Chessington Guide: Rides at Chessington World of Adventures
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Everything you need to know to visit Chessington World of Adventures from London, including where to stay, what to eat, and what to ride while visiting this London Theme Park and Zoo.
Chessington World of Adventures Guide: (Jump To)
Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a popular theme park, zoo, and hotel complex located in Chessington, Surrey. It's a fantastic destination for families, thrill-seekers, and animal lovers alike. The park features a wide variety of rides, attractions, and animal exhibits, ensuring a fun-filled day for visitors of all ages.
Getting To Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington World of Adventures by Train From London
From London Waterloo, you can take a South Western Railway train to Chessington South. The journey takes approximately 35 minutes. There usually isn’t a need to book tickets in advance and the trains run frequently and on time. Connections can be made from other London area train stations.
Chessington South to Chessington World of Adventures
Once you arrive at the small Chessington South Station, it's a 10-minute walk to the park. Follow the plentiful signs or use a navigation app for the quickest route. The walking route has sidewalks and well-marked crosswalks.
Chessington World of Adventures By Car
From Central London follow the A3 and then take the A243 to Chessington. The drive takes about 35-45 minutes, depending on traffic.
Chessington World of Adventures Parking
Chessington offers ample parking. It's advisable to purchase a parking ticket in advance to save time when leaving for the day. One-day parking at Chessington World of Adventures costs £7 on weekdays and £9 on weekends and holidays. Free parking is offered to hotel guests. You can also choose Express Parking (cost £15) for the closest possible spots.
Chessington World of Adventures by Coach Bus
London buses 465 and 71 stop at Chessington World of Adventures. The 71 bus can be taken from Kingston, which is well-connected by other public transport. However, the journey by train to Chessington South is faster.
Tickets for Chessington World of Adventures
It's best to book tickets online in advance to save money and guarantee entry, especially during peak times. Options include single-day tickets, multi-day tickets, and annual passes. There are often discounts for families and groups.
One-day tickets vary in price depending on the day of your visit. Online advance tickets usually range between £29-40. Combo tickets (1 preschooler and 1 adult) tickets are often available on slower days for £29. Check their website for the most up-to-date prices and promotions.
Chessington World of Adventures Annual Pass
Annual passes are an extremely good value if your plans call for multiple days at the park or if you are a local resident. There are two main types of Chessington World of Adventures Annual Passes. The Silver Pass, which costs £99 offers entry to the park with some blockout days. The blackout days coincide with busy summer weekends, school breaks, and seasonal events. The pass also offers a 10% discount on food and merchandise in the park. The Gold Pass, £139, offers fewer blockout days, free parking, and a 20% discount on food and merchandise. The additional perks make the extra £40 a smart spend.
We purchased the Merlin Pass which allowed access to Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, The London Eye, SEA LIFE aquariums, the London Dungeon, and Madame Tussauds wax museums. That pass also starts at £99.
Chessington World of Adventures Fast Track
Fast Track passes are called Reserve And Ride at Chessington. These can be purchased to reduce waiting times for popular rides. The service is accessed via the Chessington App on your smartphone. The app allows you to join a virtual queue. This service is great at Chessington because it frees up time to see more animals and enjoy other parts of the park. Prices vary depending on the day of your visit but are cheaper when booked online, in advance of your park visit.
Reserve and Ride Ultimate: Allows unlimited rides with minimal virtual queue wait time for all the park’s major rides. It typically costs about £100 per person per day.
Reserve and Ride Express: This pass cuts your virtual queue wait time in half and works on all major park attractions. This pass is usually priced at about £60 per person per day.
Reserve and Ride Regular: This pass simply allows you to wait in the virtual queue instead of in a physical queue. The wait time is the same but you can enjoy the park while you wait. This pass is usually priced at about £20 per person per day.
Chessington World of Adventures Opening Times
The official park schedule for Chessington World of Adventures Opening Times and Chessington World of Adventures Opening Times closing times is available on the park’s website.
