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LEGO to Acquire 29 Discovery Centres From Merlin in £200 Million Deal

The move brings LEGO’s hands-on Discovery Centres under direct control to advance its experiential retail strategy.

Overview

  • The agreement covers LEGO and LEGOLAND Discovery Centres in nine countries that together draw about five million visitors a year.
  • Legoland Resorts are excluded from the sale, with Merlin continuing to operate 11 parks worldwide under licence.
  • Closing is targeted for the end of 2025 with a purchase price of roughly £200 million, reported at nearly $270 million.
  • LEGO describes the centres as an extension of its global retail network focused on memorable, hands-on brand experiences.
  • Merlin says the sale lets it concentrate on growing Legoland Resorts, while affected UK sites include Manchester and Birmingham alongside a large North American footprint.