Gav Grayston 
We had a fantastic family break at Chessington World of Adventures.
If you are wondering where it is, you can find it just south of London, and its not only a theme park but a zoo too.
We found it a great mix of rides, with something for our very youngest to our eldest.
Since we don’t live locally, we made the most of it by booking a stay at the Chessington Safari Hotel (more details below). With this package we had an extra day at the park, plus since the hotel is located at Chessington, there was early access to the rides. We got to go into the park an hour before opening, plus in the evening the little African reserve is open just for hotel guests, which made it it feel a lot more tropical than London!
This was a great family break, and gets the thumbs up from us.
- Chessington Azteca Hotel – Click to find out more about the new hotel.
- Chessington Safari Hotel- This is hotel is at Chessington. It’s where we stayed.
- Chessington Halloween Events – With spooky rides, Chessington is great at Halloween.
- Chessington Winter Opening – You can still go to Chessington on selected dates this Winter.
- Rides at Chessington – Click to find out the height restrictions on the rides. There’s rides for big and small.
- Zoo at Chessington – Don’t forget there’s a Zoo & Sea World too.
UPDATE – New Chessington Azteca Hotel
Since we visited Chessington the new Azteca Hotel has opened.
Chessington Adventure at the Azteca Hotel
There’s a new base camp at Britain’s Wildest Adventure. Discover the mystery of ancient temple ruins at the Chessington Azteca Hotel.
Start your ascent by exploring the secrets within your Discovery Room, uncovering hidden gems in your Temple Treasure Room or witnessing magnificent views from your Temple Summit Room. All rooms contain a separate sleeping area for the kids, Samsung Smart TVs and pay for movies.
The fully-themed Chessington Azteca Hotel is also packed with fantastic facilities including:
Savannah Splash Pool & Gym
Relax or splash around with your little monkeys at a water splash play area in the middle of an African oasis, deep in the Savannah.
Temple Restaurant & Bar
A premium buffet restaurant set in the heart of an ancient temple where kids get their own healthy counter with non-fried food. Enjoy a unique and interactive dining experience where you can discover the mysterious fountain which was once the life force of the jungle, as well as the leaf cutter ants, monkeys and birds which protect it.
Wanyama Village & Reserve
Explore a small piece of Africa as you stroll around the Wanyama Village and Reserve, and say goodnight to the meerkats and lemurs before bedtime.
If that’s not enough, Chessington Azteca Hotel stays include exclusive benefits such as:
- 2nd Day FREE — get double the fun with two whole days in the Theme Park, Chessington Zoo and SEA LIFE centre
- Early Rider — enjoy a whole hour of priority ride time between 9am and 10am
- Exclusive evening access — visit the Wanyama Village & Reserve or climb and play alongside monkeys in AMAZU Treetop Adventure until dusk
- Animal Meet & Greets — get up close to some cute and cuddly creatures
Stay at the Chessington Azteca Hotel as part of your family getaway and you’ll get ticket with 2-day entry included as well as a scrumptious breakfast the next day.
Chessington Safari Hotel
We stayed at the excellent Chessington Safari Hotel (previously known as the Chessington Holiday Inn) which is actually located at Chessington World of Adventures. This hotel had a great discount on accommodation and park tickets (with 2 for 1 offers).
Compared to other hotels there are a few unique extras.
The animal reserve behind the hotel was open exclusively for guests in the evening, so we could spend more time in the day on the rides as we’d seen some of the animals the night before.
In the morning, guests were escorted into the park before it opened with the a selection of rides opening half an hour early so you could get a head start. Half an hour may not sound like much, but they took you to the far end of the park, which meant it was really another hour before crowds started to appear.
The family rooms were great. As well as two kids and two adults we also fitted a cot in the room with no trouble. The kids had their own area with their own TV, which they absolutely loved. Treat them to pizza and ice cream on room service and it’ll be their ultimate hotel.
Combined hotel and park packages can be bought through Chessington Holidays.
This was a fantastic short break for us. Visit Chessington Holidays and see what is available for you.
Halloween at Chessington
There’s already a number of ‘spooky’ and halloween themed rides and attractions at Chessington, so what more could be better than visiting Chessington Wold of Adventures during their Halloween event.
- Runs from 24th October to 2nd November during the school half term
- Haunting in the Hollows – dare you ride the VAMPIRE?
- Mystery of Hocus Pocus Hall – is there a curse?
