Chessington (along with other Merlin resorts) is n...

Chessington (along with other Merlin resorts) is not normally open for the winter but has recently begun offering limited opening hours for limited areas of the park over the Christmas period.

There aren't very many rides open at this time of year, but those that are open all have shorter height restrictions, making them suitable for the whole family. The biggest height restriction is 1.2m, for the Vampire, which ruled out our youngest, but not our eldest son.

The zoo and the Sealife Centre continue to offer weekend opening throughout the year, though to enjoy this you really have to be okay with the idea that large, wild animals are still held in small, unnatural habitats in the 21st century.