Most visitors to Chessington come in search of an adrenaline-pumping day out, but there’s more to this pleasant Surrey suburb than the whoosh and thrill of a rollercoaster. Farms, zoos and even a gourmet garden center cafe are enough for visitors to keep around for a few days making Chessington one of the main places in London for a family holiday.
If you’re tempted by a trip to Chessington, you’ll find that staying in the area puts you within easy reach of central London. It only takes 30 minutes to get to London Waterloo by train from Chessington South, making it easy to recommend accommodation in the region.
Thankfully, London is full of great accommodation options. There is a great selection of affordable hotels in the London borough of Chessington, which means you are never more than a 20 minute walk to the local tube station making it a very popular location. Staying in the area also means being within easy reach of the best attractions that Chessington has to offer, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.
Chessington is in the royal borough of Kingston Upon Thames, so it is fitting that HRH Prince Edward was on hand to open it Chessington World of Adventures in 1987 – it’s been a royal hit ever since.
However, once you’ve had your fair share of over 40 rides, you’ll find there’s a lot more to hold your attraction. First, visit the Sea Lion Bay, part of the on-site zoo. Here you will find brothers Harley and Dante and sisters Ariel and Carla (all California sea lions). They are tremendous characters and you will find them splashing and playing in the water throughout the day, with special shows taking place at 12pm and 3pm.
Continuing the animal theme, head to nearby Epsom, where you’ll find Hobbledown. The farm is home to many animals including meerkats and cute piglets. In addition, Hobbledown has a skywalk, adventure park and indoor play barn – enough to keep kids of all ages entertained!
As for food and drink, if you fancy a bite to eat in an unusual setting, grab a table at Chessington Garden Centre’s Sedum restaurant, where cakes are baked in-house under a vivid green roof.
For something even more exotic, head to Cabana Indian Tapas on Ewel Road where you can enjoy sampling the tasty food of the Indian sub-continent. The inventive menu offers you a great range of options that are far from the traditional curry houses.
To round off your day with a few drinks head to the Chessington Oak on Moore Lane. This traditional pub offers a wide selection of drinks, including a good selection of real ales, and is great for relaxing after a day of adrenaline-pumping excitement. (Image courtesy of Flickr)
Been to Chessington Theme Park? Tell us about your experience in the comments section below.