The British theme park partnership between Merlin Entertainments and a popular game developer is expanding with the development of dedicated Minecraft-themed accommodation.
Scheduled to debut at Chessington World of Adventures Resort in Greater London in 2027, the Minecraft World Hotel will feature nearly 70 themed bedrooms. Slated to open in the UK next year, the project aims to translate the digital environments of the video game into a physical overnight experience for park visitors.
The accommodation (expected to be an update of the existing Chessington Azteca Hotel) will be spread across four floors, comprising 20 premium rooms and 49 standard rooms. The interior design will be updated to draw directly from the game’s distinct biomes, incorporating specific colours, textures, items, and character mobs into the physical space.
Translating digital biomes into physical spaces
The conceptual design extends throughout the entire building to maintain thematic consistency. Guests will enter via a check-in area styled after the game’s Overworld environment, before travelling through corridors resembling mine tunnels and using lifts modelled on Nether Portals.
The accommodation will also include integrated food and beverage facilities designed around specific in-game locations. A themed restaurant is being developed based on Minecraft’s underwater ocean biomes, while an accompanying bar area will take its design cues from the game’s Woodland Mansion structures.
First Minecraft rollercoaster takes shape
Alongside the hotel details, Merlin Entertainments provided a construction update on the adjacent Minecraft World theme park land. The operators revealed that the area’s primary attraction will be a rollercoaster named Escape the Nether.
Track installation is currently underway for the ride, which will feature both indoor and outdoor sections. The attraction is designed to take guests on a high-speed journey through dark mine environments before exiting the show building via a Nether portal into an outdoor Overworld area.
The wider £50 million development represents a major capital investment for the resort and will include additional family-friendly rides, themed retail, and dedicated dining locations.
Adapting virtual worlds for physical operation
Representatives from both companies commented on the design challenges and objectives for the project during the recent Minecraft LIVE broadcast.
“We promised something truly special when we announced Minecraft World earlier this year, and with Minecraft World Hotel we are offering even more,” said Daisy Mercedes, Creative Producer at Merlin Entertainments.
“Not only will fans be able to experience the game imagined for real life, but they’ll be also able to sleep inside it, ensuring fans respawn exactly where they want to be. Seeing the Minecraft World Hotel take shape alongside the attractions we are building at Chessington World of Adventures theme park is a Minecraft fans biggest dream. Every room, corridor and detail has been crafted with immense love for this game, the stories made within it and its community.”
Filip Keatley Thoms, Creative Lead for Minecraft Parks and Experiences at Mojang Studios, noted the specific focus required to adapt the digital property for physical operation.
“Bringing Minecraft into an entirely new medium has been a fascinating creative challenge. We have thought about everything from the scale of the blocks to how mobs and biomes come to life in the real world. Our goal is to create an experience that feels authentically Minecraft and gives guests the chance to experience the game in an entirely new way.”
