Theme parks sold in £622m deal

The property assets of some of the UK’s most famous tourist attractions including Alton Towers and London waxworks Madame Tussauds were sold today by their private equity owner for £622m.

Merlin Entertainments – owned by US private equity giant Blackstone – has sold the attractions to property entrepreneur Nick Leslau’s investment vehicle Prestbury and will rent them back under a 35-year lease.