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!

My kids are in their 20s and I have no interest as an adult in attending a theme park really these days. I know some fully grown people love them but generally they are family places and for teens/20s. I wouldn't go to one without kids.

This has happened lots of times over the last 20 or so years. It never gets built.

I thought it was being build in London or what that a different theme park?

No, Bedford. Have a Google. There are plenty of news articles about it.

This was the last one I had heard about https://www.kentonline.co.uk/dartford/news/amp/rival-theme-park-plan-could-topple-london-resort-bid-298851/.

Overflowing? We have Whipsnade Zoo, Woburn Abbey (closed since 2019), Woburn safari park and Wrest Park - I'm not sure I can think of any other huge tourist attractions in Bedfordshire...

No, it was free with a certain bank card I think… there were lots of ways to get discounts and freebies as locals though so maybe that’ll happen here too?

There are various wildlife reserves close to the area where they're suggesting to build this theme park - Priory country park and the forest of Marston Vale. Wildlife is stressed enough in this country without making things worse.

I don't think this is a good location for a theme park - the infrastructure isn't strong enough, and it would mean building on green belt.

In my experience Universal and Disney parks are attended by just as many adults as families, indeed more adults than families outside the holidays.

It will be interesting to see whether more dark rides and shows would be planned than outdoor rides or rollercoasters due to the climate.

I think they will need to make some weather-proof rides and experiences for sure!

I'm excited about taking the kids who will be 10 and 13 if it opens in 2030 but I'm also buzzing about the idea of sneaking a day off work with DH and going when they are at school one day! We'll be well into our 40's 🤣

It will look as sad and dilapidated as all the other UK parks within a few years because of our shitty weather. Walking around in the Florida sunshine changes everything considerably.

It's not green belt land; it was a brickworks.

I guess we have no experience of such parks here, really. If I went to Orlando, it'd be part of a bigger Florida holiday. I did do Universal in LA but as one day in a California holiday. I can't see Beds attracting the same type of visitors.

When I have been to Alton Towers, for example, I haven't noticed foreign tourists.

Yes, it's brown belt but some of the lakes have protected wildlife.

The lakes aren't part of the land purchase according to the maps.

I mean the brickwork lakes. They are definitley in that plot.

People sometimes say 'otherwise it would be houses'. I'm fine with houses which are badly needed rather than a large theme park of little local benefit. I'd rather a theme park went in an area in need of local jobs and regeneration - the deprived coastal regions , for example.

10 years ago part of this site was earmarked for a school.

This area is already horrendously badly developed. Warehouses plonked next to weight limit bridges, rushed poorly planned housing estates, GPs in Portakabins, planned never built schools and train stations. It feels like an area where planning is just easy and never disputed.

How exciting - I would definitely go as I am unlikely to ever go to Disneyland Florida.

Totally agree with the theming and the overall quality of the US parks compared with the UK parks like Legoland. We were last in Legoland a few years ago, the park was grotty, everything looked like it needed a good wash, the rides/shows were just plonked into the park with no "experience" around them, the staff were sullen and disinterested, the whole experience was just a let-down.

I preferred Disney to Universal but would welcome any sort of park here which will create jobs and yes, hopefully make Merlin up their game. They have got away with being very second rate for so long as there is no alternative.

I wouldn’t worry about fireworks every night. Even the Orlando parks use them far less frequently now due to cost cutting. Plus the UK weather is so terrible it’ll likely get rained off anyway 😂

On the “other” theme park in the area - I actually thought this was already being built. Is that not the case?

Agree with a PP though that I think it’s unlikely to come to fruition. There’s a reason it’s been considered (and rejected) many times over the years. Plus it would never feel the same as “proper” US in Florida (the weather and friendly customer service helps!)

I can't really comment on the area as I'm familiar with Bedford but not the surrounding areas, housing is needed in a lot of places though. It does sound like there's been a lot of warehouses built in the area.

The lakes aren't included, see the map, they haven't been purchased or included on any of the plans.

@peakygold - it was a brickworks a long time ago. Look at the Forest of Marston Vale country park - that's built just down the road on the site of a brickworks too, and you'd never know it now.

@Coasters4Life -The brickworks lakes are definitely included - one zone of the planned park is called the lake zone!

In those green areas there are lakes. Newts are there.

Yes it marks out where the lakes are but they haven't been purchased, the maps outline the area purchased and the lakes are always excluded.

The land included is everything within the red border, the lakes are outside of this.

Central Beds has been identified as one of the areas most in need of housing and with one of the greatest shortages in England of dentists and GP services.