- Pumpkin High School of Rock
- Hairy and Scary Show
Check out Chessington Holidays for more information.
Terms and conditions apply. Early Ride Time allows you to go on selected rides between 9am and 10am before the gates open to the public on your second day. Evening entertainment is seasonal with evening access to Wanyama and AMAZU running until mid-September. Offer subject to change and availability. All details are correct at the time of writing.
Winter at Chessington
Chessington World of Adventures is open on selected dates throughout the winter.
Rides at Chessington
The table below gives you an idea of the rides available and if you’ll get the most out if it with your kids. As you can see, there are rides for big and small.
Rides have a minimum height requirement, which is often lower if the child is accompanied by someone aged 16 or over. This is just a guide – Chessington do change ride height requirements so please double check with them.
We’ve included some links to videos to help you get an idea of what each ride at Chessington is like.
Safari Skyway
Ride above the zoo and look down on the lions
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.1 metres
Max Height : 1.96 metres
Bubbleworks
Float on a boat in the dark. Don’t get wet!
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.1 metres
Max Height : n/a
Toadie’s Crazy Cars
One for the smaller ones. Drive around and see Toad and his friends.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.1 metres
Max Height : n/a
Flying Jumbos
Fly in elephants and control how high you go.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.1 metres
Max Height : n/a
Hocus Pocus Hall
More an experience than a ride. Your feet won’t believe your eyes.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.4 metres
Max Height : n/a
Sea Dragons
A roundabout…at sea.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.1 metres
Max Height : n/a
Carousel
Well every park has one somewhere.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.3 metres
Max Height : n/a
Tiny Truckers
Excellent truck ride for the little ones.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.1 metres
Max Height : n/a
Jungle Bus
You wouldn’t want to bring your shopping home on this bus.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 0.9 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.1 metres
Max Height : 1.96 metres
Tuk Tuk Turmoil Dodgems
Bumper cars!
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 0.9 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.3 metres
Max Height : n/a
Seastorm
Up and down. Round and Round.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 0.9 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.1 metres
Max Height : 1.96 metres
Runaway Train
Excellent fast little coaster. Watch your head as you enter the tunnel!
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 0.9 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.1 metres
Max Height : 1.96 metres
Griffin’s Galleon
The classic pirate ship ride – with a twist.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 0.9 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.2 metres
Max Height : n/a
Canopy Capers
Adventure playground rather than ride…but a really good one.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 0.9 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.4 metres
Max Height : n/a
Berry Bouncers
Not after lunch (or ice cream)!
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 0.9 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.1 metres
Max Height : n/a
Black Buccaneer
BIG pirate ship
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.3 metres
Max Height : n/a
Vampire
Legs dangling as you fly over roof tops.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1.1 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.3 metres
Max Height : 1.96 metres
Tomb Blaster
Zap the mummies with a laser.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1.1 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.1 metres
Max Height : n/a
Peeking Hieghts
Very high ferris wheel.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1.1 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.1 metres
Max Height : n/a
Kobra
Spinning, and turning, and more spinning.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1.2 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.2 metres
Max Height : n/a
Dragon’s Fury
Up, down, and around.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1.2 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.2 metres
Max Height : 1.96 metres
Dragon Falls
Log flume – pah. This is long, with a HUGE drop.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1.2 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.3 metres
Max Height : n/a
Monkey Swinger
Merry-go-round Xtreme
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1.2 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.2 metres
Max Height : n/a
Rameses Revenge
Be prepared for a dunking.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1.4 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.4 metres
Max Height : 1.96 metres
Rattlesnake
Fast and big coaster that will shake you to your bones.
Min Height (Accompanied) : < 1.4 metres
Min Height (Unaccompanied) : 1.4 metres
Max Height : 1.96 metres
Animals, Fish, and Play Areas
We also found the Temple of Mayhem really good, with shooting foam balls at each other, plus there’s activities like bungee trampolines.
Don’t forget the zoo either and Sea Life centre. With all the rides these can be easily overlooked.
You can also find plenty to eat there, from a really large Burger King to family Italian buffet restaurant.
Getting in Touch with Chessington
Here's how you can get in contact with Chessington.
0871 360 2639
Where to find Chessington
Sat Nav Postcode: KT9 2NE
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Gav Grayston Contributor
Father to 3 kids, who loves getting out and about (hiking, running, camping, cycling, canoeing...) Co-founded Get Out With The Kids to help other parents enjoy the outdoors with their family.
