12 hours ago
'I visited Chessington with my toddler and there's one thing no one tells you'
My family and I embarked on a little adventure to Chessington World of Adventures and it turned out to be the perfect short break for our young family.
Although a lot of parents might think it's a waste to go with a young child as they probably can't go on most rides, for us it was the best two days.
With my two-year-old in tow, we were invited to stay at the Chessington Safari Hotel in one of the delightfully themed Room on the Broom rooms.
We arrived on a Saturday afternoon, greeted by the warm and welcoming staff at the Safari Hotel. The hotel itself is designed with families in mind, and the theming is exceptional.
Our Room on the Broom room was straight out of a storybook, with wall art, soft furnishings, and a witch above our bed. It's inspired by Julia Donaldson's beloved tale that my toddler is obsessed with.
My daughter was so excited from the moment we walked in to the hotel - then we entered the room and she was jumping up and down when she saw the witch's hat and broomstick on the wall.
Not only that, we were greeted with a little gift in the room, including the popular book, Freddo chocolate bar and the dragon cuddly toy. To top it off, our room had the incredible view of Safari animals, we could see Zebras literally outside our room which was so exciting for all of us.
We spent the first day settling in and exploring the hotel. There's a fun kids' play area in the reception and plenty of space for little ones to stretch their legs or even watch TV.
In the early evening, we joined the toddler mini disco downstairs. Watching my two-year-old bop along to familiar tunes with other little ones was a highlight in itself. The disco was well-organised, not too loud, and full of energy, which was just perfect for her age.
She did not want to leave! Even days later she spoke about it and said "I went to the disco with my friends at Chessington". Clearly a core memory made.
After all that dancing, we were ready for some food. Rather than eating in the hotel restaurant, we opted for a local meal just outside the resort.
There are a few nearby spots that offer a quieter dining experience if you want a little break from the hustle and bustle. It was nice to have a relaxed dinner before returning to the hotel to get a good night's sleep.
Day two began bright and early. Staying at the Safari Hotel comes with the amazing perk of early entry into the park, which meant we could beat the crowds and get on some rides before the queues built up. But first, we of course headed down to breakfast.
The hotel breakfast buffet was a dream, especially when catering to toddlers. From fluffy pancakes and fresh fruit to full English fry-ups and continental pastries, there was something for everyone.
My little one happily munched her way through mini croissants, strawberries, and a small bowl of scrambled eggs. It really set us up for the day ahead.
At 0.9 metres tall, my two-year-old was able to go on a surprising number of rides. So, at 9am our first stop was the Room on the Broom experience, which was just a few steps away from the hotel and a gentle start to our theme park day.
It brought the book to life in a wonderfully immersive way, with animatronics, lights, and gentle movement. The great part was there was absolutely no queue.
Next up was the Gruffalo River Ride Adventure, a water-based ride that's also suitable for toddlers. It's dark in places and can be a little bit scary, but the familiar story and music kept my two-year-old completely engaged. The ride ends with a gentle splash which she loved!
From there, we made our way to the Elmo's Flying Jumbos ride. This was really cute, it's a cheerful, spinning ride where kids get to sit in colourful flying elephants - what more could a toddler ask for? She squealed with delight as we gently flew up and down and loved going high up!
On to her absolute favourite - the truck ride, where she got to "drive" a safari-style truck that goes around a mini course.
It gave her the feeling of being behind the wheel, and she beamed with pride. She pointed out every lion, giraffe, and zebra she spotted and kept asking to go back on it!
The Banana Boat ride was another big hit; the movement was gentle enough for her to enjoy but fun enough to give her a little thrill.
Of course, no trip to Chessington is complete without visiting the zoo and SEA LIFE centre. The zoo is home to lions, tigers, gorillas, and more, but the monkeys were a firm favourite for my toddler.
At SEA LIFE, she was mesmerised by the glowing tanks filled with colourful fish, rays, and even small sharks. There's a tunnel that goes underneath one of the tanks, creating an immersive underwater experience, and her little face lit up in amazement and she was trying to spot 'Nemo'.
By the end of the day, she was completely worn out - in the best possible way. All in all, our weekend at Chessington World of Adventures was everything I had hoped for: family-friendly, full of age-appropriate fun, and sprinkled with just enough magic to keep our two-year-old excited.
The combination of a thoughtfully themed hotel, early access to the park, and a wide range of toddler-suitable attractions made it an ideal mini getaway for us. We're already planning our next visit!
To find out more you can visit Chessington's website.
