Inside the new UK theme park hotel room where it's Christmas all year
Ever wish, like the perennial Wizzard song, that it could be Christmas every day? Well, dig out the matching Rudolph pyjamas, because Chessington World of Adventures ' newest hotel room delivers exactly that.
This weekend, the Surrey theme park's four-star Safari Hotel adds to its raft of bespoke rooms, which already includes Oreo, Jumanji and Gruffalo suites, with a 'Christmas-All-Year' stay, designed to offer a festive fix even when December 25th is still miles off.
On a warm, blue-sky day in May - we're wearing shorts and t-shirts - I take the kids, roller coaster aficionados Belle and Cleo, 13 and 11, to see if stepping into Christmas just as summer's kicking in is as fun as it sounds or, well, a bit of a theme park turkey.
The first sign of our imminent yuletide adventure? An over-sized wreath marked 'Tweedy family' sitting above a designated car parking space outside the hotel.
Minutes later, after being handed a large envelope with 'Parents only' written on it at reception, we have the keys to room 321, the door of which is giving full Christmas movie vibes, with its shiny brass knocker, traditional wreath and Hollywood-esque layer of snow.
Then comes the spectacular seasonal sucker-punch that would have Scrooge bah-humbugging out of the door.
As the key card lights green, Slade's Merry Xmas Everybody blasts out at full volume and we wheel our cases into a room that's bedecked as if the man in red could descend at any moment.
It's Christmas and then some in here. The entire room is festooned in twinkling garlands, giant shiny red baubles, big red bows and sprigs of holly.
Chessington World of Adventures From £32pp
The walls are Chrimbo green, adorned with hand-painted gold stars; there's a sizeable tree, which is dressed to the festive nines and has faux pressies beneath it, while a cosy gingerbread man rug is draped on the floor.
Alongside a comfy-looking king-size, there's two bunk beds with tartan bedding, a Santa mural and a cosy fireplace scene - and a stuffed reindeer on each pillow, which make the cynical tween and teen in my life suddenly glow with seasonal cheer.
The bathroom? Yep, it's December in there too, with another wreath above the loo, a Merry Christmas decal emblazoned on the shower screen and the same green-and-gold starry walls.
Bar the eggnog, the Chessington elves have thought of everything.
We get a cracker each and hot chocolate sticks for the kids, and a list next to the room's Alexa has suggestions such as 'phone Santa' or 'ask for a Christmas joke'.
When we think things can't get any more surreal, they promptly do.
I pull back the plush red curtains and glance out of the window at two zebras frolicking, a giraffe tucking into some lofty greenery and a couple of antelopes basking in the late afternoon sun.
The room overlooks the theme park's Wanyama Reserve, where its popular safari animals roam - it's like looking at the Maasai Mara from the North Pole.
Chessington, famous for its zoo, aquarium and thrill rides, including Vampire, Dragon's Fury and Mandrill Mayhem, has steadily served up more and more themed hotel rooms in recent years.
Why? Who wants the fun to stop when the rides shut down for the day?
In the Oreo room, a circular double bed is styled like the famous cookie; a cinematic green glow welcomes guests to the Jumanji rooms, based on the hit movie franchise, and Julia Donaldson fans will find themselves in seventh heaven in the Room on the Broom and Gruffalo suites.
The most obscure is a very sunny-looking Capri-Sun room, where a neon sign beams out the logo for the retro orange pouch drink and the interiors major on tropical scenes.
So, what was in that envelope marked 'Parents only'?
I won't ruin Christmas except to say that it was an opportunity to let Old St Nick know exactly what the kids might fancy should he manage a visit and, sure enough, the next morning they awoke to stockings stuffed full of goodies.
Just before breakfast, there's a tap on the door, with a Chessington elf bringing yet more treats and plenty of Christmassy chat (that's almost drowned out by the 30-second Slade salutation), much to the bewilderment of families on their way for a fry-up.
There's one final present too - the room rate includes tickets to the park and early entry to beat the queues.
Even the kettle says Christmas, and guests will find crackers and hot chocolate amongst the tea and coffee
At check-out, we're sad to leave our yuletide hideaway with a safari view.
And hours later, there's a proper sigh of disappointment when our own front door clicks open quietly, with no rockers from Wolverhampton and their Christmas earworm to welcome us home.
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