During the last half term we took Munchkin for a day out to Chessington World of Adventures as a birthday treat. We don’t celebrate birthdays in a big way but we always go for a day out around the time of her birthday.
We have been to a number of theme parks but this one has been on our list for a while. As it is a bit further than others we had been putting it off but we were glad to finally go, even though we ended up stuck in traffic on the M25 and the journey took over an extra hour.
Chessington World of Adventures is located in Chessington Surrey and includes a theme park with over 40 rides and attractions, a Zoo and a Sea life Centre. For those wanting to stay over, they have two resort hotels.
There is ample parking available and even though we arrived late due to being stuck in traffic we did not have to walk far to get to the entrance. Parking is £3 unless you are a Merlin Pass holder, or £10 if you want express parking which means you park closer and can get in and out easier.
The queues were not too long to get in when we arrived, but then we had already got our tickets online through the Tesco Clubcard Voucher scheme.
If you want to save some money when it comes to the ticket prices then if you do buy in advance and online, you can save up to 43% depending on how early you book.
Chessington has a variety of rides for all ages. Now Bee is a slight wimp when it comes to rides, and Munchkin was more keen to visit the sea life centre and the zoo. As a result we didn’t end up going on many rides, although Munchkin convinced me to go on this:
However, I would say that if you want to go on one of the popular rides then it would probably be best to invest in the fast track tickets and as early as possible. After visiting the zoo and the sea life centre, Munchkin wanted to try the Dragon’s Fury ride. That had a 90 minute wait and when we went to inquire about fast track tickets they had all been snapped up.
The zoo and sea life centre were enjoyed by both of the girls and for them they were the best parts. The girls loved the children’s zoo, being able to go in and pet some of the animals. However if you want to see the daily shows/activities such as feeding the tigers clearly, then you really need to get there early to get a good spot as it gets busy. We did manage to get a short video of a tiger looking for his food.
New for 2015 at Chessington is Penguins of Madagascar Live. Here’s a short snippet of the start of the show after 2 staff members got the audience ready with some singing and dancing.
The show was so much fun and the parents and children were clearly enjoying it.
What we loved about the theme park was the themed lands. There are many different sections to the park and each section made you feel as if you were there with atmospheric music relating to that theme.
- Africa
- Mexicana
- Transylvania
- Zufari
- Land of the Dragons
- Forbidden Kingdom
- Market Square
- Mystic East
- Pirates Cove
- Wild Asia
We were very disappointed in not being able to go on the Zufari but unfortunately Bee was not tall enough to go.
One way of getting the children involved is the ‘Adventure Spotting Guide’ .
In the booklet are a number of animals, rides and attractions mentioned. If you visit them all, and get the booklet stamped at each place to say you have been there, you get an exclusive pop badge prize.
Unfortunately we found out about the spotting guide having already visited a number of places and were too tired to go back and get the booklet stamped!
There is a variety of places to eat and drink and many places to get ice creams and drinks, however by the end of the day stocks were running low and you couldn’t always get the drinks you wanted at the small drinks shops. For example my girls do not drink fizzy drinks and all that we could find in a number of places were fizzy as the others had finished. Oh and as usual the prices for food and drink can be a bit steep as is the case at most theme parks.
The girls loved it and Munchkin was asking if we could go again soon. Bee’s best bit was getting a ‘walking balloon’.
If we do ever go again I think we would book one of the hotels for the night. As we spent so much time at the zoo and the sea life centre we did not go on many rides as most of the bigger rides had a 60-90 minute wait and we hadn’t got the fast track tickets.
Most of our pictures and videos were taken at the sea life centre and the zoo. Here are some of them!
We’ve never been here, our kids were too young while we were in the UK. I’m not a massive ride fan, but now that the boys are older they are getting quite keen on them 🙂 #CountryKids
Sounds like a fun day out! Plus there seems to be so much to do at Chessington World of Adventure!
I’ve promised to take the kids to a theme park and as they’ve grown out of Legoland it will probably be Chessington so it was good to read your review. I’m not a great fan of scary rides so the animal part sounds perfect for me! #countrykids
Sounds like a lovely day 🙂 It was really interesting hearing your thoughts about Chessington, as I’ve never been there but have been thinking for a while it would be great to see what this place is all about. But yes, it does seem like there is so much to do you might as well be there for two days 🙂 #countrykids
Not somewhere I’ve been in years, but we should go one day, Monkey isn’t keen on the rides so the animals would work much better for us. Naughty to have run out of non fizzy drinks, we don’t have them here either #CountryKids
Mary @ Over 40 and a Mum to One recently posted…Project 365 2015 Week 30
Looks so nice there! And looks like you had the most fun! Lovely tip about the fast track tix too! I wish we can go and I remember some free entry coupon on my cereal!
Merlinda Little (@pixiedusk) recently posted…WOTW – Home
We went to Chessington before we had kids – now mine are not babies anymore I think a visit is in order!
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We love Chessington and have been about 5 times thanks to our Merlin cards. Our children are older so they are straight on the bigger rides. What a shame Bee was too small for the Zufari ride though. I can definitely recommend the hotel if you ever go again. You also get an extra hour in the park in the morning which is great to beat the queues #countrykids
Tracey Williams recently posted…10 things to do at Sherwood Pines Forest
I’ve never been here but it does look like we’d have a great day if (when) we end up going 😉
I remember Chessington from my childhood – it looks like it has changed quite a bit. .x
Sarah Bailey recently posted…Magnolia Restrepo at Jewel Street
I havent been here for years and years. I love rides especially Rollercoasters but I also love having something else to do whilst at a theme park x
Looks great and it was fab to read this in advance as we’re off in a couple of weeks and are staying overnight! #Countrykids
Mamavsteacher recently posted…As the years go by #MySundayPhoto
I haven’t been there for years and it look like its changed quite a bit.
It looks like you had a great time!
It’s a shame these things get so very busy during the summer months, we did Disneyland Paris two summers ago and we spent more time queuing than seeing things or going on rides, lol. I think that is very sound advice, to book a hotel and make a weekend out of it, for sure!xx
oana79 recently posted…#My Sunday Photo
Sounds like a great day out, I’ve never been to Chessington before but will definitely go if I’m ever down that part of the country 🙂
Sonia recently posted…My Sunday Photo â 26th July 2015
Haven’t been here for years and years, but I think my son would really like it. Staying overnight sounds like a great idea too.
Sarah Ebner recently posted…London from up high at the London Eye
I sent to Chessington when I was younger on a school trip, I loved it! xx
The last time I went there it was still called Chessington Zoo! I grew on the same borough and my parents still there so my kids are desperate to go every time we visit.
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I’ve heard good things about Chessington! Tricky when you go somewhere and find that one of your littles is too, well, little for a ride. Looks like great fun overall.
We have never been, but it is on our list for this summer if possible
I was wondering why we’ve never been here and I think it’s because it’s in Surrey. It looks so good for little ones though, especially the Penguins show. Z would completely love that!
We haven’t been to Chessington for a couple of years and its on our to do list this year, as long as I don’t get stuck under the fountains on bubbleworks again lol
it looks as if you had a good time but yes you seem to need two days for all the bigger theme parks now. We’ve not been to Chessington for years now. Mich
Michelle Twin Mum recently posted…The importance of a good nights sleep for your child
I really love Chessington. Mine loved all the animals and we stayed in their hotel which was fantastic
Have you tried Hobbledown? It is near Chessington and I have heard it is good.
Oh not heard of that before. Will look into it