Chessing-tame (Chessington World of Adventures)

Member Name: xine123

Product:	Chessington World of Adventures
Date:	01/11/02 (1331 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: local to me

Disadvantages: tame

I have season tickets for Chessington for myself and 2 boys (8 and 11) - see my views on Thorpe Park.

Chessington World of Adventures stemmed from the original Chessington Zoo (which I used to go to as a child).

If you are intending to visit Chessington, then I would strongly recommend you firstly visit their official website for opening hours and days (during less busy periods they can alternate the opening of Thorpe Park and Chessington.

Parking at Chessington is fine - a large car park with an overflow facility. I believe it is easily accessible by train and bus too.

When you first enter the park you can veer off to the left or right to visit the animals (monkies, birds, penguins, sealions, gorillas, tigers etc.) There is also a cave with insects, reptiles and other horrible things to make you squirm.

The park then opens out into different areas where the main rides are based.

Its most famous ride is The Vampire - an inverted roller-coaster which is suitable for quite small children (around age 5 and up). This is a standard ride that doesn't do anything too scary and I think it is a bit tame. There is a brilliant swinging ship further along which really makes your stomach flip. There a a few other 'adult-type' rides eg Samurai.

An area is specifically made for younger riders (eg flying elephants and Berry Bouncers).

There is the standard log flume, runaway train and a tomb like ride where you shoot alien targets and see who can score the most points whilst you travel around in a carriage through a tomb. There is also Mr Bubble works for younger kids.

Probably the most fun area of Chessington is Beanoland - not very big but quite impressive for Britain! You will always see at least one Beano character walking around and they interact really well with the kids. There are really big chairoplanes here which squirt water up at you as you go round, bumper cars, a kid
9;s ball play area (larger than normal where they can fire the soft balls) and those things that squirt water up from the ground like they have in the States.

The Beano characters put on shows there using the large treehouse and water fountain.

Admission prices vary but expect to pay around £18.00 for an adult (again, check website for current prices).

There are the normal coffee stops, picnic areas, side-show games and McDonalds, KFC etc.

Disabled facilities are good as are toilet facilities and customer services there is excellent. There are also lockers (50p a time I think) for you to store your picnic.

Whilst Chessington is a fun day out, I do feel it is rather tame for the ages of my two children (who will ride on ANYTHING).

Worth a visit if you are fairly local.

Summary: