Monkey Swinger

Information

2. History
3. Past Rides & Attractions
4. Monkey Swinger

A devilish ape once sent riders swinging through the treetops on Monkey Swinger!

Just hoping the jets of icy cold water wouldn’t bring them crashing back to earth! Monkey Swinger was another Chessington classic, but its grand age never made it any less thrilling. Unlike similar variations of the same ride, Monkey Swinger packed a secret surprise, hidden right underneath the boarding platform.

Riders took their seats, strapped themselves in, and let the cool south London breeze set their legs swinging. It was a basic concept, but the feeling of flying was surprisingly effective. Guests swooped through the sky in large arcing circles, but that wasn’t all. The ride’s tilting mechanism guaranteed an undulating up-and-down motion to keep things interesting.

But settling in too comfortably was never an option. As soon as the honeymoon period was over, riders quickly discovered why this attraction brought a wry smile to the faces of Chessington fans. Cheeky water jets would suddenly shoot up from tiny holes beneath the ride’s platform. At full power for only a moment, unlucky riders in the line of fire were left soaked!

Like many attractions in Wild Asia, Monkey Swinger predated the area’s 2010 transformation. Originally opening in 2000 as Billy’s Whizzer, it was a wave-swinger ride with a difference! As part of Beanoland—the land that Wild Asia later replaced—Billy’s Whizzer wasn’t just a standard ride. It featured a unique twist: hidden water jets beneath the ride area, ready to catch unsuspecting guests off guard.

Now, with Monkey Swinger removed to make way for future attractions, its legacy lives on in the memories of those who took to the skies—and got soaked in the process!