Ultimate Family Guide for Chessington World of Adventures

Table of Contents

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 and the resort has some fabulous themed hotel rooms, if you fancy a short break, so make sure you read about our stay too. This Chessington World of Adventures guide covers which rides are suitable for different aged children, info to help you plan your day (like food options and opening times) and more! Here’s everything you need to know:

Visit: April 2025 (Updated April 2026)

Where is Chessington World of Adventures?

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 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). If your vehicle doesn’t meet the ULEZ emissions standards, you’ll need to pay a £12.50 daily charge (accurate April 2026) 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 but definitely check before your visit to avoid a fine.

What is Chessington World of Adventures like?

What age range 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 Vampire rollercoaster at Chessington!

What rides are there?

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!).

The new themed Paw Patrol Land will also be a hit with the little ones, plus they’re adding some Paw Patrol themed rooms to the hotel too and running other Paw Patrol events!

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 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 the day! 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. 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 walk around the Waynama Reserve 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!

Planning your day

What are the queues like?

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 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! 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 you’ll enter the park from the far side of the park (rather than the main Chessington day-ticket entrance) which is really handy. 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.

Can you do Chessington in a day?

You can definitely do Chessington in a day if you’re up bright and early to make the most of it but if you’d like a slower pace (or you’re visiting with little ones) two days would be better. Plus, for busier times of the year (such as the school holidays) the queues will obviously be longer so it might be worth adding an extra day then too. Look out for ‘second day free’ offers to sweeten the deal!

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 remains open in the rain, so there’s no need to worry about a few showers. However in cases of extreme weather – such as thunderstorms or high winds – certain rides may be temporarily closed for safety reasons. Chessington does have a weather “return promise”, but it’s only triggered if bad weather significantly affects ride availability across the park for a sustained period. If that happens, you may be able to return on another day, but it’s best to see it as a bonus rather than something to rely on. The SEA LIFE Centre is the perfect place to wait out the rain. You can also hire lockers so bring rain coats and sun cream to prepare for every eventuality (standard UK behaviour! 😂). Lockers are £1 (small) / £2 (large) for up to one hour, 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 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!

Accommodation options:

Which Chessington Safari Hotel is best?

If you fancy a short break, 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 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 that we’ve ever stayed in! 😍

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! We arrived, parked up and strolled straight in through the hotel guests entrance. I’ve done a full guide and review of our experience of our Chessington Hotel stay – so check out my Chessington Resort Guide for more information. We loved it!

Where can you stay nearby?

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.

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

Pre-booked standard Chessington World of Adventures tickets typically cost around £30 per person. 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.
Kids Pass: Kids Pass is a subscription service that offers discounts on family days out – you can trial it for £1 so it’s well worth signing up.
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.
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.

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:

Thorpe Park is best suited to teenagers and older thrill-seekers. It has fewer rides for younger children and its focus is firmly on high-speed / high-intensity attractions, as well some awesome water rides. My teens LOVE Thorpe Park – check out my Thorpe Park Guide for all the details.
LEGOLAND Windsor is absolutely fabulous for younger children with tamer rides, interactive LEGO-themed attractions, live shows, water play areas and impressive Miniland displays made from millions of LEGO bricks.
Alton Towers, while still offering major coasters like The Smiler, balances thrill rides with a more rounded family experience – it offers a variety of rides for kids of all ages as well as CBeebies Land for toddlers and little ones. Check out my Alton Towers Guide for more info.
Chessington World of Adventures is a fabulous family-friendly theme park. As I mentioned, it combines gentle rides, a zoo and a SEA LIFE centre – making it ideal for children under 10 years old. It’s amazing for short breaks too (check out my Chessington Hotel Review) – we loved it!

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 make the most of the ‘second day free’ offer (April 2026) 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. 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! 😊