You’re already here. Look what’s nearby.
Every year, thousands of families drive to Chessington World of Adventures from Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, the Midlands, the North. They do the theme park. Maybe they stay at the resort hotel. Then they drive home.
They never find out that one of England’s greatest historic palaces is 15 minutes up the road. That a Royal Park with 300 wild deer and an adventure playground is 10 minutes away. That a market town on the Thames — with ducks, boats, and ice cream — is a quarter of an hour’s drive.
They leave because they don’t know.
This guide is for the family that’s already booked Chessington and has a spare morning, afternoon, or full day. You’ve made the journey. Here’s what’s worth seeing before you head home.
Quick picks
The 4 best things to do near Chessington
Hampton Court Palace
Best for: Historic day out, families with children 4+, The Magic Garden
Hampton Court Palace isn’t a dusty museum. It’s Henry VIII’s actual palace, with courtyards big enough to chase around, a maze that’s been baffling visitors since the 1690s, and — the main event for families — The Magic Garden.
The Magic Garden is a purpose-built playground designed for children under 12. Kids storm battlements, encounter mythical beasts, besiege towers, and splash through water features. It’s themed around the palace’s history but built for play. It’s included in your palace ticket.
Beyond the playground, the palace runs family trails that turn a history visit into a treasure hunt. Tudor kitchens show children what Henry VIII actually ate. The Great Vine — planted in 1768 and still producing grapes — fascinates kids who’ve never seen anything that old and alive. And then there’s the parkland: 750 acres of formal gardens, deer, and open space stretching down to the Thames.
The Magic Garden is open seasonally (typically March–October). Special quiet sessions for neurodivergent children run regularly — check the Historic Royal Palaces website. Arrive when it opens — the maze and Magic Garden get busier through the day. The park’s Chestnut Avenue entrance is directly opposite, so you can combine with Bushy Park without moving the car.
Important note for 2026: Some rooms and routes have reduced access due to major restoration projects. Check the Historic Royal Palaces website before your visit.
15 min from Chessington | Half day or full day | Tickets from ~£26 adult, kids under 5 free
15 minutes by car via the A243 and A309. Parking paid (around £2/hour).
Bushy Park
Best for: Free day out, deer spotting, adventure playground
Three hundred deer. Just wandering around. Red deer and fallow deer, free-roaming since Henry VIII’s time. For children who’ve spent the previous day on theme park rides, the shift to watching wild animals graze in open parkland is genuinely magical.
Bushy Park is the second-largest Royal Park in London — 1,100 acres of grassland, ancient trees, ponds, and woodland. It doesn’t feel like London. It feels like countryside that happens to be 12 miles from Piccadilly Circus.
The playground near the Diana Fountain was recently refurbished — cradle swings for very young children, a turtle drum, and a timber climbing frame for older kids. The Diana Fountain itself — a baroque water feature surrounded by chestnut avenues — is the park’s centrepiece and a beautiful spot for a picnic.
Keep a safe distance from deer (at least 50 metres). They are wild, not pets. Don’t feed them. The Chestnut Avenue from Hampton Court Gate to Diana Fountain is the most scenic walk.
The perfect sequence: Hampton Court Palace in the morning → walk across to Bushy Park → picnic near the Diana Fountain → playground → home. Children will talk about the deer for weeks.
10 min from Chessington | Half day | Free
10 minutes by car. Multiple car parks within the park.
Kingston Riverside
Best for: Relaxed afternoon, antidote to theme park intensity
After the sensory overload of a theme park, Kingston riverside is the antidote. Ducks. Swans. Boats chugging past. An ice cream from one of the riverside kiosks. Kids throwing bread (or better, seeds) at the water’s edge.
Kingston town centre sits on the Thames, with a riverside walk stretching from the ancient bridge to Canbury Gardens. The market in the town centre has been running since 1170 — the oldest in Surrey — and operates most days with food stalls, crafts, and the kind of browsing that parents enjoy while children eat something sticky.
Feed the ducks at the riverside by Kingston Bridge (bring seeds, not bread). Walk to Canbury Gardens — a riverside park with a playground, lawns, and space to run. Try GoBoat — self-drive electric boats from the riverside, no licence needed, children love steering. Kingston has proper restaurants too — after a day of theme park food courts, a real meal is welcome.
15 min from Chessington | Afternoon | Free (plus ice cream money)
15 minutes by car. Multiple car parks in Kingston town centre. Canbury Gardens free entry, playground suitable for all ages.
