THMPRK6.9/10
Photo: Chessington World of Adventures
Destination guide
London
London’s park history includes a destination that evolved from a zoo into a broader entertainment setting.
The story behind the day out
A private animal collection becomes a family attraction
Reginald Goddard opened Chessington Zoo in 1931 so the public could see his animal collection. The operator’s timeline records a later redevelopment into Chessington World of Adventures in 1987. The two dates describe different phases of the same destination. The zoo’s beginning is therefore not the opening date of the modern ride park, and both stages belong in the history of family attractions around London.