Today, we’re stepping into one of the UK’s most magical winter experiences, Windsor Great Park Illuminated. The 2.2-kilometre light trail has become a seasonal staple, drawing families, superfans and experience-seekers from across the country. And this year? It’s bigger, bolder and brighter than ever. Paul Marden is on site wandering through the woods with the masterminds behind the magic- Rob Paul, Design Director at LCI Productions, and Kathryn Stafford, Senior Events Manager at IMG Events. Together, they reinvent this trail every single year, creating original IP, sculpting a festive narrative through light and sound, and using AV tech to bring an entire forest to life. I’m here to find out how they build an experience that keeps visitors coming back year after year. Let’s get into it…

Today’s attractions need to do more than look amazing, they need to evolve, adapt, and stay ahead of shifting guest expectations. In this episode, we explore the key trends shaping the global attractions industry in 2026 and what the data really tells us about where the market is heading. Andy Povey is joined by Melissa Oviedo, CEO of the TEA, along with Martin Palicki, Editor of InPark Magazine, and Edmund Chih, Director at Entertainment + Cultural Advisors, two of the key voices behind the TEA/AECOM Global Experience Index. They’re here to break down what’s rising, what’s stabilising, and what’s signalling major change for operators, developers, and experience creators around the world.

Andy Povey is joined by two guests at the forefront of this space: Rob Liddell, Executive Producer at BBC Studios Science Unit, and Simon Clarke, Creative Director and Founder of Moonraker VFX. Fresh from announcing their new creative partnership, they’re here to share what happens when world-class storytelling meets cutting-edge visual effects in the world of immersive experiences.

Today’s attractions need to do more than look amazing — they need to feel, sound, and even smell unforgettable. In this episode, we explore how to go beyond the visual and bring audio, scent and motion to the forefront of the guest experience. Paul Marden is joined by Liam Findlay, Theme Park and Museum Scenting Consultant from AromaPrime Themed Scents; David Wakefield Director and Co-founder of On the Sly; and Matt Clarkson, Creative Director of Simworx.

In today’s episode recorded live at the National Science and Media Museum during the Association for Science and Discovery Centres Annual Conference we’re exploring what’s on the horizon for Science and Discovery Centre’s right now, over the next 5 years and longer term over 25 years

Paul Marden is joined by Professor Jim Deegan, founder of the National Centre for Tourism Policy Studies at the University of Limerick, and Ernesto Sánchez-Batista, a specialist in destination planning and digital transformation. They discuss how data is reshaping the visitor experience, using the Cliffs of Moher as a real-world case study. The conversation dives into the creation of the new Tourism Data Dashboard, how it’s being used to improve visitor flow, planning, and overall satisfaction, and what this means for the future of tourism and attractions.

We’re joined by the team behind Avon Valley’s FEAR Scream Park, a family-run adventure park with more than 35 years of experience, and now home to one of the UK’s most terrifying Halloween events. Winners of Best Event Entertainment at the 2024 Thrill Nation Halloween Awards, Avon Valley has mastered the art of blending immersive theatre, multi-sensory scares and spine-tingling attractions that keep thrill seekers coming back for more.

In this episode of Skip the Queue, recorded live at the VAC Conference 2025, industry experts Stephen Spencer from Stephen Spencer + Associates and Simon Jones from Navigate Agency join Paul Marden and Andy Povey to talk about the first Visitor Attraction Playbook, focused on building successful e-commerce gift shops, with special participation from Skip the Queue’s founding host, Kelly Molson. The conversation marks the launch of the Skip the Queue Playbook: The Retail Ready Guide to Going Beyond the Gift Shop — a practical resource designed to help attractions reimagine their retail strategies and create meaningful online experiences. They discuss how attractions can extend their visitor experience online using Stephen’s STARS model (Story, Team, Ambience, Recipients and Sustainability), while integrating systems, improving fulfilment and creating authentic, seamless shopping journeys. The episode highlights how e-commerce can become a natural extension of an attraction’s brand, offering new ways to engage audiences and generate revenue sustainably.

