The Ultimate Family Guide for Chessington World of Adventures

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Welcome to my guide on visiting Chessington World of Adventures theme park with kids – including a review of our family day out, practical information and money saving tips. If you’re looking for a fun family day out, Chessington World of Adventures is a great option – it has a brilliant blend of tamer rides for younger kids, rollercoasters and animal areas too – it’s a zoo and a theme park in one. It’s location on the outskirts of London makes it pretty accessible too, and they have some great themed hotel rooms if you fancy a short break stay – make sure you read about our stay too.

CRAZY DEAL! 😍 When you book a short break stay at Chessington World of Adventures, between 3rd February and the 1st March 2026, you’ll get an Essential Merlin Annual Pass included for each person staying for FREE! You’ll need to stay between the 20th March and the 26th June 2026 – you can find all the details in my guide: How to get a FREE Merlin Annual Pass – short break offer!

You’ll also find a guide on which rides are suitable for different aged children and useful information like food options and opening times – so here’s everything that you need to know about visiting Chessington World of Adventures theme park with kids, with a sprinkle of our experience and photos too.

Visit: April 2025 (Updated February 2026)

Where is Chessington World of Adventures and how do I get there?

Located in Chessington, Greater London, the Chessington World of Adventures Resort is easily accessible by car and public transport. If you’re driving, it’s just off the A243, with ample on-site parking available. For those using public transport, Chessington South Railway Station is about a 10 minute walk from the park (half a mile), with regular services from London Waterloo, Clapham Junction and Wimbledon. There’s a £12 parking charge for the car park, though there are lots of kid-friendly accommodation options (more on that below) and if you stay on-site in a Chessington World of Adventures Hotel then parking is free – you can read more about our stay in my Chessington Resort guide.

Is Chessington in a ULEZ zone?

Unfortunately, Chessington World of Adventures is within London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) – as of 29 August 2023, the ULEZ expanded to cover all London boroughs. If your vehicle doesn’t meet the ULEZ emissions standards, you’ll need to pay a £12.50 daily charge (accurate April 2025) when driving to the resort. You can check whether you need to pay on the TFL (Traffic for London) website – newer cars tend to be exempt, so you may not need to pay, but definitely check before your visit to avoid a fine.

Who owns Chessington?

Chessington World of Adventures is part of the Merlin Entertainments family – the same group behind Alton Towers (with Cbeebies Land), Thorpe Park, Legoland Windsor and loads of London attractions (like the London Eye, SEA LIFE London Aquarium, the London Dungeon and Shrek’s Adventure). If you’ve got a thrill-seeker (or a few!) in the family it can be worth considering a Merlin Annual Pass – if you’ll use it for multiple days out year round, it can be great value for money if you’re planning to visit lots of UK family attractions. Keep your eyes peeled too as they reduced the Merlin Essential Pass to £79 per person just before Christmas! And, children under 90cm don’t need one – they can enter for free with an adult pass-holder so if you’ve got little ones it can be a pretty good deal.

Visiting Chessington World of Adventures with kids – what age is it suitable for?

Chessington really shines when it comes to family-friendly fun with a thoughtful mix of rides for all ages – from tiny adventurers to daring tweens. The rollercoasters are tamer at Chessington than some of the big ones at places like Alton Towers (though it has Cbeebies Land for the little ones) and Thorpe Park. As a general guide, I would say it’s best suited to kids 13 years old and under – the other two are better for thrill-seeking teenagers, whilst Chessington World of Adventures is perfect for a family day out. My kids are dare-devils but I don’t like the massive rides so I absolutely love the Chessington rollercoasters – the Vampire ride in particular is brilliant! Here’s a handy breakdown of ride recommendations by age group to help you make the most of your visit:

The best rides at Chessington for toddlers and younger children:

The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure: A gentle boat ride through the magical world of the Gruffalo.
Room on the Broom – A Magical Journey: A walkthrough attraction with interactive scenes from the beloved storybook.
Elmer’s Flying Jumbos: Colourful flying elephants perfect for a first “big ride” experience.
Tiny Truckers: A sweet driving ride where little ones can steer their own mini truck.
Dragon’s Playhouse: Indoor soft play perfect for letting off steam (don’t forget socks!).

A new themed Paw Patrol Land is also set to open at Chessington in 2026. They’re adding some Paw Patrol themed rooms to the hotel too, and running other Paw Patrol events, so if your little one is a fan keep your eyes peeled for updates and click here to find out more on the Chessington website.

