Germany's first next-gen Lego Discovery Centre to open

Merlin Entertainments has announced Germany’s first next-generation Lego Discovery Centre, due to open in spring next year.

The new 3,000-square-metre family attraction in Hamburg will be Merlin’s fifth Lego Discovery Centre following venues in Brussels, Atlanta, Boston and Washington DC.

It will feature more than two million Lego bricks across 12 unique zones offering new experiences and activities such as creative workshops.

“With the Lego Discovery Centre, we are offering a genuine new excursion highlight for families in Hamburg’s HafenCity,” said Miriam Wolframm, general manager of the Hamburg Lego Discovery Centre.

“Here, the focus is on the children, which is why we also give great importance to their ideas when building the attraction.”

Highlights will include the new Space Mission adventure, the Imagination Express train ride, a space to create a custom mini-figure, and a 4D cinema experience with sensory effects.

The new location’s Mini World will be home to famous buildings and landmarks in Hamburg recreated with more than 1.5 million Lego bricks.

“In this interactive Lego indoor adventure world, families will find a place to play, discover, create and have fun together,” said Julia Goldin, chief product and marketing officer at the Lego Group.

Next-gen Lego play experiences

“Together with Merlin Entertainments and their expertise in location-based family entertainment, we want to inspire curiosity, creativity and imagination in the builders of tomorrow.”

Rob Smith, managing director of Midway attractions at Merlin, said Hamburg was “a logical next step in our growth strategy for this family-friendly attraction that will inspire families, kindergartens and schools in the region to learn through play”.

Merlin has more than 140 attractions across the world, including Legoland theme parks, Sea Life aquariums, and Madame Tussauds wax museums.

In more news, Merlin’s Chessington World of Adventures, Legoland Windsor and Alton Towers have introduced edible straws made from 100 percent natural sugars.