VIP Guest Experience Host
Merlin Entertainments
£13.49 per hour
London, London, SE1 7PB
Full time, part time, contract
The Breakroom Take
- People enjoy this job
- Recommended by students
- Recommended by parents
- Respectful managers
- Proper training
- Proper breaks
About Merlin Entertainments
Merlin Entertainments is an entertainments company. They operate aquariums, midway attractions and theme parks. These include Sealife centres, Madame Tussauds, London Eye, Legoland and Alton Towers.
Job description from Merlin Entertainments
Fancy being part of the ultimate viewing experience in the heart of London? Of course, you do! At 135 metres the world-famous lastminute.com London Eye is the UK’s most popular paid for visitor attraction, and we’ve got our Eye out for VIP Experience Assistants to join our passionate team in delivering the most moving experience in London.
As one of our VIP Assistants you will be part of a dynamic and diverse team providing best-in-class experiences to our guests. Whether serving champagne and canapes inside a Pod, helping guests check in at the VIP desk, serving them a refreshment in the exclusive Eye Lounge, or being the first point of call for all guest queries. You will represent the Hospitality department and all of the amazing things that we do. Your passion for the lastminute.com London Eye, and customer service will shine through daily and drive your enthusiasm for the success of the department.
Please note that due to the fact this role involves serving alcohol we can only accept applicants that are aged 18 and over.
This is a fixed-term role until August 2025. We have 2 types of roles available; either a full-time contract which will require you to work 5 out of 7 days, or a part-time contract working 10 hours a week.
The attraction is open daily and so flexibility will be needed as shifts will include weekends and bank holidays as required.
- Experience of consistently delivering excellent guest service on a face-to-face basis, (ideally from within the retail, hospitality, or the entertainments industry)
- The ability to work to a high standard within a lively and often pressurised environment
- The ability to 'think on your feet' and take ownership of issues that may arise
- A reliable, customer focused approach
- Experience of cash handling, but full training will be provided
- A flexible approach to working hours
Alongside a truly unique working environment, we can also offer,
- 25% discount in our retail shops and restaurants and 40% online LEGO discount,
- Monthly Bonus Scheme based on customer service targets
- Access to an exclusive employee discount website
- Local benefits
- Merlin Magic Pass – allowing your friends and family free entry into our attractions globally
If you have any questions or if you require any assistance, because of a disability or medical condition, please contact us by email at Gatewayuk.Recruitment@merlinentertainments.biz and one of the team will get back to you as soon as possible.
GBP £13.49/Hr.
What employees say
Pay
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Needs improving
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Most people aren’t paid a living wage
Do Merlin Entertainments pay hosts enough to live on?
Most people are not paid a living wage.
How we know this
94% of people say they are paid below the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 34 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £12.60 per hour, and £13.85 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Okay
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Only some people are paid market rates
Do Merlin Entertainments pay hosts market rates?
Only some people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
47% of people are paid below average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 32 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Good
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Everyone is paid the same, whatever their age
Do hosts at Merlin Entertainments get paid the same regardless of age?
Yes, people under the age of 21 get paid the same as those above 21.
See what Merlin Entertainments pays different age groupsHow we know this
The average pay of under 21s is the same as those above 21.Based on data from 28 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2023 and April 2025.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do hosts at Merlin Entertainments get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
91% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 32 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get sick pay
Do Merlin Entertainments pay hosts sick pay?
No. Most people don’t get proper sick pay.
How we know this
69% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 26 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Good
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Most people don’t do unpaid extra work
Do hosts at Merlin Entertainments do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Rarely. Most people don’t do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
78% of people report that they don’t do extra unpaid work.Based on data from 36 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
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Needs improving
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Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do hosts get of their shift pattern at Merlin Entertainments?
Most people don’t get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 42% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 36% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 15% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 6% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 33 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.
This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.
Okay
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Some people worry about their hours
Do hosts at Merlin Entertainments worry about hours?
Some people worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
65% of people report they worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 34 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Good
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Most people get a choice of shifts
Do hosts at Merlin Entertainments get to choose the shifts they work?
Most people get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
74% report that their manager gives them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 34 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Okay
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Can be hard to change shifts
How easy is it for hosts at Merlin Entertainments to change shifts?
Some people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
41% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 29 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.
Good
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Easy to book holiday
How easy is it for hosts to book a holiday at Merlin Entertainments?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
73% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 30 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Okay
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Shifts can get changed at short notice
Do Merlin Entertainments managers change hosts shifts at short notice?
Some managers change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
61% of people say their manager changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 33 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Good
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Most people find it easy to take sick leave
How easy is it for hosts to take sick leave at Merlin Entertainments?
Most people find it easy to take sick leave.
How we know this
76% of people report that it’s easy to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 25 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Needs improving
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People work a lot more hours than their contract
Do hosts work the same number they are contracted for at Merlin Entertainments?
Most people work a lot more hours than their contact..
How we know this
84% of people report working 8 hours or more than their contract.Based on data from 31 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you should expect to work about the same number of hours that your contract guarantees you, most of the time.
It’s useful to pick up or drop a few shifts here and there, but if you often work a lot more hours every week than you’re contracted for, a good job should guarantee them.
This means you’re more likely to know when you’ll be working and how much you’ll earn in advance.
Good
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Most students say it’s good
Is hosts at Merlin Entertainments job good for students?
Most students say this is a good place to work if you’re studying.
How we know this
90% of students report this is a good place to work if you’re studying.Based on data from 21 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should allow you to fit work around important things in your life, like studying.
Life isn’t just about work. Good jobs make space for you to do well in both.
Workplace
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Good
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Most people feel treated with respect
Do hosts at Merlin Entertainments feel treated with respect by their managers?
Most people feel treated with respect by their managers.
How we know this
82% of people say they’re treated with respect by their managers.Based on data from 33 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get treated with respect by their managers. You shouldn’t feel discriminated against or bullied, and if you have a problem you should be able to speak to someone about it.
Good
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Most people get proper breaks
Do hosts at Merlin Entertainments get proper breaks?
Most people get proper breaks.
How we know this
78% of people report that they get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 32 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Okay
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Some people are stressed
Is it stressful for hosts to work at Merlin Entertainments?
Some people feel stressed here.
How we know this
62% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 34 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Good
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Most people enjoy their job
Do hosts at Merlin Entertainments enjoy their jobs?
Most people enjoy their job.
How we know this
89% of people report they enjoy their job.Based on data from 28 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between May 2023 and April 2025.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do hosts at Merlin Entertainments recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
41% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 34 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Good
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Most people get enough training
Do hosts get enough training when they start at Merlin Entertainments?
Most people got enough training when they started.
How we know this
67% of people report they got enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 33 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Okay
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Only some people get support to progress
Are hosts given support to progress at Merlin Entertainments?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 57% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 28 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do hosts think Merlin Entertainments head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
81% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 31 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between April 2023 and April 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Okay
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Only some people feel well informed by head office
Do hosts feel well informed about how Merlin Entertainments is doing?
Only some people feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
50% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 36 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between March 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What Merlin Entertainments employees say about their job
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Best thing
The fun and seeing family’s make memories
Worst thing
Guests being rude and complaining about things that are out of our hands
Employee at Merlin Entertainments, December 2024
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Best thing
People
The work I doWorst thing
Pay
Long days
Rude customersRide host at Merlin Entertainments, October 2024
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