available, with the resort offering accessible lodges and tents. Short break packages include entry to the main theme park, splash zone and dinosaur and farm park.

Adventurers Village accommodation types

Lost World Cabins Dino Dens Safari Glamping Tents Wild West Lodges Beach Dens Deluxe Dino Dens JCB Dens (From 2017)

Dinosaur and Farm Park

Dinosaur and Farm Park is located next to the main theme park. This is a standalone attraction and notable for its collection of animatronic dinosaurs of various sizes. Voted one of the best dinosaur attractions in the UK, Dinosaur and Farm Park is split into two sections. The Farm Park area has farmyard animals alongside interactive farmyard attractions.

Blast Arena

Blast Arena at Gulliver's Land is one of three official Blast Arenas operated by Gulliver's. The other two are located at Warrington, Cheshire and Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. Blast Arena goggles, vest and blaster are provided to each participant. Blast Arena is suitable for children aged 6 and over. The attraction is completely indoors, with the option of a birthday party package.

The Blast Arena centre is located within Dinosaur and Farm Park, close to Splash Zone and The SFEAR.

Splash Zone One of the first standalone attractions at Gulliver's Land, Splash Zone is a water playground situated indoors. There is no standing water; the splash area consists of water play elements such as cannons, sprays and a giant tipping bucket.

Additional watersides

In Summer 2017 the Splash Zone attraction launched 3 new waterslides. Targeted towards older children, the slides have a height restriction of .

Theme Park Rides NameHeight restriction*Child to Adult RatioNotesImageMain StreetCarouselRide Alone: Over 2Child to adult ratio depends on chosen seat.JCB ZoneCrazy MouseWith Adult: Over 90 cm

Ride Alone: Over 1Crazy CraneWith Adult: Over 120 cm

Ride Alone: Over 2DodgemsWith Adult: Over 90 cm

Ride Alone: Over 1Lilliput LandGiant Tea CupsRide Alone: Over 120 cm4Tiny Tots Play AreaUnder N/ACycle MonorailWith Adult: Over 90 cm

Ride Alone: Over 140 cm1No open toed shoes allowed.Veteran CarsWith Adult: Under 120 cm

Ride Alone: Over 120 cm3Lilliput CastleDragon SiegeWith Adult: Over 120 cm

Ride Alone: Over , under 190 cm2Gully's Jousting CastlesWith Adult: (Slow cycle:: Over 90 cm

(Fast cycle): Over

Ride Alone: Over 120 cm1Gulliver's TravelsRide Alone: Over 120 cm1Discovery BayRio BravoRide Alone: Over 90 cm5Crazy BarrelsRide Alone: Over 120 cm4SilvermineRide Alone: Over 120 cm1Runaway TrainWith Adult: Over 90 cm

Ride Alone: Over 120 cm1Log FlumeWith Adult: Over 90 cm

Ride Alone: Over 120 cm3Adventure LandFlying RaftWith Adult: Over 90 cm

Ride Alone: Over 120 cmJungle RiverRide Alone: Over 120 cm3The BuccaneerWith Adult: Over 90 cm

Ride Alone: Over 120 cm4Tree Top SwingsWith Adult: Over 90 cm Ride Alone: Over 120 cm1Jungle FallsWith Adult: Over 90 cm

Ride Alone: Over 120 cm2Twist n JoustWith Adult: Over 90 cm

Ride Alone: Over 120 cm3Western WorldWhirlwindRide Alone: Over 120 cm3Not open until 11:30Flying Texan BootsRide Alone: Over 120 cm1Not open until 11:30Deputy Drop DownBetween 90 cm and 150 cmN/ANot open until 11:30Pony ExpressBetween 90 cm and 150 cmN/ANot open until 11:30 *On rides with no minimum height restriction, children must be able to sit in an upright position unaided.

Incidents

Miniature Railway On 10 May 2006, engineer Hugh Dow was killed whilst working on the park's miniature railway in a restricted area. He was stood on the coupling bar between two carriages when his head struck an overhead bridge as the train was driven by another member of staff. Investigative reporting from MK News following the incident uncovered training failures at the park, with an undercover reporter instructed to operate rides after not attending training. Following the HSE report, Gulliver's appointed a full time health and safety advisor.

See also Gulliver's World Gulliver's Kingdom

References

External links