15 Ways to Re-Connect With London This Spring

With the UK’s final lockdown now easing, our London attractions have been given the eagerly anticipated green light to open from Monday 17th May* – we know, we can’t contain our excitement either! It’s time to rediscover the magic of London, Passholders, and our awesome attractions which cannot wait to welcome you back. There are tons of epic reasons to visit our spellbinding attractions but here are 15 ways that you can re-connect with London this Spring and Summer to get you started!

^{*Please note: Shrek’s Adventure! London will be opening on the 22nd May}

1. Discover all-new experiences and events

There are loads of brand-new experiences and events taking place at our London attractions this Spring and Summer including:

• The brand-new Octonauts trail at SEA LIFE London Aquarium
• The Pub Pod at The lastminute.com London Eye
• The newly launched Awards Party zone, Black Panther figure and Marvel Universe 4D film at Madame Tussauds London
• The interactive Trolls World Tour experience (with Poppy and Branch meet and greet) launching this Summer at Shrek’s Adventure! London
• A brand-new show uncovering the dark history of Victorian-era dentistry at The London Dungeon

To learn more about these experiences and what's happening at our other attractions, visit our What’s New webpage. Make sure you check back regularly so you don’t miss out on the latest news.

2. Check out attraction experiences you missed last year

We know you might not have had the chance to visit London this past year, so you probably haven’t seen some of the latest experiences to launch at our attractions, including the brand-new Rock Pool Explorer at SEA LIFE London Aquarium which opened last year! Discover incredible facts about rock pools, including starfish, crabs and sea anemones – it’s a magical must see if you haven’t already experienced it!

 

3. Be a tourist for the day

Whilst we have a lot of love for our attractions (of course!), there is plenty to see in London aside from all the Merlin magic. Why not take the time to re-discover some of London’s best sights? You could even set sail down the famous River Thames on the London Eye River Cruise and see some of the city's most famous landmarks, whilst still making the most of your Merlin Annual Pass. Remember: Passholders receive a 50% discount!

 

4. Take a selfie with your favourite characters, animals and figures!

Meet the Shrektacular characters at Shrek’s Adventure! London, go celeb-spotting at Madame Tussauds London and discover adorable sea creatures at SEA LIFE London Aquarium. Boris the turtle and Juno the penguin have been eagerly awaiting your return and we hear Harry and Meghan have a lot of news to share over at Madame Tussauds London! Why not take a selfie and hashtag #MerlinAnnualPass on Instagram and we’ll be sure to share our favourite snaps?

5. Experience the London magic with friends and relatives

Now it’s more important than ever to re-connect with family and friends and make the most of each other’s company! What could be more special than inviting your friend or relative on an epic London day out, where you can experience London like never before? Take them for a spin on The lastminute.com London Eye, get a selfie with The Queen at Madame Tussauds London or brave The London Dungeon together… if you dare! Remember Passholders receive a 50% discount for family and friends.

 

6. Make the moment extra special

If you’re anything like us, you’ve been waiting a long time to re-discover the London attractions, so why not take this chance to make the moment extra special? Book a surprise London Eye Champagne Experience for you and a friend with your Merlin Annual Pass discount or perhaps treat yourself to a Behind the Scenes experience at SEA LIFE London Aquarium.

 

7. Enjoy a picnic in Jubilee Park Garden

That being said, you don’t really need to spend a penny to make it an extra special day out at our attractions. Why not take a picnic and head to Jubilee Park Garden next to The lastminute.com London Eye? We can’t think of a more picturesque setting for a picnic than in the very heart of London – if you can, we’ll be impressed! We all need a pit-stop when visiting London, and this is the perfect place to chill out on a sunny day.

8. Capture some awesome photos

It’s been a long time since we’ve had some awesome city scenes to shoot, so why not take this opportunity to capture some stunning shots for Instagram? Perhaps a shot beneath the SEA LIFE London Aquarium Ocean Tunnel, a snap of the epic new Black Panther figure at Madame Tussauds London or from 135m high with 360-degree panoramic views on The lastminute.com London – that’s what it’s all about, right?! Make sure you tag us or hashtag #MerlinAnnualPass to appear on our Instagram channel.

 

9. Enjoy fish and chips by the South Bank’s fantastic views

What could be more British than enjoying some delicious fish and chips whilst looking out over the River Thames at landmarks like Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament – we’ll let you think about that for a while! You can pick up some delicious fish and chips from The Great British Fish & Chip shop by the London Eye reception desk.

 

10. Get inquisitive…

Our staff are a friendly bunch and they are super keen to share all of their Merlin knowledge with you! Whilst you’re in London, why not listen to one of the epic talks led by our team or spend a little time speaking with them one-to-one? Ask them questions about what your favourite sea creatures love to eat (spoiler alert – turtles eat a LOT of greens!) or how starfish are able to regrow their arms. Whatever your questions, they’ll be eager to impart their wisdom!

11. Explore everything the London South Bank has to offer

The London South Bank is an amazing place to explore, so why not take your time to fully experience what it has to offer when visiting our attractions? Did you know there’s an awesome food market just a 5-minute walk from The London Eye? And the The Southbank Centre is filled with loads of lovely shops, cafes, restaurants and bars all just moments away from the attractions. It’s the perfect place to head to for lunch or dinner after a mega day of Merlin fun!

 

12. Enjoy a drink at The London Dungeon’s Tavern

Now that pubs are finally open (yippee!), why not pull up a barstool and play the part of a punter at The Tavern – The London Dungeon’s Victorian pub experience? Enjoy a tipple of bootleg beer, a Gin cocktail or traditional lemonade served up by our boastful East End Landlady and henpecked Landlord, as they compete to berate each other to anyone who’ll listen!

13. Take advantage of your Passholder perks

Did you know (we’ll forgive you if you didn’t!) that that our partners Hard Rock Café and Big Bus London offer Merlin Annual Pass holders great discounts? You can enjoy a delicious meal where your kids can eat for FREE at the Hard Rock Cafés at Piccadilly Circus and Old Park Lane. And, if you fancy extending your sightseeing, you can hop aboard an open-air bus and ride around the capital after securing your 10% Big Bus Passholder discount!

 

14. Challenge yourself to visit all our London attractions in a day!

What could be a better way to re-connect yourself with London that visiting all of our epic attractions in one day? It's possible - we promise! With four out of five of the attractions being located along The London Southbank, you don't have to walk far to experience your next adventure! Visiting during the week when it's quieter is a great way to fit them all in. Check out the map of our attractions at the end of the blog if you're a newbie! 

15. Discover the new merchandise on offer

We have been known to get a little over excited about the newly launched merchandise at our attractions… but how can you not when Passholders receive a 20% discount on retail? Head to your favourite London attraction to see all the latest merchandise on offer (you definitely need that London Eye pin badge and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!).

 

With so much to see and do in London, you will be spoiled for choice. But one thing’s for sure, however you decide to spend your day in the capital this Spring and Summer, we know it’s going to be epic! Let’s show our London attractions some love this year Passholders – they’re back and better than ever!