Chessington World of Adventures almost always opens at 10 AM, and closing time is often 6 PM, but it fluctuates between 5 PM and 7 PM. Special events may also have varied hours.
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Map of Chessington World of Adventures
The best place to find a map of the park is to download the official park app. The included interactive map helps you navigate the park with walking directions, wait times, food menus, restroom (WC) locations, and much more.
You can download a Map of Chessington World of Adventures PDF: here
Driving Directions to the park should be directed to:
Chessington World of Adventures Resort
Leatherhead Road
Chessington
Surrey
KT9 2NE
Google Maps: Map
Chessington World of Adventures Resort Post Code: KT9 2NE
Chessington World of Adventure Queue Times
Download the official park app to view current Chessington World of Adventure Queue Times inside the park or from home.
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Rides at Chessington World of Adventures
Chessington is divided into various Theme Park Zones that do a nice job of integrating the thrill attractions with the wildlife and zoo features of the park. Great themed lands like the Land of the Tiger, Wild Asia, and Transylvania immerse visitors into the themed surroundings.
Chessington World of Adventures Roller Coasters
Mandrill Mayhem (Jumanji Coaster)
Themed to the popular book and film series, Jumanji, the thrilling Mandrill Mayhem coaster is a park favorite. It’s also the first coaster in the park to feature an inversion. The wing coaster has riders flying low to the ground with forward and backward movements. The ride opened in 2023.
Dragon's Fury
Dragon’s Fury is a spinning roller coaster with twists, turns, and steep but short drops. The fun spinning cars hold four people who spin around the track. The coaster stands up well to multiple rides because the spinning motion is never quite the same.
Rattlesnake
A wild mouse-style rollercoaster with sharp turns and drops, Rattlesnake is fun for all ages. The unique, partially submerged layout makes the ride stand out from other wild-mouse design coasters.
Vampire
Chessington World of Adventures’ Vampire coaster is one of the true stars of the park. The swinging suspended coaster is fully integrated into the Wild Woods section of the park. The mature pine trees, artificial water features, and facades make for an outstanding backdrop for the ride.
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Other Rides at Chessington World of Adventure
Mamba Strike
This top dancer ride boards you in a row of seats before lifting you up and spinning you in a forward spin. The ride gets a lot higher than you think it will. The ride pauses while you hang adding to the thrills.
Croc Drop
This standard drop tower is housed in a crocodile mouth which elevates the ride from standard to amazing. Be sure to snap a pic in the croc mouth photo spot in front of the ride’s exit.
Blue Barnacle
This swinging ship ride is a theme park staple. It has a nautical theme. The ride is oddly surrounded by the zoo’s mountain goats.
Kobra
Kobra is a spinning disc coaster theme to the namesake snake. It’s a fun ride with an extra hump to get over. It packs some great thrills for a ride of its size.
Tiger Rock
This is the park’s log flume attraction. It’s a must-ride in the summer to cool down. It has multiple drops and tunnels. The ride is near the tiger enclosure allowing the chance for a tiger spotting mid-ride.
Gruffalo River Ride Adventure
Fans of the children’s book Where the Wild Things Are will love this indoor boat dark ride. The theming is family-friendly, but enjoyable for all ages.
Zufari
This is the park’s best animal attraction. You board jeep-style ride vehicles and embark on a safari journey through the zoo’s animal enclosures. The location of the ride’s entrance is quite a walk from the main part of the park. This helps keep the lines short. It’s well worth the walk.
Room on the Broom
This attraction is wonderful for young children. It’s a walkthrough with storytelling and interactive features. While we liked seeing the visuals, we were about 35 years too old for it.
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Chessington Zoo and SEA LIFE Center
The other main draw of Chessington is the massive zoo that is included in park admission. The zoo features over 1,000 animals, including lions, tigers, and gorillas. You could easily forgo the rides and only see zoo animals for the day.
Also included in the park is the SEA LIFE Centre. The popular chain has a signature aquarium with a variety of marine life, including sharks and rays. It’s a great accompaniment to the park’s zoo and the pirate theming of the area.
