Scotland to Chessington World of Adventures - anyone done this?

[ReacherSaidNothing]

Debating taking DCs to Chessington in summer but not sure we can face the drive from West of Scotland. Anyone done this without driving and can offer advice including accommodation etc? Thanks

I’d probably combine with a few days in London. It’s a long way for a theme park! Would Alton towers or Blackpool not be better?

We've done both AT and Blackpool a couple of times and looking for something new. Theme parks are one of our favourite things so happy to travel for one day but maybe not driving!

Not worth the journey!

Sorry meant to say it would be an overnight or two stay with full day at Chessington but not fussed on staying at the theme park accommodation itself

Any other UK theme parks you would recommend? Only done AT and Blackpool. Kids are 10 and 13

They're too old really for CoA - if you're travelling that far aim for Thorpe Park.

If your going to do it get merlin passes and then visit legoland and thorpe park as well (depending on the age range in your group). They are both within 30 mins drive of chessington plus you could visit central London as well and make a week of it premier inns are plentiful and more affordable in that area.

Would Thorpe be OK for a short 10 year old do you think? She might be 130cm by the summer if we're lucky!

It's rubbish, I live relatively close by and used to go every summer we went 2023 and said never again, the last few times the queues have been huge, rides closed, they seem to let in not people than the park can cope with. I definitely wouldn't drive from Scotland for it!

Op can you go to theme parks abroad? I've been to Chessington and places like Disney Paris and efteling in the Netherlands, there really is no comparison.

For you coming from Scotland you could go to hull I think and get a ferry then it's a short drive from there.
Efteling is a standout with very high accommodation standards as well.

Local resident here! I would do Thorpe Park not Chessington with children of your ages and would definitely recommend combining with a London trip (or eg Hampton Court) or as PP says do all 3 local ish parks, with maybe Windsor as well. You would be reliant on the train and then the transfer bus to TP itself as it isn't near a train station (or taxi - or if you are hitting all the theme parks rent a car whilst down here) but still 1000% better than driving from Scotland!

Look at some of the theme parks in Europe, much better Europa park, port Aventura, efteling is fantastic but yours might be bordering a bit old for it

We've done Efteling and Duinrell a couple of times, plan to go to Europa in 2026 but it's a UK trip for 2025 due to budget

I disagree with other posters. The 13yo would be ripe for Thorpe Park but don't risk it either a short 10yo. Chessington has enough to entertain the13yo, especially if you've never been before. Have you considered getting the train? You'd need to change when you get to London and go from Waterloo to Chessington South (approx 30 minutes journey) then it's a 10 minutes walk to the park or get a bus. There is a Premier Inn 5 mins down the road from the park. Let me know if you have any more questions 😀

We did it once and never again. And we're only an hour away. Massively overpriced and you spend the whole day in queues.

Efteling on the other hand is marvellous! Their onsite accommodation is fab too.

Chessington is easy to get to by train and fine for that age of kids. Go for it.

I live near Chessington and absolutely would not make the journey from Scotland unless there was a compelling reason. How about Disneyland Paris instead?

I'm also fairly close to Chessington and occasionally take my eldest son (6) if there's an offer on over one of the school holidays.

Its one of those places that is good for small kids to burn off some energy but it's surely seen better days; all of the enclosures look abit knackered and it's scruffy. It's also quite small and underwhelming. I wouldn't drive from Scotland, no way, it would be such an anti climax to travel such a long journey.

Not for kids that age!! We love it and go to regularly but my daughter is only 3.5 ! She can go on almost everything

there are no real thrill rides tbh it’s a park for younger kids I think

No way would have drive from Scotland, I actually took my kids in the summer holidays and it was the biggest waste of time.
The worst day out Iv ever had with the kids!!. Rides kept breaking down after waiting over an hour, huge queues, lots of things shut.
I will never return. Multiple people were complaining at guest services.
Your kids are also too old for chessington. Save your money.

We have been to a lot of theme parks, all the big ones in the UK, Disneyland, Disney world, Efteling etc and chessington is by far the worst one Iv ever been too.

It sounds like a journey from hell, the M6 is often awful once you’re south of Preston. Could you fly or take the train?
maybe if you went in a Scottish but not English school holiday the queues wouldn’t be so bad?

Would love to do Disneyland but we don't have the budget for it atm.

Defo not driving! Plane or train is more ideal. We debated going in Scottish hols but having done AT during start of July it was crammed with school groups so wasn't any quieter than usual. The money saved would be a bot of a draw I guess.

I'd do legoland rather than Chessington.

Chessington is really rather run down now sadly and not all that well run. I've been twice in the last year and both times they issued free return tickets because they had so many problems during the day with broken down rides, flooding in the car parks so cars were getting stuck in the mud, the cashless payment system going down so no one could buy anything etc.

Legoland is much better and you can add in a trip into Windsor or London.

I would fly to either Gatwick or Heathrow and then get an Uber to the theme park (about 20miles and £40 in an Uber). You could also do the underground from either of these airports if you wanted to. Flights to Gatwick would likely be cheaper than Heathrow.

We're also in Scotland and have done Legoland flying to Heathrow, it was so smooth and stress free compared to the long drive. We are doing Alton Towers by train in 2025. Dp has a health condition which makes long car journeys difficult for him.