The owner of UK attractions including LEGOLAND Windsor, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, SEA LIFE and many more is to take over Cadbury World in a 50-year deal. The Worlds 2nd biggest Theme park Corporation (after Disney) is to acquire the operations and brand licences for the £6m Cadbury World attraction in Birmingham.

 

Europe’s biggest theme park operator

Merlin Entertainments, Europe’s biggest theme park operator, which was taken private in a £6bn deal two years ago, has confirmed a deal to acquire the operations and brand licences for the attraction at the chocolate-maker’s Bournville factory in the West Midlands.

It will bring Cadbury World into Merlin’s large roster of UK attractions which also includes Madame Tussauds, The London Eye and Blackpool Tower.

 

Cadbury World

Cadbury World was opened at the chocolate maker’s Bourneville factory site in 1990 at the cost of around £6 million. The attraction currently attracts over 600,000 people each year, making it one of the West Midlands’ most popular attractions.

Under the deal, Merlin Entertainments, whose portfolio also includes the London Eye and The Bear Grylls Adventure, will take on Cadbury World’s 150 employees and hold brand rights usage in the UK.

“We have long-admired Cadbury as the nation’s favourite chocolate brand and have already successfully worked together across a range of experiential activities and retail spaces in our UK theme parks,” said Mark Fisher, the chief development officer at Merlin Entertainments.

 

Investment Plans

Merlin has plans to invest in developing the attraction, which includes the world’s biggest Cadbury shop and an “unmissable 4D chocolate adventure”, ahead of Cadbury’s bicentenary in 2024. Cadbury started in Birmingham in 1824 and moved manufacturing to Bournville in 1879.

 

Merlin Entertainments Attractions

The theme park group, which was founded in 1999, operates more than 130 attractions, along with hotels and holiday villages, in 24 countries. In the UK, its businesses also include Chessington World of Adventures, Blackpool Tower and Dungeons attractions in London and other cities.

 

UK Attractions owned and operated by Merlin Entertainments include:

Theme Parks

 

Alton Towers Resort

 

Alton Towers Waterpark

 

Chessington World of Adventures

 

Thorpe Park

 

LEGOLAND Windsor

 

Midway Attractions

* London Eye
* The Blackpool Tower
* Jurassic Skyline
* Shreks Adventure
* Legoland Discovery Centres
* Warwick Castle

 

The Dungeons

* London Dungeon
* York Dungeon
* Edinburgh Dungeon
* Blackpool Tower Dungeon
* Warwick Castle Dungeon

 

Madame Tussauds

* Madame Tussauds London
* Madame Tussauds Blackpool

 

SEA LIFE Centres

* BIRMINGHAM
* BLACKPOOL
* BRIGHTON
* GREAT YARMOUTH
* GWEEK
* HUNSTANTON
* LOCH LOMOND (GLASGOW)
* LONDON
* MANCHESTER
* SCARBOROUGH
* WEYMOUTH

 

London Attractions

Merlin Entertainments midway attractions are often grouped together in major cities, for example in Central London you will find:
* The London Eye
* Madame Tussauds
* The London Dungeon
* Shreks Adventure
* SEA LIFE London Aquarium

 

Blackpool Attractions

In Blackpool Merlin Entertainments operate a group of attractions within close proximity to each other:
* Madame Tussauds
* Blackpool Sea Life Centre
* The Blackpool Tower

 

Manchester Attractions

In Manchester’s Trafford Centre (a large indoor shopping centre and leisure complex), you will find two of Merlin Entertainments Midway attractions located alongside each other:
* Legoland Discovery Centre
* Manchester Sea Life Centre

 

Birmingham Attractions

* Legoland Discovery Centre
* National Sea Life Centre Birmingham
* The Bear Grylls Adventure

 

Attractions Near Me Offers

View More Discount Days Out at Attractions Near Me
Also like our Facebook page for notification of any new offers Facebook.com/AttractionsNearMe