Merlin Entertainments Secures £650m Refinancing Deal as Theme Park Giant Looks to Future

Merlin Entertainments, the company behind some of the UK’s biggest theme parks and attractions, is reported to have secured a refinancing deal worth around £650 million.

According to Sky News, the new borrowing will replace debt that is due to mature next year, providing the attractions giant with greater visibility over its finances in the coming years.

Sky News reports £650m refinancing

Sky News reports that Merlin Entertainments is expected to announce the refinancing alongside its half-year financial results later this week.

The deal is understood to involve debt secured against a number of Merlin’s well-known British attractions, including the London Eye, London Dungeon and Shrek’s Adventure London.

Read the full Sky News report here

While the precise terms of the refinancing have not yet been publicly confirmed, Sky News reports that Merlin had debt maturities of between £600 million and £650 million due in 2027. The identity of the providers of the new debt was also unclear at the time of reporting.

Merlin has declined to comment on the details of the reported deal. A spokeswoman told Sky News that the refinancing had not been concluded.

What does this mean for Merlin’s attractions?

For visitors, a refinancing deal is unlikely to result in any immediate changes to the UK’s theme parks and attractions.

Merlin Entertainments operates a huge portfolio of attractions, including Alton Towers Resort, Thorpe Park, LEGOLAND Windsor Resort, Chessington World of Adventures Resort and SEA LIFE, alongside its London attractions.

The company has been working to strengthen its financial and operational position while continuing to invest in new attractions, accommodation and major intellectual-property partnerships.

Merlin’s latest full-year results showed that it welcomed 60.5 million guests globally in 2025, compared with 62.8 million in 2024. Despite the lower visitor figure, the company reported underlying EBITDA of £571 million and said its performance improved during the second half of the year.

Merlin continues to invest in new experiences

The refinancing news comes as Merlin continues to pursue a development strategy focused on new attractions and experiences.

The company has announced major partnerships with brands including Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and Mojang Studios, with projects including the world’s first LEGO Harry Potter land and Minecraft-themed accommodation.

Merlin has also previously explored potential changes to parts of its UK portfolio, including an examination of a possible sale of a group of SEA LIFE attractions. That process was ultimately shelved after the company did not receive sufficiently attractive bids.

The refinancing therefore comes at an important point for the company as it attempts to balance its debt position with continued investment across its attractions and resorts.

A significant development for the UK’s biggest theme park operator

Although the reported refinancing is primarily a financial development rather than a change to Merlin’s attractions, the deal could be significant for the company’s longer-term plans.

Securing new financing would give Merlin greater certainty around its upcoming debt maturities while allowing the company to continue focusing on its wider transformation programme and investment pipeline.

For theme park fans, the key question will be what Merlin does with that financial flexibility — particularly as the company continues to develop new rides, themed accommodation and experiences across its portfolio.

Sky News reported on the £650 million refinancing on Tuesday 8 September 2026, with the full details expected to become clearer when Merlin announces its financial results later this week.