Thrill Rides Worth Queuing For
Chessington World of Adventures has a solid lineup of rides that cater to different ages and thrill levels. While it is not as intense as Thorpe Park or Alton Towers, there are several rides that deliver genuine excitement.
Croc Drop is the park's headline thrill ride. This drop tower takes riders up to 25 metres before plunging them downwards in a free-fall moment. It replaced the much-loved Rameses Revenge and has become one of the most popular attractions since opening. The theming around an ancient crocodile god adds atmosphere to the build-up.
Vampire is a suspended roller coaster that has been at the park since 1990 and remains a firm favourite. Riders sit in seats that hang beneath the track, with their legs dangling free as the coaster swoops through trees and over pathways. It's not the most intense coaster in the country, but the sensation of flying through woodland makes it memorable.
Kobra is a spinning flat ride that rotates and swings riders through wide arcs. It's fast, disorienting and consistently popular with older children and teenagers.
Dark Rides and Indoor Attractions
Tomb Blaster is an interactive dark ride where riders shoot targets with infrared guns while travelling through themed scenes. Scores are displayed at the end, which encourages competitive repeat rides. The Egyptian tomb setting is well designed, and the ride appeals to a broad age range.
The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure replaced an older log flume and reimagines the journey as a float through scenes from the Gruffalo story. Animatronic characters, projection effects and detailed sets make this one of the best-themed rides in the park. Younger children love it, and it's gentle enough for most ages.
Family and Children's Rides
Beyond the headline attractions, Chessington has a good range of rides for younger visitors.
Elmer's Flying Jumbos lets small children ride in elephant-shaped cars that gently rise and spin. Tuk Tuk Turmoil is a family spinning ride in the World of Jumanji area. Room on the Broom is a gentle outdoor ride based on another Julia Donaldson book.
The Adventure Tree in the Forbidden Kingdom area is a tall climbing structure with slides and walkways that older children can spend a long time exploring.
World of Jumanji
The newest themed area, World of Jumanji, brought several new attractions including Mandrill Mayhem, a spinning drop ride, and the surrounding area is themed as a jungle temple. This area added a more modern feel to the park and gives families with children of mixed ages something to enjoy together.
What Makes Chessington's Rides Different
Chessington doesn't try to compete with the white-knuckle parks. Its strength is in providing a balanced day where families with children of different ages can all find something to enjoy. A 5-year-old and a 12-year-old can both have a good day here, which is harder to achieve at parks that focus purely on extreme rides. Between rides, the zoo and Sea Life centre provide a welcome change of pace for the whole family.
