Chessington World of Adventures’ visitor numbers have returned to pre-pandemic levels, recently released figures reveal.
Seeing about 1.45 million admissions in 2022, the Surrey theme park has recovered from 1.3 million in 2021 and the record low of 600,000 in 2020.
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic saw lockdowns and mandatory closures of businesses throughout the world.
The latest admission figures were revealed in a public consultation currently being held into proposals for a new waterpark at Chessington.
Chessington said: “The leisure and tourism industry has also been one of the hardest hit sectors by COVID-19.
“[The theme park] had to close completely for parts of 2020 and 2021 and operate at reduced capacity for other parts of those years when it was able to open.”
Merlin recovering
Meanwhile, data also revealed that Merlin Entertainments other UK theme parks saw a partial bounce-back in 2021.
Alton Towers in particular increased admissions to 2.4 million last year, after 2020 saw less than a million guests.
Recoveries at Thorpe Park and Legoland Windsor in 2021 were more modest, at about 1.3 million admissions each.
The consultation into Chessington’s waterpark proposals runs until 30 November, after which a full planning application could soon be seen.