Where can you experience the thrill of flying through the trees, serve lunch to a giraffe, and travel at break-neck speed around a disused Mexican mine? Chessington World of Adventures Resort...
As a mother of three children aged 16, 14 and 11, days out that keep all of them entertained are few are far between. Add to the mix the fact that three members of my family are redheads and perpetually seeking shade, while I, owing to a condition known as automatonophobia (loosely described as a fear of wax figures), studiously avoid anywhere that may feature models, and you can understand my dilemma.
However, we have finally found somewhere that caters for all our thrills-seeking needs and, even better, it is virtually on the doorstep. Initially opened to the public in 1931 as a zoo by Reginald Goddard, the site known as Burnt Stub is situated just off the busy A243 Leatherhead Road and has had a very interesting past. During the English Civil War, it stood as a Cavalier stronghold, eventually razed to the ground by Oliver Cromwell’s army. Further reincarnations saw the building used as an alehouse and then a farm, before being turned into a luxurious manor by the Vere Baker family in the 19th century.
Today, the mansion (which is home to the new Room on the Broom 4D walkthrough), zoo, 150-ride theme park and 40-room hotel complex make up Chessington World Adventures Resort. Part of Merlin Entertainment (which also boasts nearby attractions Legoland Windsor and Thorpe Park, Staines), Chessington welcomes a whopping 1.75m visitors each year.
And, after spending an action-packed day on the premises recently, it comes as no surprise as to why the park is so popular. While younger children and ‘tweens’ are definitely the core audience, there is still enough to keep teenagers entertained – rides such as the Vampire, Dragon’s Fury, Rameses Revenge and Kobra are at the speedier/higher/dizzier end of the spectrum and capable of squeezing out squeals from even the coolest kids. Aside from the rides, there are also plenty of eateries and snack kiosks to keep them satisfied between thrills.
For younger children, there is a huge choice of rides on offer, which can all be checked out online first. This seems like a great idea as I can’t be the only parent who has queued for what feels like an eternity before the accompanying child (who is the only reason you are here) decides said ride looks too scary/dark/fast and refuses to go on.
In recent years, the park has teamed up with stellar author Julia Donaldson, recreating two of her most popular stories on two attractions. Professor Burp’s Bubbleworks has ceased production to make way for the Gruffalo Ride which offers a spooky sail through the forest before you disappear into Gruffalo Crumble! Whilst Hocus Pocus Hall (the former Burnt Stub mansion) has been transformed into a night sky to host a magical 4D walkthrough of Donaldson classic Room on the Broom.
But, should you fancy taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the theme park, the company has recently launched a range of animal experiences which enable you to get extremely up close and personal to some simply splendid beasts.
We got a chance to meet and help feed the park’s three white rhino and also some very friendly giraffes, who I must say, were an instant favourite with my two daughters.
The ‘Experiences’ are conducted by members of the park’s zoo team, who are all up to speed with plenty of information about these impressive beasts. Animal encounters start at £25 per person and offer the opportunity to meet a variety of creatures from meerkats and sea lions to gorillas and tigers.
However, should you feel like getting even further away from it all – I can highly recommend an hour or two spent swinging through the trees at the park’s adventure trail attraction, Go Ape. Chessington is the only theme park in the country to host the tree-top trail and it can be enjoyed as part of your day out or as a separate activity (the entry fee is not included in your general park booking).
There are two courses available – Tree Top Adventure and Tree Top Junior – and anyone over 1m can enjoy taking part, meaning the whole family can Go Ape together. Unfortunately, on the day we visited I was wearing incorrect footwear (I have no idea how that happened…) but my husband and daughters loved it – declaring the death-defying zip wires as, “the perfect way to end a perfect day”.
You can’t say fairer than that.
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Visit: chessington.com
There is so much to see and do at Chessington, and one day may not be enough. Fear not, as there are two hotels to choose from, as well as an official glamping site. Guests can enjoy a stay in a themed room, followed by breakfast in one of the on-site restaurants. Your stay also entitles you to early access to the park. There are also plenty of add-ons, should you wish to make your stay even more memorable, including character breakfasts and behind-the-scenes tours.
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Chris W more than 5 years ago