Chessington: Family Experiences Between History and Nature

Chessington combines exciting outings with visible traces of its history and a green natural setting. Those planning a trip to suit different interests will find both rides and animal experiences, as well as a scheduled monument, a historic church and a corridor along the Bonesgate tributary. This combination helps you choose the focus of your trip and look for a suitable holiday apartment in Chessington as a base.

Theme Park, Animal Experiences and Marine Life

Chessington World of Adventures offers rides and attractions. These include Dragon Falls, Safari Skyway, Toadies Crazy Cars and Runaway Train. VIP animal experiences such as giraffe feeding and rhino encounters are also available. This creates a varied day out for families who want to combine shared experiences with animals and active pursuits. Chessington SEA LIFE offers a different focus: The aquarium holds 250,000 litres and features more than 20 marine-life exhibits. You can therefore choose between thrilling attractions, animal encounters and an experience focused more strongly on the underwater world.

History Around Castle Hill and the Church

Castle Hill is a Scheduled Monument, meaning it is a protected archaeological site. The earthwork is considered to be the remains of an enclosed medieval hunting lodge associated with a deer park. The history of the place itself also reaches far back: The original manor house of Chessington was probably built in 1348 as a country house called Chessington Lodge. A tour of the area can be complemented by a visit to the Church of St Mary the Virgin. The church is a Grade II listed building and dates from the 13th century. Those interested in architectural history and older settlement structures will find several different points of interest here.

Green Corridor Along the Bonesgate

Bonesgate Open Space Local Nature Reserve forms a green corridor along the Bonesgate tributary. The South of the Borough area in Chessington is connected to this nature reserve. As a result, in addition to its well-known attractions, the area also has a natural landscape that can be incorporated into your travel plans. An old path also runs along the eastern side of Chessington; it was formerly called Chessington Park Lane. This historic name belongs to the path's past and adds to the picture of a place where leisure attractions, natural areas and traces of history stand side by side.

Travelling by Train and Planning the Right Trip

There is specific information available for arriving by train: The platforms at Chessington South station are level with the station's main entrance. When looking for a holiday apartment, you can therefore first consider which experiences should define your stay. The theme park and SEA LIFE are suited to an actively planned day out, while Castle Hill, the Church of St Mary the Virgin and Bonesgate Open Space Local Nature Reserve appeal to other interests. This allows you to align your choice of accommodation with the desired pace of your trip without losing sight of the area's history and natural setting.

If you would like to compare other places for your travel plans, you can also discover Surbiton, Kingston Upon Thames and New Malden.

Back to the overarching travel overview: Kingston Upon Thames.