Chessington World of Adventures Resort Hotel

The Theme Park Hotel

Chessington’s resort hotel is two connected buildings — the Safari Hotel and the Azteca Hotel — sharing facilities and sitting right inside the theme park grounds. This isn’t a nearby hotel that happens to be close to an attraction. You’re in the resort. The gates are a two-minute walk from your room.

The headline benefit is clear: hotel guests get one hour of early park access before the public gates open. For families who’ve driven from Birmingham, Manchester, or anywhere outside London, that head start on empty rides is worth the premium alone.

The Rooms

Standard rooms are functional — TV, WiFi, tea and coffee, air conditioning. The real draw is the themed rooms. Gruffalo suites have a separate children’s sleeping area decorated with characters from the books. PAW Patrol bedrooms will have young children refusing to leave. World of Jumanji rooms lean into jungle adventure theming. There are also OREO and Capri-Sun themed options.

The Safari Hotel side has some rooms overlooking the Wanyama Reserve — giraffes visible from your window is a genuine selling point for families with animal-mad children.

Request a Giraffe room if views over the animal enclosures matter to you.

On-Site Facilities

The Savannah Splash Pool is a family water play area — not a serious swimming pool, but exactly what children want after a day in the park. Adults get a gym, sauna, and steam rooms. Note: Splash Pool access is complimentary for premium room guests but may be charged for Standard rooms.

Breakfast is included for all hotel guests, served at either the Zafari Bar & Grill (with views over the animal reserve) or the Temple Bar & Restaurant (more interactive, aimed at families with children).

Beyond the Theme Park

Here’s what most visiting families don’t realise: Chessington sits at the edge of some of the best family-friendly attractions in Southwest London. You’ve already made the journey — don’t drive straight home.

• Hampton Court Palace is 15 minutes by car. The Magic Garden playground is purpose-built for under-12s, the maze is a classic, and the 750 acres of parkland are stunning.
• Bushy Park is 10 minutes away. Free entry, 300 deer roaming wild, an adventure playground near the Diana Fountain, and the kind of open space that London visitors can’t believe exists.
• Kingston town centre is 15 minutes away. A riverside with ducks and boats, a market that’s been running since 1170, and proper restaurants beyond theme park food courts.

We’ve written a full guide: Visiting Chessington? Don’t Just Do the Theme Park.

Who This Hotel Suits

Families visiting Chessington World of Adventures who want the full immersive experience. Children under 10 will be beside themselves with the themed rooms and early park access. Particularly good for families travelling from outside London who are making a weekend of it — stay here, do the park, then use our guide to explore the area on day two.

Less suited if you’re not visiting the theme park. The location is suburban Chessington, and without the park connection there’s no reason to stay here over Kingston or Surbiton hotels which are closer to restaurants, riverside, and transport links.

Practical Details

• Parking: Free on-site for hotel guests
• Getting there: M25 Junction 9, then A243. Or direct train to Chessington South station (30 minutes from London Waterloo)
• Booking: Book directly via chessington.com for best rates and package deals. Hotel + park ticket packages often work out cheaper than booking separately
• Premium room check-in: From 2pm (standard rooms from 3pm)