Chessington Live Shows and Events
Check the schedule on the park’s app or website for animal feeding times, shows, and performances. There are typically multiple shows daily that primarily cater to the youngest of visitors. Animal feeding can be very popular, so it’s a good idea to arrive early.
Chessington has a slate of popular seasonal events to keep you coming back all year. Chessington hosts special events for Halloween, Christmas, and other holidays.
Chessington World of Adventure Christmas
Held on weekends starting in late November (around American Thanksgiving) this holiday spectacular is very popular. Visitors will have the chance to meet Santa, enjoy carolers, and enjoy other magical Christmas events.
Chessington World of Adventure Halloween
The annual event, dubbed Howl’o’ween happens weekends in October and early November. The event is more focused toward younger guests than most theme park Halloween scarefests. At Chessington, you’ll find costume contests, trick or treating, special shows, and the chance to ride rides at nighttime.
Chessington World of Adventures Restaurants
The Smokehouse BBQ and Bar
Offering 12-hour cooked BBQ and smoked meats this restaurant is located in the Adventure Point section of the park near the Adventure Tree. Popular sharing platters are a good way to feed a family. Adults looking for some libations will enjoy the selection of beer, wine, and cocktails. No cash accepted, card payments only.
Vampire's Burger Kitchen
Located across from the Gruffalo River Ride Adventure and under the tracks of the famed Vampire coaster this themed eatery offers a variety of burgers. Try the Vampire Burger, a double burger served on black charcoal buns and topped with fiery Doritos and sweet chili jam. No cash accepted, card payments only.
Pizza Pasta
This very popular all-you-can-eat pizza and pasta buffet is also located in Adventure Point. It’s a great place to feed your hard-to-please children (or spouses). The buffet-style eatery can be a little chaotic. If you’re looking for a calm lunch, this might not be it. No cash accepted, card payments only.
Mexi-Co Kitchen
This eatery has a selection of typical Tex-Mex favorites like tacos, burritos, nachos, and quesadillas. Located in the Mexicano area of the park the food is a nice diversion from the typical burgers and chicken strips you may find elsewhere.
Snacks and Quick Bites
Hot Dog Stands are conveniently located throughout the park for a quick bite. Donut Express in Adventure Point is famous for their freshly made donuts. The candy floss (cotton candy) topped Freakshake milkshake from Dragon’s Delight is an Instagramable masterpiece. Around the park, you’ll find various kiosks offering ice cream, popcorn, and other treats.
Hotels Near Chessington World of Adventures
On-Site Hotels: Chessington Safari and Azteca Hotels
Amazing themed rooms await you for your Chessington World of Adventures short break at one of the on-site hotels. Themes include Oreo cookies, Jumanji, Gruffalo, and rooms themed around various animals like monkeys, tigers, and zebra.
Stays at the on-site hotels include free parking, breakfast, and a one-day park ticket for all registered guests. Rooms can be booked on the park’s website.
Off-Site Hotels
There are plenty of hotels near Chessington World of Adventures that you might consider if you’re not planning to spend the night in nearby London. Consider using our Booking.com affiliate link to search for prices.
Premier Inn Chessington Hotel
Map: Google Maps
Affiliate Link: Booking.com
Located within walking distance from the park (about 0.3 miles / 0.5 km). The rooms are budget-friendly, comfortable, and family-friendly.
Travelodge Chessington Tolworth
Map: Google Maps
Affiliate Link: Booking.com
Located about About 3 miles (4.8 km) from Chessington World of Adventures this affordable hotel is a great choice if you plan to drive to the park for the day. It’s also located within walking distance from the Tolworth Train Station.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London Kingston Upon Thames
Map: Google Maps
Affiliate Link: Booking.com
Located About 5 miles (8 km) from Chessington World of Adventures this hotel is a great choice for those loyal to the Hilton brand. It’s located on the N65 bus line which will get you from the hotel to Chessington in under 30 minutes.
