Chessington World of Adventures (Established 1987)
Dates
- Existence: Established 7 July 1987
Biography
Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park, zoo, sea life centre and hotel complex in Chessington, Surrey, England. The complex sits on the grounds of the Burnt Stub mansion, which was originally built in 1348.
Chessington first opened as a zoo in 1931, with the theme park being added in the 1980s by its new owners, The Tussauds Group. The theme park was one of the first to open in the UK on 7 July 1987.
The zoo and theme park continue to operate together in the twenty first century, operating over forty rides and caring for more than 1,000 animals and are currently owned by Merlin Entertainments Ltd., following its merger with The Tussauds Group in 2007. Merlin Entertainments also owns Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, and Madame Tussauds, and is the second largest entertainment operator in the world.
The theme park is divided into areas loosely styled on a range of world cultures, including Adventure Point, Mexicana, Pirates' Cove, Wild Woods, Forbidden Kingdom, Land of the Tiger and Wild Asia. Major attractions include Vampire, Dragon's Fury, KOBRA, Scorpion Express, Zufari: Ride into Africa! and The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure.
The site also operates a programme of annual events including Animal Adventures, Roar & Explore, Howl'o'ween, and Winter's Tail.
Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:
Chessington World of Adventures Postcard, c1987 - 1999
Postcard from Chessington World of Adventures with colour photographs on a tiger, two elephants, a polar bear and a lion, with red and white type.
Circus Friends Association Collection
This collection consists of a large library of books and journals, as well as archival material including posters, programmes, photographs, films, handbills, research material, scrapbooks, original artwork and many other items of ephemera relating to British, Irish and European circuses
Frankie Roberto Collection
Photographs, programmes, plans, trade and advertising material, tickets, badges and other items of ephemera for British theme parks and attractions, including Alton Towers, Pleasure Land, Thorpe Park and Legoland.
Guide and Game Book to Chessington World of Adventures, 2003
Guide book to Chessington World of Adventures, with games and vouchers. Light blue background with red, blue, green and orange type, and a colour image of a ride at the park.
Newspaper Cuttings and Scapbooks, 1838 - 2007
A collection of newspaper cuttings on circus, circus proprietors and performers and scrapbooks containing newspaper cuttings, posters, programmes and other items of ephemera, covering mainly British circuses and venues such as Belle Vue and also some international circuses.
Photographs, c1900 - 1999
Photographs and postcards of Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adverntures, Crystal Palace and Thorpe Park, showing sites, rides and other amusements.
Scrapbook of Multiple Circuses, 1940 - 1946
Scrapbook of posters, newspaper cuttings, programmes and black and white photographs, relating to multiple circuses and acts including Blackpool Tower, Chessington, Chipperfield's, Paulo's, John Duffy and Belle Vue, 58p.p.