Universal has confirmed it is building a new theme park in the UK which will make it the first Universal European theme park. Currently there are two Universal theme parks in the United States with other locations in Japan, Singapore, and Beijing.
Universal’s theme parks feature a variety of popular intellectual properties like Harry Potter, The Simpsons, Super Nintendo, Jurassic Park. Universal has been quite the stage of expansion with their third gate park, Epic Universe, opening at Universal Orlando this year. This new theme park brings more popular properties to the Orlando park like How to Train Your Dragon, Universal Monsters, Nintendo plus MORE Harry Potter themed areas.
READ MORE- Universal Reveals Lands Themed to SpongeBob, Shrek, and More for Its New Theme Park In Texas
Universal UK Theme Park Confirmed
Universal has confirmed its first European theme park located just 60 miles north of London. This multi-billion dollar project is expected to start next year and encompasses nearly 476-acres of land.
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This new Universal theme park is set to open in 2031 and is being hailed as “one of the largest and most advanced projects in Europe.” The UK government claims the new theme park will “generate £50 billion ($64 billion) for the British economy by 2055 and attract 8.5 million visitors in its first year.”
Concept Art for Universal UK Theme Park
Universal hasn’t revealed exactly what will be in the new theme park but has confirmed that it will have “several themed lands featuring Universal’s distinct brand of immersive storytelling.” Universal has confirmed that the new theme park will also include a 500-room hotel with dining, shopping, and entertainment options.
We got a first look at this concept art but even if you zoom in, it’s hard to accurately predict what each land might be. From the concept art, we can at least get a sense of the layout which centers around a body of water that is perfectly set up for nighttime entertainment. We can also see that after guests enter the park, they will be directed towards a typical theme park “street” that will likely be filled with shops and dining. We can also see plans for multiple thrill coasters in the land in at least three lands.
You can also spot some brightly colored buildings and features which could mean anything from DreamWorks to Illumination properties to Super Nintendo World which is a consistent hit in each Universal theme park.
Why Build a Universal Theme Park in the UK?
According to Universal’s planning site, their research has shown that millions of UK residents travel to Universal theme parks around the world each year. The UK is an attractive market to build a new theme park since this area has a large population with strong tourism and well developed transportation infrastructure.
The parent company of Universal, Comcast Corporation, also already has a strong presence in the UK with their NBCUniversal International and Sky’s headquarters located in the area.
Universal thinks that Bedford is an ideal location since it has near fast rail links to London and London Luton Airport. It also has the right land structure for a large scale theme park.
What Attractions Would Universal UK Park Have?
It is too early to know for sure what experiences would be present in a Universal UK theme park, as Universal clearly notes on the planning site.
It would be extremely obvious to bring Harry Potter to a UK theme park. Harry Potter largely takes place in Britain so this would be a no brainer. Perhaps we would also see the presence of Super Nintendo World in this new park since these lands have been a hit with guests. And of course, anything we see in the new Epic Universe could also be a possibility.
The planning site does make clear they would consider how to “reflect and celebrate the area’s vibrant history” into the theme park. Universal also states they would like to incorporate some of the bricks they found on site into the buildings and design along with incorporating “food and drink facilities” inspired by Bedford’s town history.
One thing is for certain, this theme park is likely a much larger scale than the smaller, kid focused park coming to Texas!
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