Chessington World of Adventures Resort is a theme park, zoo and hotel complex that lies 12 miles (19 km) southwest of Central London, England in the Chessington area of the Kingston upon Thames borough. Historically opened as Chessington Zoo in 1931, a theme park was developed by The Tussauds Group alongside the zoo, opening on 7 July 1987, as one of the first themed amusement parks in Britain.[1] The park was inherited by Merlin Entertainments after the buyout of Tussauds in 2007.[2] Under Merlin, Chessington has been increasingly developed into a resort tourist destination, including two on-site hotels, a high ropes course and camp site.