Chessington World of Adventures Resort

From Private Zoo to Theme Park

The story of Chessington begins in 1931, when businessman Reginald Stuart Goddard opened the grounds of his Surrey estate as a zoo. His private collection of monkeys, birds and reptiles proved unexpectedly popular, drawing over 200,000 visitors in the first year. After Goddard's death in 1946, the Pearson publishing group took over and ran the zoo for three decades before The Tussauds Group assumed management in 1978.

Tussauds saw the potential for something bigger. On 7 July 1987, Chessington World of Adventures opened as one of Britain's first combined theme park and zoo attractions, launching with the Runaway Mine Train roller coaster, the Dragon River log flume and a monorail Safari Skyway. Merlin Entertainments acquired the park in 2007 and has since invested heavily, adding Jumanji — the world's first land based on the film franchise — in 2023 and a PAW Patrol area scheduled for spring 2026.

What to See and Do

The park is divided into eleven themed lands, each with its own rides, food outlets and character. Thrill-seekers head for Vampire in Transylvania — a suspended coaster that swings riders through the treetops — and Dragon's Fury in Mystic East, a spinning coaster that rotates freely as it hurtles around the track. The Jumanji area houses Mandrill Mayhem, an immersive indoor coaster, alongside the family-friendly Mamba Strike and Ostrich Stampede.

For younger children, Land of the Dragons offers gentler rides and a splash play area, while the zoo's Trail of the Kings walk-through passes gorillas, tigers, sea lions and meerkats. The SEA LIFE centre adds an underwater tunnel, touch pools and tropical sharks. Between them, the three attractions can comfortably fill a full day.

Getting There and Planning Your Visit

Chessington South station is served by regular South Western Railway trains from Waterloo, with the journey taking around 35 minutes. The walk from the station to the park entrance is roughly ten minutes along well-signed roads. If driving, the A3 and A243 lead directly to the resort, where on-site parking can be pre-booked online.

The theme park operates seasonally from late March to early November, while the zoo and SEA LIFE centre are open year-round. Ticket prices vary by date, with off-peak weekdays significantly cheaper than school holidays and weekends. Booking online in advance is strongly recommended — gate prices can be nearly double the online rate. Arrive at opening time to tackle the most popular rides before queues build, and download the official app for live queue times and a park map.