The 5 best Merlin Attractions for toddlers and young children

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When you’ve got toddlers or young children, finding attractions that are both exciting and age-appropriate can be a bit tricky – but I reckon these are the 5 best UK Merlin Attractions for little ones. From gentle rides to hands-on animal experiences, these five Merlin attractions are ideal for young children, offering just the right amount of fun without being overwhelming. Plus, I’ve added some money-saving tips to make your visits even more affordable!

CRAZY DEAL! 😍 When you book a short break stay between 3rd February and the 1st March 2026, you’ll get an Essential Merlin Annual Pass included for each person staying for FREE! Check out my guide for all the details: How to get a FREE Merlin Annual Pass – short break offer! Click below to check out the terms, or to make a booking, on the relevant websites – I’ve included the stay dates below as they vary with each resort.

Alton Towers Resort Short Breaks: For stays between 14th March and the 26th June 2026.
Chessington World of Adventures Short Breaks: For stays between 20th March and the 26th June 2026.
LEGOLAND Windsor Resort Short Breaks: For stays between 14th March and the 26th June 2026.
Warwick Castle Short Breaks: For stays between 28th March and the 26th June 2026.

1. LEGOLAND Windsor – Berkshire

LEGOLAND Windsor is like stepping into a real-life LEGO world, and it’s absolutely perfect for young children – from toddlers to ten year olds! This theme park has been designed with little ones in mind, offering gentle rides, interactive zones and plenty of opportunities for imaginative play. Toddlers will love the Duplo Valley, where they can enjoy mini rollercoasters, splash in water play areas and explore soft play zones designed for their size. There are also smaller rides like The Dragon and Jolly Rocker that are ideal for first-time thrill-seekers.

Another highlight for young children is LEGO Kingdoms where they can see incredible LEGO models of castles, dragons and knights. For a relaxing break, you can head to Miniland where tiny versions of famous landmarks like London’s Big Ben are recreated in LEGO form. It’s the kind of place where kids can run, explore and use their creativity, making it for sure one of the best Merlin Attractions for toddlers and younger children. Bring swimwear and towels for the splash zones in warmer months, and children under 90cm can enter for free. For more information click here to head to the Legoland website.

2. SEA LIFE Centres (Multiple Locations)

The Merlin SEA LIFE centres are fantastic for young children, offering a peaceful yet fascinating look at ocean life which is the perfect sensory experience for little ones. These aquariums feature colourful fish, quirky penguins, gentle sea turtles and a variety of other sea creatures that will delight little ones. In particular, the SEA LIFE London Aquarium is great for toddlers, with its interactive features such as touch pools and a 360-degree Ocean Tunnel, where kids can walk through and see sharks and rays swimming overhead.

Some centres are also home to penguins, which are definitely a popular feature, and the bright colourful tanks make it an engaging experience, even for those too young to fully understand what they’re seeing. With the unpredictable UK weather, the SEA LIFE centres can be a great option for wet weather too, or a cold wintery day. You’ll find Merlin SEA LIFE centres in: London, Brighton, Birmingham, Manchester, Hunstanton, Scarborough, Great Yarmouth, Loch Lomond, Weymouth and Blackpool. Look out for special offers, as they did a ‘kids go free’ offer for 2025 February half-term and under twos enter for free year round. For more information, check out my review of SEA LIFE London Aquarium or head to the SEA LIFE website for information on a setting near you.

3. Shrek’s Adventure – London

If your toddler or young child is a fan of Shrek, then Shrek’s Adventure! is an absolute must-visit. Located next to the London Eye and the SEA LIFE London Aquarium, this interactive storytelling attraction immerses little ones in the magical world of Shrek and his friends. The experience is full of fun with live shows and hilarious characters like Donkey and Princess Fiona. The little ones can join in on the adventure, explore various themed rooms and meet the beloved characters along the way.

The experience is highly visual and interactive, so it’s very engaging for young children, especially those who are still discovering the magic of animated worlds. It’s a gentle adventure with lots of laughter, and the pace is slow enough for toddlers to stay entertained without feeling rushed – plus children under 2 can enter for free. It’s another indoor attraction, so great for winter entertainment, and you can get multi-attraction tickets (which offer significant discounts) if you fancy visiting a few Merlin London Attractions. For more information, click here to head to the Shrek’s Adventure website.

4. CBeebies Land at Alton Towers – Staffordshire

Tucked inside the famous Alton Towers Resort, CBeebies Land is a dream come true for little ones. It’s definitely one of the best Merlin attractions for young children and toddlers as there’s an entire section of the theme park designed specifically for little ones – bright, friendly and full of familiar faces from their favourite TV shows. You’ll find toddler-friendly rides and attractions based on popular programmes like Hey Duggee, In the Night Garden, JoJo & Gran Gran, Go Jetters and Justin’s House.

