The Lost Kingdom at Paultons Park includes six dinosaur themed family rides, no less than 27 animatronic dinosaurs, a dinosaur themed play area and new places to eat and drink. The quality of the theming is top-notch, creating an immersive area that wouldn't look out of place at any of the UK's bigger theme parks.

Paultons Park has invested £9 million in the Lost Kingdom, with first discussions about the new land 5 years ago and 2 years ago plans were put together. The attention to detail is very impressive for a regional theme park, with plenty of "Paultons magic" sprinkled everywhere.

From the design of the rides, landscaping and planting to the signs, buildings and rock work, it is all of highest standards. Some of the staff have themed uniforms and the service could not have been better, with many of them there purely to engage with visitors.

The highlight of the new land is Flight of the Pterosaur, a unique 395m suspended roller coaster from Vekoma that swoops down from 20m above the Lost Kingdom. The dinosaur themed ride reaches speeds of up to 55mph and pulls a maximum G Force of 2.7 during an exciting 'legs dangling' ride featuring a tunnel and an intense downward helix into a rocky crater at the end. It is incredibly smooth and very comfortable thanks to fully padded seats that utilise lap bar restraints.

Velociraptor is a 200m dinosaur themed family boomerang roller coaster also from Vekoma, reaching speeds of up to 40mph as it descends from a height of 23m. You will find yourself surrounded by animatronic velociraptors in the queue. The ride through twists and turns above the ground, through the station forwards and backwards, and pulls a maximum G Force of 3. 

Jump aboard a 4x4 jeep at The Dinosaur Tour Co. for an expedition through a Jurassic landscape where you will come face to face with an array of dinosaurs, a crashed plane, a waterfall feature and a tunnel experience. Before you board the ride children can have their photo taken, which is used to create their very own Park Ranger License available to buy after the ride.

Boulder-Dash is new Zamperla Demolition Derby ride featuring carriages themed as dinosaur eggs and giant stones moving between two rotating platforms. It's a surprisingly thrilling ride with multiple 'near misses' and a well themed queue.

Take in the views across the Lost Kingdom by riding Temple Heights, a re-located and re-themed Zamperla Magic Carpet ride. It is virtually unrecognisable from its former appearance elsewhere in the park. A gentle ride that's perfect for younger children.

Dino Chase was previously the Flying Frog, a junior roller coaster from Zierer, which has become part of the Lost Kingdom and offers younger adventurers an opportunity to ride their first coaster. It has new colour scheme for the track and a re-themed Triceratops train, it has never looked better and is as good as new.

At the ALIVE! Dinosaur Encounter paddock you have the opportunity to meet a realistic walking dinosaur, if you are brave enough! Every hour the keepers bring out the tame(ish) dinosaur for visitors to meet and have their photo taken. Rather than charging you for this, the keepers will happily take your photo using your own camera, a nice touch.

Little Explorers is an outdoor adventure play area featuring climbing frames, slides and interactive dinosaur footprints. The best part is the dig pit, where staff are on hand to help children uncover fossils in the sand. This area is a welcome oasis at the back of the new land, with the sounds of dinosaurs all around you.

The two new places to eat and drink are both grab-and-go options, Base Camp offers a selection of burgers, salads and wraps with indoor seating available and The Nest has various snacks with outdoor seating available. There are no special items on the menus, or any dinosaur themed treats, which is a missed opportunity.

Over at Outpost 12 you can stock up on souvenirs and gifts in this large shop in the centre of the Lost Kingdom. Park Ranger Licenses and ride photos for Flight of the Pterosaur and The Dinosaur Tour Co. are also available from here. There is a chance to win dinosaur prizes by playing a range of themed games at the Win-a-Saurus hut.

We also took the opportunity to enjoy some of the other highlights at Paultons Park, including the family roller coaster Cobra, Disk’o Coaster EDGE, drop and twist tower Magma and the recently opened Critter Creek. Paultons Park is of course home to the world’s first and UK exclusive Peppa Pig World, so if you have children of varying ages there really is too much fun for one day!