If your family love theme parks and the idea of being on safari, this is the hotel for them. Lavishly themed tiger, giraffe, zebra and penguin rooms are impressively decorated with paw prints and animal pictures on the wall, a base-camp-style canopy over the bed, even a loo flush that roars and tweets with bird song - how amazing is that? Pulsating African music plays in reception and panoramic windows provide views of real-life giraffes, zebra, ostriches and oryx strutting their stuff. Children's quizzes and games, family discos, back-to-back films, character breakfasts, evening access to the Wanyama Reserve and Treetop Adventure and early morning priority on selected rides ramp up the action for guests of all ages.
We love being on-site so you can pop back backwards and forwards to the hotel - if you've time in between the action.
The hotel is part of the Chessington World of Adventures resort in Surrey. Claremont Landscape Garden is a 20-minute drive away.
By car: around 1 hour from London, 2 hours 30 minutes from Bristol and 3 hours 30 minutes from Sheffield. There is free parking available on-site.
By train: there is a direct line to Chessington South Station from London Waterloo, the train takes around 30 minutes. The hotel is a 15-minute walk or five-minute taxi ride from the station. thetrainline.com
The hotel is geared towards families with young children and teens although it's popular with couples and groups too. We love the theming and attention to detail, particularly the loo flush that tweets like a bird - neat.
We enjoy having a cocktail on the terrace and watching the zebras and giraffe roam - it's just like being on safari.
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Swimming pool
- Kids' club
- Evening events
- Games room
- Fitness centre
- Steam room/hammam
- Sauna
- Free Wi-Fi
- Free parking
Our favourite rooms are the Tiger rooms, particularly the carpet woven with explorer's binoculars, fishing net and torch, which are so realistic we keep stepping over them. A padlocked cupboard contains collectible badges which children can access by solving clues in the Tiger rooms.
Discovery Standard, Penguin, Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, Giraffe, Tiger, African Adventure, Standard, Accessible, Zebra, Monkey Temple
Facilities include: ensuite bathroom, free toiletries, TV, free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee facilities
Zebra-striped chairs in the restaurant really add to the safari ambience. The chicken breast with confit potato and charred braised cabbage is full of flavour and very well executed.
Zafari Bar & Grill: fun, bistro-style, family favourites. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
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