Universal Studios Great Britain

[Coasters4Life]

AIBU to be ridiculously excited about the prospect of a Universal Studios opening in the UK?

I've only just heard about it am shocked to learn they have bought land here already, seems like a real possibility it will get the green light. It's only about 40 minutes from my house, I've never been to Florida but Universal has always been on my wish list, if this opens I'll be there every weekend 🤣

Anyone else here excited? I did a search and couldn't find any threads. If it happens, my girls and I will LOVE it!

@Coasters4Life - here is the BBC graphic showing the size of the Stewartby site compared to other sites. It's the same size as Thorpe Park!

Same size as Thorpe Park!

That's exactly what they are planning. See

What do we know about Universal Studios' Bedfordshire plans? www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-68797303

I can totally understand that. We're 40 mins from Bedford.

I know about the jobs they have promised, but there will be so much disruption. The guy at the talk didn't address any of those worries either, which is worrying.

Re Harry Potter tours, the BBC article says

'Universal itself says "it is too early in the process to know the possibilities of featured attractions and experiences" in Bedfordshire.'

I read the 16 page PDF earlier

Not convinced

Which is a lot bigger than the Orlando sites.

Apologies, missed the image

This is so exciting!!

Question though, if they're still only deciding whether to go ahead why would they have already purchased the land?

What's theme park age??

Hate to say it but something like that would be so good for the north in terms of jobs etc. Why site it in an area already overflowing with tourist attractions.

@Alfreddoeblin There's no chance of it being in the North simply because of the lack of airports and the weather.

Because they don't really care what the locals think they are just pretending to listen

The vast majority of overseas visitors go to London and this will be an easy day trip for them. Lots already go to Harry Potter studios or whatever it’s called.

I don't really fancy a fireworks show every night

Surely they'd not be allowed to do that with a residential area so near? I hope not.

Thameslink services are going to be packed. It's bad enough as it is. How on earth will the trains cope with a vast number of people coming up from London?

Employment opportunity....hmm ok, will that be more than minimum wage? A decent pay?

Because where will all the employees park? Train fares are not cheap these days

A car park to accommodate both employees AND guests will take a good chunk of that land they've bought

The PDF said no plans to make parking multi level

Fireworks every night? We have PETS Mr Universal!?

Don't worry, I've just looked it up and Universal don't do fireworks very often. Mainly NYE but I would imagine they would do bonfire night here too.

Universal in Orlando do a light show rather than fireworks each night.
im excited for it, absolutely love Universal Orlando. It would be great to see a HP element as that’s definitely one of the best bits but I’d imagine WB would have tied up the rights before they opened the studio tour? The How to Train Your Dragon stuff they’re building in Florida looks great.

it’s got to force Merlin to up their game a bit?

I'm hopeful it will all go ahead! Just been to Disney Florida and had a brilliant time with my young dcs - by the time this gets built they'll be able to go on some fast rides. We're in London and am glad to read about a train station being proposed - we don't drive like a lot of Londoners and it's a pain to get to a lot of theme parks by public transport.

I'm a theme park fan so would go but not before I go back to the new florida site. I also want to go to universal osaka but debating as I'd prefer to do the new site in florida.

I'm sort of meh about a UK site although I loved the HP stuff I am not that arsed about going again too soon.

Agreed. It’ll fuck the environment in the area, increase flooding risks, destroy natural habitats and bring tens of thousands of strangers into a really small, peaceful rural area.

Absolutely fucking awful.

but woo, loads of shit minimum wage jobs

I am also not convinced by these amazing job opportunities. Schoolkids on NMW presumably having to be bussed on to site , zero hours contracts . There's is already rather a lot of gig economy around the area and exploitative seasonal employers (Centerparcs isn't far). This won't improve actual public transport for the thousands of people who can't actually get any east to west transport in the area, for example.

I've been reading up about noise pollution and there have been quite big complaints about noise form Thorpe Park and Alton Towers. In fact it looks like TP blocked a housing development because they didn't want noise complaints.

There has been a train station proposed in this area for years now and it hasn't happened. Potentially this all hangs on the new train link which is very controversial and mired in planning disputes, as it involves flattening houses in Bedford.

The actual MP is due to change at the next election and the new sitting MP has been quiet. It's not the bit of the constituency he is interested in. The Bedford MP seems very positive but none of his constituents live in the area of the site.

The Kempston Hardwick station is the little old Bletchley line. It's semi permanently broken!

Overflowing with tourism? You've never been to Bedfordshire, have you....?

Tourism we do not have.