Mojang Studios and Merlin Entertainments have announced Minecraft World, a £50 million theme park land opening in 2027 at Chessington World of Adventures in Greater London. The announcement was made during Minecraft Live on March 21, 2026.
This is the first time Minecraft will have a dedicated theme park area anywhere in the world. The project includes a world-first Minecraft roller coaster, themed dining, interactive adventures, block built play areas, and what Merlin is calling the world’s biggest Minecraft retail store.
What is Minecraft World?
Minecraft World is a themed land being built inside the existing Chessington World of Adventures park in Surrey, just outside London. It is not a standalone park. Instead, it will be a new section within Chessington, similar to how Super Nintendo World exists inside Universal Studios.
The land is inspired by the game itself, not by 2025’s A Minecraft Movie. Matt Walters from Microsoft Gaming made this clear during a Variety interview, stating that the park is designed around how people actually play Minecraft. Players will have agency in the experience, just like they do in the game.
Merlin and Mojang designed the attractions together using the game as a reference tool. The teams built layouts in Minecraft first, then translated those designs into real world structures. The goal is to make visitors feel like they have stepped into the Minecraft Overworld.
Minecraft World location and how to get there
Chessington World of Adventures is located in Greater London, about 35 minutes by direct train from London Waterloo station. The park already operates as a major family attraction with roller coasters, a zoo, and seasonal events.
Minecraft World will be added as a new land within the park grounds. Construction has already begun, with Merlin confirming that they have broken ground on the development.
What rides and attractions will Minecraft World have?
Merlin has confirmed several features for Minecraft World, though full ride details have not been released yet. Here is what has been announced so far:
The park will have a world-first Minecraft roller coaster. This will be the first coaster themed entirely around Minecraft at any park globally. No details on the ride type, height, or speed have been shared.
There will be interactive adventures and block built play areas. These appear to be walk-through or participation-based attractions rather than traditional rides.
The land will include Minecraft themed dining. Angela Jobson, SVP of Global Brand at Merlin, mentioned that figuring out what food to serve from the Minecraft universe led to some interesting internal discussions. The priority is making game-inspired food that actually looks and tastes good.
Minecraft World will also house the world’s biggest Minecraft retail store. Concept art released alongside the announcement shows a large storefront as part of the land’s entrance area.
Merlin released concept art showing the coaster, the shop entrance, and parts of the themed environment. The art depicts recognizable Minecraft biomes and blocky structures scaled up to real world size.
How much does Minecraft World cost?
The project has a budget of £50 million, which is roughly $70 million. This makes it one of Merlin Entertainments’ most expensive theme park developments in recent years.
For context, Merlin first announced a $110 million investment in Minecraft themed attractions across the US and UK back in November 2024, without naming specific locations. The Chessington project accounts for £50 million of that total. Merlin has not yet revealed where the US Minecraft attraction will be located.
When does Minecraft World open?
Minecraft World is set to open at some point in 2027. No specific month or date has been announced. Construction is already underway at Chessington.
The timing is notable. A Minecraft Movie earned over $961 million at the global box office in 2025, and a sequel to the film is scheduled for July 23, 2027. That means the theme park and the second movie could both arrive in the same year, giving the franchise two major real world touchpoints.
Who is building Minecraft World?
The project is a joint effort between Mojang Studios and Merlin Entertainments.
Mojang Studios is the developer behind Minecraft, owned by Microsoft. Torfi Frans Olafsson, Senior Creative Director of Entertainment at Mojang, said the park is a meaningful step in expanding the Minecraft universe beyond the game.
Merlin Entertainments is the company behind Legoland, Madame Tussauds, and several other theme parks and attractions worldwide. Angela Jobson from Merlin said the team worked closely with Mojang’s creative staff to make the land feel authentic.
Merlin and Mojang also brought in well-known Minecraft content creators to help design the land. The idea is to make the park feel genuine to the game’s community rather than a generic branded experience.
How does Minecraft World compare to other video game theme parks?
Minecraft World is not the first video game theme park attraction, but it is the first in the UK based on an official gaming IP. Here is how it compares:
Super Nintendo World opened at Universal Studios Japan in 2021 and later at Universal Orlando in 2023. It features Mario Kart rides and interactive Power-Up Bands.
PokePark Kanto opened in Japan and features a Pokemon themed outdoor experience.
Minecraft World takes a different approach by focusing on the sandbox nature of the game. Rather than recreating specific story moments, the land is built around biomes, mobs, and items from the open ended gameplay.
What else was announced at Minecraft Live 2026?
The Minecraft World reveal was part of the larger Minecraft Live March 2026 showcase. Other announcements from the same event included the Tiny Takeover game drop launching on March 24, the Chaos Cubed update coming later in 2026, and Minecraft Dungeons II confirmed for fall 2026.
For a full breakdown of everything revealed at the event, check our Minecraft Live 2026 recap.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Minecraft World being built?
At Chessington World of Adventures in Greater London, UK. The park is about 35 minutes by direct train from London Waterloo.
When does Minecraft World open?
Sometime in 2027. No specific date has been announced yet. Construction is already in progress.
How much did Minecraft World cost to build?
The project budget is £50 million, or roughly $70 million.
Is Minecraft World based on A Minecraft Movie?
No. The theme park land is based on the game itself. Mojang confirmed that the attractions are inspired by Minecraft’s biomes, mobs, and gameplay, not the 2025 film.
Will Minecraft World have a roller coaster?
Yes. Merlin has confirmed a world-first Minecraft roller coaster as part of the land. Specific ride details have not been released.
Is there a Minecraft theme park in the US?
Not yet. Merlin announced a $110 million investment covering both UK and US Minecraft attractions in 2024, but the US location has not been revealed.
Do you need a separate ticket for Minecraft World?
This has not been confirmed. Since Minecraft World is being built inside Chessington World of Adventures, it is likely included with standard park admission, but Merlin has not announced ticketing details.