Little Peeps Soft Play — Chessington
Best for: Rainy days, ages 0-8, backup plan
When rain makes outdoor plans impossible, Little Peeps on Hook Road is five minutes from the theme park. Jungle-themed soft play across two floors, with a separate baby and toddler zone for under-2s and duckpin bowling upstairs. Open Monday–Saturday 9am–5pm, Sunday 10am–5pm. Cafe on-site. No booking required.
See our full listing for details.
5 min from Chessington | 2-3 hours | Ages 0-8
Hampton Court Palace: ~15 min (5 miles)
Bushy Park: ~10 min (4 miles)
Kingston town centre: ~15 min (5 miles)
Little Peeps soft play: ~5 min (1 mile)
Canbury Gardens: ~15 min (5 miles)
You came for the theme park. But this corner of Southwest London has been pulling people in for centuries — since Henry VIII built his palace, since the Saxon kings were crowned at Kingston, since the deer first roamed Bushy Park. The theme park is one day. The area is worth two.
More guides: Family Days in Kingston · Best Family Days Out · Walks & Nature
The weekend plan
Day 1: Chessington World of Adventures
Use early park access (hotel guests get 1 hour before public opening) → Hit popular rides first (Gruffalo River Ride, Zufari, Tomb Blaster) → Bring a packed lunch (food inside is expensive) → Zoo and SEA LIFE Centre in the afternoon when ride queues build → Back to hotel for Savannah Splash Pool → Dinner at Zafari Bar & Grill or Temple Restaurant
Day 2, Option A — The Historic Day
Morning at Hampton Court Palace (Magic Garden, maze, Tudor kitchens) → Walk across to Bushy Park → Picnic at Diana Fountain → Playground → Drive home
Day 2, Option B — The Relaxed Day
Late checkout → Drive to Kingston → Riverside walk → Lunch at a proper restaurant → Kingston Market → Canbury Gardens playground → Drive home
Day 2, Option C — Mix and Match
Morning at Bushy Park (deer, playground) → Drive to Kingston for lunch → Afternoon riverside walk → Home
Frequently Asked Questions
Hampton Court Palace (15 min drive) has The Magic Garden playground and a famous maze. Bushy Park (10 min) is free with 300 deer and an adventure playground. Kingston town centre (15 min) has riverside walks, a historic market, and family-friendly restaurants.
Yes. The Magic Garden is a purpose-built playground for under-12s with mythical beasts, towers, and water play. The palace maze is a classic, and 750 acres of parkland means plenty of room to run. Family trails help children engage with Tudor history.
About 15 minutes by car via the A243 and A309. There's also a direct bus route, or you can drive through Bushy Park and combine both in one trip.
Yes, completely free. It's a Royal Park with 1,100 acres, 300 deer, an adventure playground, and no entry charge. Parking is available at car parks within the park.
Day 1: Chessington World of Adventures (use early park access if you're a hotel guest). Day 2: Hampton Court Palace in the morning (The Magic Garden, the maze), Bushy Park in the afternoon (deer spotting, playground, picnic), or Kingston riverside for a more relaxed finish.
Hampton Court is accessible by train (Hampton Court station). Kingston has excellent bus and train links. Bushy Park is walkable from Hampton Court or Teddington stations. But with children and a full day planned, driving is easier.
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About this guide
This guide is part of Kingston Compass, covering Kingston, Surbiton and New Malden. We focus on practical local recommendations and regularly checked information. All venues are researched and verified by our local team.
Featured in this guide
4 curated places
Bushy Park
The second-largest Royal Park in London, featuring 1,100 acres of parkland, deer herds, the famous Diana Fountain, and the Woodland Gardens.
Canbury Gardens
A popular riverside park stretching along the Thames from Kingston town centre, with lawns, a playground, and views across to the Hampton Court direction.
Hampton Court Palace
Henry VIII's magnificent Tudor palace, featuring historic state apartments, the famous maze, and 60 acres of stunning gardens on the banks of the Thames.
Kingston Market
A daily market in Kingston's historic Market Place, offering fresh produce, street food, flowers, and specialty stalls in the heart of the town centre.
Local Activities
Bushy Park
The second-largest Royal Park in London, featuring 1,100 acres of parkland, deer herds, the famous Diana Fountain, and the Woodland Gardens.
Canbury Gardens
A popular riverside park stretching along the Thames from Kingston town centre, with lawns, a playground, and views across to the Hampton Court direction.
Chessington World of Adventures
Theme park, zoo, and SEA LIFE centre. Julia Donaldson rides and Paw Patrol areas for younger kids, rollercoasters for older ones. Under-90cm free.
Hampton Court Palace
Henry VIII's magnificent Tudor palace, featuring historic state apartments, the famous maze, and 60 acres of stunning gardens on the banks of the Thames.