The best rides at Chessington for bigger kids (must be over 1.2m)

Vampire: A suspended swinging coaster that soars through the trees – this one is my favourite! (The height restriction for the Vampire rollercoaster is actually only 1.1m.)
Mandrill Mayhem: Chessington’s first inversion rollercoaster – this Jumanji themed coaster has a good amount of thrill for the bigger kids.
Dragon’s Fury: A spinning roller coaster that’s fast, fun and full of surprises – Finn and Lola really love this one!
Tiger Rock: A super fun log flume – perfect for cooling off on a warm day!
Croc Drop: A vertical drop tower that plunges riders into the jaws of a giant crocodile!

Click here to see a full list of all the rides available and the height restrictions – it’ll take you straight to the relevant section on the Chessington World of Adventures website.

What else is there to do at Chessington World of Adventures?

Beyond the rides, Chessington World of Adventures also boasts a zoo – with animal areas scattered around the park. The Zufari ride takes you on a safari truck past some of the animals like giraffes. We were insanely lucky on our visit because the truck pulled up right next to the giraffes so we had an amazing up-close view of them; they were absolutely gorgeous. Being so close to them was one of our favourite parts of our day at Chessington – we adore animals!

I must admit that the rest of the Zufari ride was a bit anti-climatic after the giraffes – some of the animals had done a runner 😂 but there’s a talk over the speaker so it’s quite educational too. It also takes you through an illuminated cave area which Lola thought was magical, and younger children would really enjoy it too. Just to make you aware, there’s a minimum height restriction for the safari truck – which we thought was unusual compared to other zoos. But, if the kids aren’t big enough to ride you can also walk around the Waynama Reserve area to see the animals that way instead.

The sea lions also stole the show for us – diving in and out of the water and playing with each other, Finn absolutely loved them. And, the penguins were super cute too. We thought it was quite nice to have a blend of animals and rides, it makes the day a bit more relaxing to have a break from the chaos. There is also a SEA LIFE centre at Chessington but we ran out of time to visit that area of the park – there’s a lot to pack into a day that’s for sure! I’m not sure which rides were previously at the park but, despite people mentioning closures of some rides for 2025, there’s still an enormous amount to see and do at Chessington to fill a full day or more!

Can you do Chessington World of Adventures in a day?

You can definitely do Chessington in a day if you’re up bright and early to make the most of it – make a plan to prioritise the things you’d like to experience the most and use the app on the day to get around the park easily and find the shortest wait times. (For hotel guests, it’s also particularly handy to be able to access the park an hour early too.) We only had one day in the park and the kids got on all the rides they wanted to go on once, as well as spending some time looking at the animals. For busier times of year, such as the school holidays, the queues will obviously be longer so it might be worth having an extra day.

At the time of writing this, adding in an extra day at the theme park was just £10 per person for hotel guests, so if you’re doing a short break stay at the Chessington Resort I think I’d be tempted to add in the extra day. That way, you’d definitely have plenty of time to get on everything (and your favourite rides more than once) – and if you’ve got young children it’ll make it less of a rush if you need to work around nap times etc. It would also be handy to have more time if your kids are around 6-8 years old as they’ll likely dip in and out of the rides for older and younger children, which would be a lot to fit into one day with the zoo and queue times too! Plus, it would give more time for meet and greets and shows as well.

What are the queues like at Chessington World of Adventures?

Make sure you download the Chessington World of Adventures App – you can see all of the wait times, and also get directions to help guide you to find your favourite rides and animals in the park. We found the map really handy, and it saves walking unnecessarily which is particularly handy if you’re visiting with little ones! I’ve added in some screenshots from the app that I took during our day out so that you can see what it looks like and what the wait times were for us.

The queues ranged from 5 – 45 minutes when we visited (a Sunday in April) so it wasn’t too bad – though many of the rides were 20 minutes or less for most of the day, and the rides for small children had particularly short wait times. If you’re staying on the resort, like we did, you’ll enter the park from the far side of the park (rather than the main Chessington day-ticket entrance) which is really handy. There were new queues at all, despite us arriving bang on 10am, and that side of the theme park was quiet first thing. We got on the Rattlesnake ride with just a five minute wait – that was definitely one of our favourite rides too!

The rides also have signs with the queue times, which update constantly, so if you stumble across a ride or two as you walk around you can see whether it’s worth hopping on quickly! Lunchtime can actually be a great time to go on the rides, when others stop for a pit stop, and in our experience the rides were busier later in the afternoon than they were in the morning.

Are rides open all year round at Chessington, and what are the opening / closing times?

Chessington theme park operates seasonally, typically from March to October. Opening hours usually start at 10:00 AM, with closing time typically 5:00 PM, depending on the time of year and specific events. It’s best to check the official website for the most up-to-date information before planning your visit – out of season Chessington doesn’t actually open daily so make sure that you check in advance before booking annual leave and hotels! Click here to check out the Chessington Calendar to see which dates they’re open and opening / closing times. There are also some additional opening dates over the festive season – click here for all the details on the Chessington Winter’s Tail event.

