UK attractions try to win back visitors as post-Covid ‘revenge spending’ ends
Alton Towers and Legoland owner alters tactics after period of VAT cuts and people spending cash saved during lockdowns
March 2024
Legoland and Alton Towers owner plans to charge more at peak times
Merlin Entertainments says surge pricing will help offset decline in visitors since Covid pandemic
January 2024
Peppa Pig to make Lego debut and expand global theme parks
Hasbro signs deal with Lego Group and Alton Towers operator Merlin Entertainments
January 2023
From must-see gigs to VIP tickets: how live events are on course to defy UK cost of living crisis
Strong year predicted for industry amid premium seating boom and despite rise in prices
March 2022
Jumanji rides coming to theme parks as Sony strikes global deal with Merlin
Exclusive: first experience based on hit film franchise will open next month at Gardaland in Italy
February 2022
Alton Towers owner Merlin to take over Cadbury World
Theme park company to acquire operations and brand licences for £6m attraction in Bournville
June 2019
Observer business agenda
Neil Woodford’s woes mount as deadline arrives to meet withdrawal demands
Much will turn on what the former investment star says about the debacle on Monday. He must address the hard issues
Consortium bids £6bn for Alton Towers owner Merlin
Legoland, London Eye and Madame Tussauds will be taken over by group led by Lego owners
Two whales flown from Shanghai aquarium to sanctuary in Iceland
Female 12-year-old beluga whales Little Grey and Little White arrive at Klettsvik Bay
May 2019
Alton Towers owner Merlin urged by US investor to go private
ValueAct Capital writes letter to chairman of firm behind Peppa Pig theme parks, Legoland and London Eye
January 2019
Rollercoaster ride: day at Thorpe Park ends with lost bag and car theft
Visitor locked in compensation battle as handing over valuables for safekeeping goes awry
October 2017
Nils Pratley on finance
Airbus's ingenious Bombardier plan is comeuppance for Boeing
Nils Pratley
After Boeing tried to kill Bombardier’s C-Series plane in its infancy, Airbus’s actions secure it a sizeable stake and Bombardier wins a powerful ally
June 2017
Visitor numbers fall at UK attractions after terrorist attacks
Are you avoiding a trip to a UK attraction because of terror attacks?
November 2016
Alton Towers to axe 70 jobs after Smiler rollercoaster crash
Redundancies, which represent up to 9% of permanent workforce, follow loss of 98 jobs as part of restructuring earlier this year
September 2016
Alton Towers visitor numbers still down since Smiler crash
Nils Pratley on finance
It's time for Sir John Sunderland and Nick Varney to resign
Nils Pratley
Alton Towers owner fined £5m over Smiler rollercaster crash
Alton Towers forced to evacuate the Smiler ride
July 2016
Yikes! That's my head in a jar! … Derren Brown lets us ride his 4D spook-tacular ghost train
For his latest trick, the illusionist is playing VR mind games with the funfair staple. As his eagerly awaited ghost train prepares to open at Thorpe Park, we get a preview
