The Gruffalo River Ride Adventure
BEST FOR
Ages 0+
ENTRY
from £32
WHERE
Chessington
What it’s like
A boat trip through a jungle of gorillas, giraffes and meerkats, plus a peek at underwater life, all part of one big theme park day.
The river ride is the centrepiece here: you drift along in a boat past over 1,000 animals, so you're looking at gorillas one minute and penguins the next, with meerkats and monkeys somewhere in the mix. It's billed as a lazy river, but the site is upfront that you will get wet, so factor that in if you're going in anything you'd rather keep dry. There's also a SEA LIFE Centre on site if you want to swap the boat for glass tanks and underwater creatures for a bit.
Height matters more than age here. Anyone under 1.1m gets an easier time of it, and the site is blunt that guests over that height need to be able to self-evacuate if needed, down steps and across uneven flooring. Under 90cm goes free, which is a nice touch if you've got a baby in tow, but it also means this is one to think through if anyone in your group has limited mobility or is jumpy about strobe lighting and loud noise, both of which get a mention.
Money is where it stings. Book online and a day ticket is £32, but turn up on the day without booking and it jumps to £68, which is a proper punishment for not planning ahead. There's an adult and pre-schooler combo ticket at £29 online if you're bringing a toddler, and an annual pass at £64 if this is going to be a repeat trip rather than a one-off. Booking ahead isn't just about the price either, it's how you get in at all.
This isn't really a stand-alone attraction, it's one ride and one centre within a bigger day out, with cafés, a restaurant and a gift shop dotted around for when the queue gets long or the toddler needs a sit down. The main season runs March to October, though the park stays open all year, so a January visit is a different sort of day to an August one.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Under 1.1m; babies under 90cm go free
- Wheelchairs
- Non-ambulant guests and those over 1.1m in height with limited mobility may have restricted access
- Worth knowing
- Under 90cms visit free
- Booking online roughly halves the price compared with walking up on the day
- Under 90cm visits free, handy if you've got a baby along
- You will get wet on this ride, so dress for it
- Rides can be affected during seasonal events, so what's running may vary
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
A day ticket is £32 if you book online, but £68 if you just turn up on the day. There's a £29 adult and pre-schooler combo ticket, and a £64 annual pass if you'll be back.
Do we need to book in advance?
Yes, and it makes a real difference to the price too. Booking online is roughly half what walking up costs.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
Under 90cm goes in free, and there's a combo ticket for an adult with a pre-schooler. Anyone under 1.1m in height generally has an easier time on the ride itself.
What about wheelchair users or anyone with limited mobility?
Access is better for anyone under 1.1m. Non-ambulant guests and those over 1.1m with limited mobility may find access restricted, since you may need to self-evacuate the boat down steps or across uneven flooring.
Will we get wet?
Yes, the site is clear about that. Worth knowing before you queue up in your good coat.
Is there anything to watch out for with sensory issues?
The ride uses strobe lighting, smoke effects and loud noise, which may not suit everyone.
Is there food on site?
There's a café, a restaurant and general food on site around the park.
Can you stay overnight?
There's an overnight stay option from £73 per person.
Is the ride open all year?
The park is open January to December, but the main season runs March to October, so what's running can vary outside that window.
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