What happens if it rains at Chessington World of Adventures?

Chessington offers a Rainy Day Guarantee – if it rains continuously for an hour or more during your visit, and this impacts ride availability, then you may be eligible for a free return visit. If you’re planning a day trip to Chessington World of Adventures it’s probably best to let the weather forecast guide you – if you can, keep an eye on the forecast and book your entrance tickets fairly last minute. You can also hire lockers at Chessington – so bring rain coats and suncream to prepare for every eventuality just in case (standard UK behaviour 😂) because we all know how unpredictable the weather can be! Lockers are £1 (small) / £2 (large) for up to one hour if you want to move your belongings around the park with you, or opt for an all day locker for £5 (small) / £10 (large).

Where are the best places to eat at Chessington World of Adventures?

Dining options within the park include family-friendly spots like Adventure Point Pizza Pasta, Captain’s Fish and Chips and Vampire’s Burger Kitchen. For a sit-down meal, the Zafari Bar & Grill at the Safari Hotel offers a variety of dishes in a relaxed setting but it is quite pricey. Outside the park, you’ll find local pubs serving meals such as The Shy Horse and The Star, and there’s also a Prezzo and a Mcdonalds in nearby Leatherhead (about 11 minutes away with a short stay carpark opposite) if you want to grab a bite on your way home. We had a great meal at the nearby Prezzo using our Tesco Clubcard vouchers!

To save money during your park day, bringing a picnic is always a winner and there are plenty of picnic areas and picnic benches dotted around the park. With the lockers available too, you needn’t carry it around all day, or you could leave it in the car until you want it – you can get in and out of the park easily by having your hand stamped. We bought our food with us for our day at Chessington – just purchasing some yummy Cart D’or ice cream – it was £4 a scoop or £5 for two scoops if you fancy a treat. You can refill water bottles for free throughout the park, so don’t waste money buying bottled water. This is particularly useful during summer visits when it can get quite warm. We bring a cool bag rucksack pretty much everywhere we go!

Which Chessington Safari Hotel is best?

The Chessington World of Adventures Resort features two themed hotels: the Safari Hotel and the Azteca Hotel – which are both connected. The Safari Hotel offers rooms with views over the Wanyama Reserve, allowing guests to see animals like zebras and giraffes from their windows. The Azteca Hotel provides immersive theming inspired by ancient Aztec culture. The hotels share facilities, so regardless of which hotel you pick you can still eat at either restaurant, view the animals, use the swimming pool and experience what both hotels have to offer. We stayed at the Chessington World of Adventures Azteca hotel and it was probably the coolest hotel we’ve ever stayed in – this was the kids’ bunk area – pretty awesome eh! 😍

Both hotels offer themed rooms, so deciding whether the Chessington Safari Hotel or the Azteca Hotel is the best option for you will likely just depend on your family’s preferences and budget. There are some pricier themed rooms – like Jumanji, Oreo, Capri-Sun (I think the kids’ room even has a slide on this one!) and the Gruffalo – which come with extra perks too like reserved parking and access to the Rangers Reserve and Ride. This is where you essentially join a virtual queue for the rides – it’s not something we’ve used personally so click here to read more about it if it’s something you’re considering.

The whole Chessington Hotel building is safari themed – including the hallways, lobby, restaurants and bedrooms – this was our ‘standard room‘ but honestly it felt anything but standard! We also weren’t booked into a room with a view but we could see out over the Wanyama Reserve – and all hotel guests can wander around that area from the restaurant to see the animals after the park closes. The parking for the hotel is literally a two minute walk to the resort entrance – free for hotel guests – and it’s so handy to be able to access the theme park so quickly and easily.

We arrived, parked up and strolled straight in through the hotel guests entrance. That side of the park was also, understandably, really quiet so it’s a great place to start your Chessington adventure whilst there aren’t any queues! As I mentioned above, if you book a Chessington World of Adventures short break – so a stay at either the Safari or Azteca hotel alongside your theme park tickets – you can also get into the park early from 9am before the crowds arrive. I’ve done a full guide and review of our experience of our Chessington Hotel stay – so check out my article: Chessington Resort Guide: Is the Safari or Azteca hotel better? for more information. We loved it!

Where else can you stay near Chessington?