All of the rides are super gentle and designed for little adventurers – no scary drops or surprises – and the whole area is enclosed, well-signposted and easy to navigate with a pushchair. There are live shows and meet-and-greets throughout the day too, so there’s always something going on to keep the magic alive. If you’re staying overnight, there’s even a CBeebies-themed hotel with character breakfasts! Children under 90cm can enter for free, so if you’re visiting with a toddler that will definitely keep costs down. Check out my guide to visiting Alton Towers (and the hotels) with kids or find out more about Cbeebies Land on the Alton Towers website.

5. Chessington World of Adventures Resort – Surrey

What makes Chessington World of Adventures such a winner for young families is that it’s more than just a theme park – it’s also a zoo and an aquarium! That means even if your toddler doesn’t fancy the rides, there’s still plenty to see and do. You can visit giraffes, lions, penguins and meerkats or head into the SEA LIFE centre for a calming underwater wander. For rides, there are several perfect for tiny thrill-seekers – like the gentle Room on the Broom story adventure, the Gruffalo River Ride and the Adventure Tree Carousel. There’s also a big soft play area and plenty of pushchair-friendly paths throughout the park.

If you’ve got a toddler and a bigger sibling, Chessington is ideal – there’s something to please everyone, and the pace can be as relaxed or as adventurous as you like. And, just like for the other theme parks mentioned, kids under 90cm can enter for free. We had an awesome time on our Chessington visit so make sure you read my articles: The Ultimate Family Guide for Chessington World of Adventures and Chessington Resort Guide: Is the Safari or Azteca hotel better? for all the details. Alternatively, click here to head to the Chessington website for more information.

How can I save money on my Merlin Attraction visits?

Tickets can be pricey (most Merlin Attractions seem to be at least £30 per person) but luckily there are tons of ways to save money on your tickets. Also, make sure you book at least 24 hours in advance too – as the tickets are significantly cheaper if you avoid booking on the day. And, here’s how to hunt out the discounts to make your family days out affordable:

Look out for offers advertised directly by Merlin – kids could enter for free at the SEA LIFE London Aquarium and Shrek’s Adventure for 2025 February half term so keep your eyes peeled.
If you’re having a day out in London, one of the best ways to save money is by booking a multi-attraction ticket through Merlin Entertainments – the price can be as little as £12 per attraction! This includes SEA LIFE London Aquarium, The London Eye, Shrek’s Adventure, Bus Tours, Madame Tussauds and the London Dungeon. You get 90 days from the date of your visit to enjoy the other attractions, so it’s worth saving up and buying in bulk if there are other things you’d like to do too – click here to find ticket options and prices for your visit date, plus combo ticket options.

Lots of the Merlin Attractions can be visited using Tesco Clubcard points so save your points and you could visit for free!
Another way to make some great savings is to use the National Rail 2-for-1 offers – if you’re travelling by train you can get 1/3 off lots of the Merlin Attractions.
Or, check for discounts on Kids Pass – you can sign up to a trial for just £1 and they often feature the Merlin theme parks.
Cereal brands like Kelloggs also often run promotions where you can find discounts or even free tickets (things like 2 for 1 tickets) by purchasing specially-marked boxes so look out for these in the supermarket.
For huge savings, if you love the Merlin Attractions, opt for a Merlin Annual Pass – you can access absolutely loads of attractions including all of the places mentioned above and more! Plus, kids under 90cm won’t need a pass as they can enjoy the attractions for free! Check out all of the pass options and what’s included here: Are Merlin Annual Passes worth it and which pass is best?

Merlin also recently introduced annual passes that are cheaper and park specific – so if you always visit one particular attraction then those could be a good option too. You can get individual park annual passes from £64 for Chessington World of Adventures, Legoland, Alton Towers and Thorpe Park – just click the links for more info.

Final thoughts

Merlin attractions offer some of the best family days out for toddlers and young children, with plenty of opportunities for hands-on experiences and rides that little ones can enjoy. Whether it’s exploring the colourful world of LEGOLAND, enjoying the gentle rides and animals at Chessington World of Adventures, watching underwater creatures at SEA LIFE, meeting their favourite characters at Cbeebies Land or adventuring through Shrek’s Adventure, there’s something for every child to enjoy. By booking tickets in advance, or opting for a money-saving Merlin Annual Pass, you can ensure your family days out are both and budget-friendly – so pack up your little adventurers (and a picnic!) and get ready to explore some of the best attractions for toddlers and young children. Let me know your favourites in the comments!