Chessington or Thorpe park for 11 year old girl and 13 year old boy?

[JohnnyBee]

Both are over 1.4 meters so should be able to get on all rides.
We want to get an annual pass as we live in London.
My daughter would probably like the zoo and aquarium at Chessington, my son would probably race through them once!
We used to go to Legoland a number of years ago but my son would end up wanting to spend the whole time in the video games section ... so I would prefer to NOT have that.
I think Chessington charge £3 for parking and Thorpe park £8... which is a factor.
We'd bring our own food.
Are they both equally busy ?
Thanks

I've never paid for parking at either, is this a new thing?

I'd choose whichever was easiest to get to by train as at 11/12 and 13/14 they will probably want to start going with their mates in the summer.

If you get the Merlin annual pass it covers both of them, plus legoland, London aquarium, London dungeon etc.

Merlin pass id v. expensive for family of 4.

Thorpe Park has much bigger rides ... depends on what your children like. Chessington is reasonably tame. An annual pass for just Chessington used to include parking though? Not sure if it still does.

Parking is no longer free at Chessington unless you have a Merlin pass.

Thorpe Park is better for secondary age kids.

If your kids are thrill seekers then go for Thorpe Park as the rides are mainly aimed at the fearless.
Chessington has more middle of the road rides, with a couple of thrill ones.
You have to pay parking at both.

Definitely Merlin Pass if you are near London. So much to do. Plus Alton Towers for a weekend away. It is dearer but you can pay monthly now to spread cost, also look at using Clubcard or Nectar points to pay for one.

Chessington is v tame, long queues for rides that aren't all that. We went for my son's 10th and he wasn't impressed at all, so don't think it would hold attention of older children.