If on-site accommodation isn’t available, or it doesn’t suit your needs or budget, there are several hotels near Chessington which offer great family-friendly accommodation if you’re looking for a place to stay. The closest, Chessington Premier Inn, is next door to Chessington World of Adventures. The Holiday Inn Express – Epsom Downs is just 5 miles from Chessington theme park, whilst The Holiday Inn London – Sutton is just 8 miles away. And, the Ramada by Wyndham Cobham is a similar distance too.

Chessington, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park or Legoland – which is best?

Choosing the best theme park for your day out depends on your family’s interests and the ages of your children. Chessington is ideal for families with a mix of ages, offering a combination of rides, a zoo and an aquarium – it’s a fabulous option for families with kids around age 13 and under as it’s so child-orientated. Alton Towers is another great option if you have children of different ages to appeal to – the main park is fantastic for thrill-seekers with its array of big rollercoasters which would suit slightly older kids and teenagers. And, Cbeebies Land at Alton Towers is awesome for little children – so it does offer the best of both worlds.

Thorpe Park is geared towards older teens and adults seeking adrenaline-pumping rides – so I think it’s best to visit with secondary school age kids. We had our first visit recently and my kids (age 12 and 13) thought that Thorpe Park was amazing but they are little dare-devils! 😂 I loved the water rides but the rollercoasters were too terrifying there for me! And, last but not least, if you’re only catering for little ones then Legoland Windsor is perfect for toddlers and younger children, with interactive attractions and Lego-themed rides. All of the Merlin theme parks are fantastic in their own way but they all offer a different experience – check out my reviews of Alton Towers and Thorpe Park for more info on those two parks.

How much are Chessington World of Adventures tickets and where can I find discounts?

Chessington World of Adventures can be a pricey family day out, with tickets costing around £30 per person for a one-day entry ticket if pre-bought online. Avoid buying your tickets on the gate as they will be dearer – though children under 90cm can enter for free. Luckily, Chessington theme park also take part in lots of discount schemes – so keep your eyes peeled to save some money on your entrance tickets. Here are some of the deals and discounts that I’ve come across for one day tickets to Chessington World of Adventures:

Cereal boxes: Cereal brands like Kelloggs often run promotions where you can find discounts or even free tickets (things like 2 for 1) for Chessington by purchasing specially-marked boxes so look out for these in the supermarket.
Other supermarket savers: It’s not just cereal boxes either – Carex recently offered a 50% discount for some of the Merlin Attractions via a campaign on their hand soaps, so look for qualifying products if you’re planning a visit.
Kids Pass: Kids Pass is a subscription service that offers discounts on family days out, including theme park tickets for places like Chessington – you can trial it for £1, so it’s well worth signing up if you’re planning some days out with the kids.
Short break discounts: At the time of writing, when you book a Chessington Hotel stay, entrance tickets are £25 per person for 1 day or £35 for 2 days, so if you want a few days at the park that’s likely the cheapest way to do it.

Tesco Clubcard: Tesco shoppers can use their Tesco Clubcard points to get some money off Chessington World of Adventures tickets, or pay for them in full and enjoy a free day out.
Chessington website: Chessington run offers on their own website, so make sure you check there first – at the time of writing they’re running £29 ticket offer!
Merlin Annual Pass: As I mentioned before, if you’re a regular thrill-seeker, you can access absolutely loads of attractions with a Merlin Annual Pass including: Alton Towers, Chessington, LEGOLAND Windsor and Thorpe Park; indoor fun like SEA LIFE centres, Shrek’s Adventure!, The London Eye and Madame Tussauds; and historical and immersive experiences like Warwick Castle, The Dungeons and even Cadbury World. Kids under 90cm go free and you can check out all of the pass options and what’s included here: Are Merlin Annual Passes worth it and which pass is best?

Chessington Annual Pass: Merlin also recently introduced annual passes that are cheaper and park specific – you can get an annual pass for Chessington World of Adventures from £64.

Final thoughts

Chessington World of Adventures is a fantastic family day out and, with a little bit of planning, it’s possible to enjoy your day without it being too expensive if you hunt out discounts and ticket offers, pack up a picnic and shop around for affordable accommodation. For multi-day visits it’s worth looking at the short break offers for the Chessington hotels – they have some great themed spaces for the kids and you can currently add a second park day for just £10 per person if you’d like a bit more time for your visit. You can read more about our stay here: Chessington Resort Guide: Is the Safari or Azteca hotel better?

Whether the kids are into rollercoasters, animals or some of the tamer rides, it’s a brilliant theme park for a family day out with the kids. We had a fantastic time and Chessington is so child-orientated – it’s perfect for kids up until the age of about 13 (and adults like me that don’t want to go on massive rollercoasters! 😂). I hope my guide has been helpful – for more information, and prices for your tickets or stay, click here to check out the Chessington World of Adventures website. Have a brilliant time! 😊