Camping Near Chessington World of Adventures
Here are some camping and caravan sites near Chessington World of Adventures.
Explorer Glamping at Chessington
For a unique overnight stay, try the themed glamping tents inside the Chessington Worlds of Adventures Resort. The tents include free WiFi, power sockets, and double beds. Breakfast is included. Learn more at the Chessington website.
Apps Court Farm
Map: Google Maps
Website: Link
This no-frills campsite is About 7 miles (11 km) from Chessington World of Adventures. The riverside location is a great place to park and stay if you’re not planning to spend any time at the campsite.
Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site
Map: Google Maps
Website: Link
Located about 8 miles (13 km) from Chessington World of Adventures this park has been in operation for nearly 100 years. The tranquil space is surrounded by a lake and branches of the River Mole.
Long Acres Caravan and Camping
Map: Google Maps
Website: Link
Located about 15 miles (24 km) from Chessington World of Adventures in the Surrey Countryside. The campsites are located in a peaceful countryside setting. The facilities include Pay-as-you-go WiFi, modern toilet & shower facilities, and an optional glamping experience.
Chertsey Camping and Caravanning Club Site
Map: Google Maps
Website: Link
Located about 10 miles (16 km) from Chessington World of Adventures along the banks of the Thames. Book yourself a riverside site at their well-maintained, family-friendly facilities.
Chessington World of Adventures Height Restrictions
Here is a list of rides at Chessington World of Adventures along with their height restrictions. Please verify on the park’s website before attempting to board the ride.
Minimum height 0.9m (35 inches)
Jungle Bus: must be minimum of 1.1m (43 inches) to ride unaccompanied
Griffin's Galleon: Children under 1.2m (47 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Seastorm: Children between 0.9m (35 inches) - 1.1m (43 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Barrel Bail Out: Children between 0.9m (35 inches) - 1.2m (47 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Trawler Trouble: Children between 0.9m (35 inches) - 1.1m (43 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Treetop Hoppers: Children between 0.9m (35 inches) - 1.1m (43 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Minimum height 1.0m (39 inches)
ZUFARI: Ride Into Africa: Children between 1.0m (39 inches) - 1.3m (51 inches) must be accompanied by an adult aged 16+
Minimum height 1.1m (43 inches)
Blue Barnacle: Children under 1.3m (51 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Vampire: Children under 1.3m (51 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Minimum height 1.2m (47 inches)
Dragon's Fury: Must be 1.2m (47 inches)
Mandrill Mayhem: Must be 1.2m (47 inches) to ride
Ostrich Stampede: Must be 1.2m (47 inches) (children under 1.3m (51 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+)
Mamba Strike: Must be 1.2m (47 inches) (children under 1.3m (51 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+)
Croc Drop: Must be 1.2m (47 inches) (children under 1.3m (51 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+)
Kobra: Must be 1.2m (47 inches)
Monkey Swinger: Must be 1.2m (47 inches)
Minimum height 1.4m (55 inches)
Rattlesnake: Must be 1.4m (55 inches) to ride
Adult Accompaniment Requirements
Gruffalo River Ride Adventure: Children under 1.1m (43 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Sea Dragons: Children shorter than 1.1m (43 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Tiny Truckers: Children under 1.1m (43 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Tomb Blaster: Children under 1.1m (43 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Room on the Broom - A Magical Journey: Children under 1.1m (43 inches) must be accompanied by an adult aged 16+
Elmer's Flying Jumbos: Children under 1.1m (43 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
River Rafts: Children under 1.2m (47 inches) must be accompanied by an adult
Jungle Rangers: Children under 1.2m (47 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Tiger Rock: Children between 1.2m (47 inches) - 1.3m (51 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Tuk Tuk Turmoil: Children between 0.9m (35 inches) - 1.3m (51 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Adventure Tree Carousel: Children under 1.3m (51 inches) must be accompanied by an adult 16+
Dragon's Playhouse: Max height 1.4m (55 inches) (must be supervised by an adult 16+)