Recorded live at AVEA 2025 in Waterford, Ireland, this episode explores how attractions can integrate retail into the overall experience. Paul Marden is joined by Jennifer Kennedy, Michael Dolan, Catherine Toolan, Máirín Walsh, and Dean Kelly about creating authentic, memorable gift shops that go far beyond souvenirs with insights on storytelling, sustainability, and the power of local products. Then Paul takes us to the conference floor to hear from Irish tourism leaders: Charles Coyle of Emerald Park on growth and AI-driven pricing, Suzanne Reid of Christ Church Cathedral on accessibility and a 1,000-year celebration, and Ray Dempsey of Jameson Distillery on inclusion and Dublin’s thriving visitor scene.

This week on Skip the Queue, we’re stepping into the turret and turning up the tension, as we explore one of the UK’s most talked-about immersive experiences. Our guest is Neil Connolly, Creative Director at The Everywhere Group, who have brought The Traitors Live Experience to life. With over 10 million viewers watching every betrayal, backstab and banishment on the BBC show, expectations for the live version were nothing short of murderous. So, how do you even begin to transform a TV juggernaut into a thrilling, guest-led experience? Let’s find out who’s playing the game and who’s about to be banished.

In this episode, we chat with Choni Fernández, Chief Sustainability Officer and Customer at PortAventura World, Find out how it became the world’s first carbon-neutral theme park and a certified B Corp.

Insights from Day 3 of IAAPA Expo Europe featuring Zoos, Theme Parks and Water Slides

In this Episode, Jérôme Giacomoni, co-founder and Chairman of AEROPHILE - tells the story of how a simple idea, to “make everybody fly”, led to being the world leader in tethered gas balloons and immersive aerial experiences.

In this episode of Skip the Queue, host Paul Marden speaks with Andy Hadden, founder of the Lost Shore Surf Resort in Scotland. Andy shares the remarkable journey from his sporting background and early property career to discovering wave technology in the Basque Country, which inspired him to bring inland surfing to Scotland. Despite starting with no money and no land, Andy raised over £100 million and built one of the world’s most advanced inland surf destinations. He explains how Lost Shore Surf Resort combines world-class waves with a strong community focus, sustainability initiatives, and partnerships with schools and universities to deliver real social and economic impact.

We’ve well and truly kicked off season 7 in style as we welcome our first guest onto the show - IAAPA Board Chairman, Massimiliano Freddi. In this episode, Paul sits down with Massimiliano Freddi, the first Italian to ever hold the role of IAAPA Chairman in the association’s 107-year history. From his early dream of running a theme park to founding Wonderwood and shaping Italy’s unique attractions landscape, Massi shares how passion, storytelling, and a people-first mindset continue to drive his vision for the industry.

Skip The Queue is back for Season 7 and we’re announcing some big changes! Get ready for new hosts, a fresh new look, weekly content and find out where you can catch us live at events to be part of the action.

In this episode Paul Marden is joined by Sam Mullins, a historian, museum trustee and author. Sam gives Paul a tour of the SS Great Britain, while talking about the value that trustees bring to the charities and CEOs, as well as his magnum opus on the history of TfL.

Do you keep your competitors at arm's length, or do you work closely with the attractions that serve similar audiences? Today we're at the Association of Independent Museums and were returning to the topic of collaboration with best friend of the podcast, number 1 fan, and most listened to guest, Dominic Jones, CEO of the Mary Rose Trust.

Museums and Heritage Show is billed as the big catch up for the sector, and it never disappoints. In this episode recorded on the floor of the show, we meet a few podcast alumni as well as new voices from across the sector to hear about what happened at this year's show.

In this episode, recorded at Big Pit, the National Coal Museum, we take a look at Amgueddfa Cymru’s new approach to museum retail, which is emotive and has a strong feeling of place. Paul Marden is joined by Catherine Pinkerton, the Group Retail Manager at Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales, and a number of different people who have taken part in the project.