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First-ever Minecraft Hotel sets opening in London 2027. Minecraft Hotel to open in London. Minecraft Hotel, the world's first block-styled lodging, will debut in 2027 at Chessington World of Adventures in South-West London. The reveal came during the September 2026 Minecraft Live event, where Mojang Studios and Merlin Entertainments announced the new attraction and the park's first Minecraft-themed rollercoaster, Escape the Nether. Guests will jump straight into the block-inspired world, staying beyond the park gates and encountering familiar mobs, a Deep Sea Diner, and rooms that keep the fantasy alive even after departure. Park-Integrated adventure. Escape the Nether is promoted as the world's first Minecraft-themed rollercoaster, blending indoor and outdoor elements inspired by the perilous dimension. Discover more Language Resources Word Games The surrounding Minecraft World park will feature the exhilarating rollercoaster plus an immersive indoor-outdoor experience that mirrors the game's atmosphere. Inside the hotel: design & features. The concept art shows a blocky building with an outdoor sitting area, and the entrance bristles with a Baby Zombie Chicken Jockey, minecart rails, and a likeness of Steve wielding a pickaxe. Within the Deep Sea Diner, mossy stone pillars and kelp stalks hang from the ceiling, while walls display Ocean Monument sculptures. Rooms incorporate redstone lamps, wooden chests, and Creeper-themed cushions, reinforcing the algorithmic aesthetic and ensuring guests feel fully immersed in the cell-level world. While the hotel sets the tone for the park, Mojang's roadmap also earmarks a new Ice Caves biome for winter, a Sift dimension launch in 2027, and the debut of additional mobs and vegetation in the Four-dimensional Sift realm.

Headout expands global partnership with Merlin Entertainments across Asia. Sep 23, 2026 Headout, home to the world's best real-life experiences, today announced the expansion of its global partnership with Merlin Entertainments across Asia, bringing four leading Merlin attractions in the region onto the Headout platform through direct integration. SEA LIFE Bangkok, Madame Tussauds Bangkok, Madame Tussauds Singapore and Madame Tussauds Hong Kong are now live and bookable on Headout. The expansion builds on a longstanding partnership between Headout and Merlin Entertainments across the US, UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. With Asia now part of that footprint, Merlin gains access to Headout's growing base of international and long-haul travelers, while Headout guests can discover and book even more of Merlin's iconic attractions around the world. The direct integration also makes the booking experience faster and more seamless, with real-time availability and instant confirmation. Travelers can book using local currencies and payment methods, with flexible options including Book Now, Pay Later, making it easier to plan and pay for experiences on their terms. "Asia is an incredibly important growth market for Headout, and we're excited to grow our presence here alongside Merlin. Merlin operates some of the world's most recognisable attractions, and bringing more of them onto Headout makes it easier for travelers to discover and experience them. We've built a strong partnership across markets globally and see plenty of opportunity to build on that success together across APAC." - Parth Maheshwari, Regional General Manager, APAC, Headout The expansion marks the next chapter in Headout and Merlin Entertainments' global partnership, as the two companies continue to make world-class experiences easier to discover and book for travelers across Asia and beyond. Images in this article

Merlin to introduce new 'virtual queuing' for Ride Access Pass users. * home / * newsroom / * News releases * / Merlin to introduce new 'virtual queuing' for Ride Access Pass users. * New 'virtual queuing' system to be introduced at Merlin's UK theme parks in 2027 for guests with additional accessibility needs - with no changes to eligibility criteria * Move follows feedback from guests and industry partners, and development of a practical system to avoid Ride Access Pass users having to wait in a physical queue * Changes demonstrate Merlin's commitment to creating inclusive experiences and ensuring all guests and families feel supported when visiting Merlin locations Posted on 17 September 2026 IN News releases Share this page Merlin Entertainments, the global family of destinations, experiences and attractions, is set to introduce a new queuing system for Ride Access Pass (RAP) users across its UK resort theme parks. Rolling out in 2027, the new RAP system will allow users to queue virtually with an easy-to-use app, reducing time spent in physical queues. No changes will be made to eligibility criteria, and the intention over time is to remove the requirement to pre-book a RAP slot in advance, once the system has proven effective. The system has been designed following feedback from RAP users, and in recognition of increased demand over recent years. Ahead of finalising the changes, Merlin engaged with disability experts, charities and industry partners, including Disability Rights UK, Scope, ADHD UK, and the National Autistic Society, and their feedback has supported the development of a practical system that improves the guest experience for those requiring additional support. "We are pleased that Merlin has consulted autistic people and their families about their queuing system and that the eligibility criteria for the Ride Access Pass will remain the same. This is an example of an adaptation that can make a real difference to autistic people, enabling them to access facilities and venues. We have worked with Merlin for many years so we know how committed the team is to ensuring their facilities are welcoming and inclusive for autistic visitors." Lisa Myers, Head of National Autistic Society: Learn "Scope is pleased to have been involved in discussions on Merlin's plans to update its Ride Access Pass. We welcome Merlin's commitment to making reasonable adjustments that help disabled visitors access and enjoy attractions on an equitable basis. These changes represent a positive step in removing unnecessary barriers, to improve the experience of disabled visitors." John McLachlan, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Scope These changes, once fully rolled out, will replace the current system, which requires RAP guests to pre-book slots and 'reverse queue' - where they ride first and then must wait before being able to access their next ride. Under the new system, the wait time for RAP users will be the same as for those in the standard queue, while offering those with additional needs the flexibility to 'virtual queue' in quieter or more accessible parts of the park. They will then be notified on the app when they are near the front of the queue and therefore need to make their way to the ride. When they arrive, a designated merge host in each location will then support them in joining the queue from the RAP entrance. This will be bolstered by investment in new separate queue lines for RAP users to make the process as streamlined and consistent as possible. RAP users will still be able to ride with up to three companions, meaning up to four people can be given their own time slot through the user's RAP app. The first stage of the rollout will get underway at Alton Towers at the end of this year, before the full implementation in 2027 ahead of the peak summer season. As part of this, Merlin will be welcoming feedback from RAP users on this initial stage through the RAP app and email surveys, so the new approach can be refined over time. "Accessibility is always evolving, and we welcome Merlin's commitment to listening to disabled guests and exploring practical ways to improve their experience. It is clear that the new virtual queuing approach will provide greater flexibility for many guests, and the intention to phase out the pre-booking requirement is also a positive step. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Merlin as the changes are rolled out - playing our part in verifying eligibility to help more families have wonderful days out at their attractions." Martin Austin MBE, Chief Executive of Nimbus Disability "Creating inclusive experiences is at the heart of what we do at Merlin and we want every guest to enjoy memorable days out at our attractions. Over the past few months, we have listened carefully to feedback from RAP users, disability charities and industry experts, and it's clear the current experience does not always provide the flexibility and comfort some guests need. This new virtual queuing approach has been designed in response to that feedback. By providing a practical alternative that avoids RAP guests having to wait in physical queue lines, we believe it will significantly improve visits for these users and their families. We will continue to work closely with RAP users and advocacy groups as the rollout progresses, as part of our ongoing commitment to making our attractions as accessible and enjoyable as possible for everyone." Rob Smith, Chief Operating Officer at Merlin Entertainments