Tiger Crossing

Tiger Crossing sits right next to Chessington World of Adventures, which means it's either a clever tie-in attraction or you've stumbled upon it by accident while heading to the theme park. Either way, it's a zoo experience focused on big cats, and that's the main draw here.

What you're actually getting is a chance to see tigers and other felines up close - the sort of thing that works brilliantly for kids who've watched too much wildlife telly and want to see a proper tiger rather than a screen. The enclosures are designed so you walk through their spaces rather than standing behind barriers, which does create a different atmosphere. Whether that's comfortable for the animals is another question, but visitors tend to find it immersive.

It's genuinely best suited to families with young children, particularly those already booked into Chessington World of Adventures Resort just down the road. You're probably looking at an hour to ninety minutes here, depending on how long you linger and whether the cats are actually awake. They're not always cooperative about being observed.

Getting there is straightforward - Chessington is the nearest town and you'll find Tiger Crossing essentially on the same site as the theme park. If you're staying at one of the nearby spots like Polyapes Scout Campsite or Walton on Thames Camping Club, it's a short drive away. Fair warning though: it's pricey for what amounts to a focused animal experience, and on hot days the cats disappear into shade entirely.