Blocky trees in reception, lifts modelled on Nether portals and corridors styled like mine shafts: Chessington World of Adventures is building the UK's first fully Minecraft hotel, set to open in 2027. The 69-room property sits inside the Surrey theme park's new Minecraft World land, which will also be home to Escape the Nether — billed as the world's first Minecraft roller coaster, with both indoor and outdoor sections.
Rooms split into 49 standard and 20 upscale options, and they'll be stuffed with the game's signature blocks, textures, creatures and biome colours. Mojang Studios — the team behind the game — is involved directly, with creative director Filip Keatly Thoms saying the team has worked through details down to the scale of the blocks. Guests can also expect an immersive restaurant, a potion bar and interactive features throughout, plus themed shops and family attractions across the wider Minecraft World area.
The Chessington project lands as gaming-themed stays become a serious travel niche rather than a gimmick. Japan has been running the playbook for a while: MIMARU operates Pokémon-themed rooms across ten hotels in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, with character-filled interiors, themed bathrooms and kitchens. The idea just got stranger and more fun — a three-metre-wide, Poké Ball-shaped pod has opened beside a lake in Hokkaido as part of a Pokémon Sleep collaboration, letting guests literally sleep inside a Poké Ball.
Spain is in on it too. Magic World Resort in Oropesa del Mar runs a dedicated Magic Games Hotel with gaming-themed rooms, consoles, VR and AR zones, tournaments and even a video game museum on site.
For parents of Minecraft-obsessed kids, the Chessington hotel is probably the most significant news — it's the first chance to combine an overnight stay with a full day of rides based on the best-selling game of all time. Tickets and opening dates haven't been announced yet, so anyone planning a 2027 trip should keep an eye on Chessington's announcements. Book early if you can: a 69-room hotel attached to a blockbuster IP will not stay quiet for long. And if you can't wait until then, Hokkaido's Poké Ball pod and Spain's Magic Games Hotel are already taking guests.
