Europe's first Universal theme park coming to UK

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

The first Universal theme park in Europe will be built in the UK, the government has promised.

The attraction is planned for the site of a former brickworks near Bedford and could create an estimated 28,000 jobs before opening in 2031.

Universal estimated the 476-acre complex could attract 8.5 million visitors in its first year.

Sir Keir Starmer said the multibillion-pound investment by the company would "see Bedford home to one of the biggest entertainment parks in Europe, firmly putting the county on the global stage".
The prime minister joked that his children, aged 14 and 16, were uncharacteristically interested in the news.

"They don't take that much interest in the announcements I'm making every day, I have to admit, but this one has really caught their eye," said Starmer, speaking on a visit to Kimberley College in nearby Stewartby.

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz95n2837vgo

Sounds good to me! Disneyland Paris on my doorstep and now a Universal park too! Mind you, I'm a bit curious as to why here? Must be a money thing. I mean, the South of Spain/France has a much nicer climate. England just… rains.

 

[Buzz Rules]

The first Universal theme park in Europe will be built in the UK, the government has promised.

The attraction is planned for the site of a former brickworks near Bedford and could create an estimated 28,000 jobs before opening in 2031.

Universal estimated the 476-acre complex could attract 8.5 million visitors in its first year.

Sir Keir Starmer said the multibillion-pound investment by the company would "see Bedford home to one of the biggest entertainment parks in Europe, firmly putting the county on the global stage".
The prime minister joked that his children, aged 14 and 16, were uncharacteristically interested in the news.

"They don't take that much interest in the announcements I'm making every day, I have to admit, but this one has really caught their eye," said Starmer, speaking on a visit to Kimberley College in nearby Stewartby.

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz95n2837vgo

Sounds good to me! Disneyland Paris on my doorstep and now a Universal park too! Mind you, I'm a bit curious as to why here? Must be a money thing. I mean, the South of Spain/France has a much nicer climate. England just… rains.

England speaks English and is a major economic power.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

England speaks English and is a major economic power.

I just can't get over the climate element. I mean, Paris is a bit dodgy too, weather wise, but at least they can count on hot summers. My little ol' England can't guarantee that. MUST be a money thing.

 

[Buzz Rules]

I just can't get over the climate element. I mean, Paris is a bit dodgy too, weather wise, but at least they can count on hot summers. My little ol' England can't guarantee that. MUST be a money thing.

And it's a stable NATO member. Who knows, WDW will probably come to England as well.

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

And it's a stable NATO member. Who knows, WDW will probably come to England as well.

Doubt it. They're already established in Paris, an hour or two away from the heartland of England. Why open THEMSELVES to competing with themselves?! No, this is definitely fishy.

 

[Buzz Rules]

Doubt it. They're already established in Paris, an hour or two away from the heartland of England. Why open THEMSELVES to competing with themselves?! No, this is definitely fishy.

They have two in China and one near those two in Japan.

 

[Buzz Rules]

The UK will probably win the bid for the 2035 Women's World Cup. That may also be a factor in a 2031 opening.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I just can't get over the climate element. I mean, Paris is a bit dodgy too, weather wise, but at least they can count on hot summers. My little ol' England can't guarantee that. MUST be a money thing.

The "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" lands are a big draw in the Florida Universal parks, and it would probably be good marketing to combine that with tours of real the filming locations, etc. that are also in England.

 

[Buzz Rules]

The "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" lands are a big draw in the Florida Universal parks, and it would probably be good marketing to combine that with tours of real the filming locations, etc. that are also in England.

It would be cool if Ilvermorny was built.

 

[Magical2017]

The UK will probably win the bid for the 2035 Women's World Cup. That may also be a factor in a 2031 opening.

I like how you got some soccer/football discussion in there. Nice!

 

[Buzz Rules]

I like how you got some soccer/football discussion in there. Nice!

You know me...

 

[Magical2017]

I'd go if I was with my kids. They love all things Universal. Otherwise, I would not go to a Disney or Universal park with what is often limited time in Europe (or Japan)--too many other cool things to see. I think the UK is a great place for Universal. They already have Harry Potter tours in London.

 

[Genie+]

UK being rewarded for queueing so nicely

 

[Neapolitan Ice Cream]

Admittedly, the dual attraction of Alton Towers and Thorpe Park could pull visitors. Maybe just one, given the geography of the things. And English is a powerful language. Mind you, so is Mandarin. And Spanish. And German and French, maybe not so much though. And if we're considering the pull of another theme park, why not France, with Disneyland Paris? or Spain, with PortAventura World or Parque Warner Madrid, closer to Madrid, a tourist Mecca? Spain would be the most attractive, from a logical point. Land is dirt cheap, but it has a lot of tourists, especially from Brits. The climate is gorgeous. And that cheap land? It's in abundance. And Spain is also a VERY widely spoken language.

I just don't see why England, versus Spain and, to a lesser extent, France. Doesn't make sense. UNLESS that is, Sir. Kier has struck them a deal they can't say no to. THAT would make sense. As they say, follow the money!

 

[Cyberc1978]

If the park comes, great for the UK’ers - as a European I wouldn’t go.

The parks success would be widely (as a foreigner) depended on me even getting to the park. If I could jump on a plane, exit the airport, go on a bus and get to a resort like hotel within say 30-45min. The hotel had to be within walking distance to the park - something like Disney MDE then I considered going.

Just take the Harry Potter studios it’s a dreadful journey to get from the airport to the studios. If you are a potters fan it’s a must see, but universal doesn’t have that appeal. Unless they have something incredibly astonishing why should foreigners go?

 

[PollyannaMom]

Unless they have something incredibly astonishing why should foreigners go?

Because they're already big Universal fans but don't want to travel to the US?

 

[easyas123]

I just don't see why England, versus Spain and, to a lesser extent, France. Doesn't make sense.

Well we could suppose that whomever provides the funding/ideas/proposed the project has done the demographic and economic research that points to it being successful in the area they are putting it...it's making sense to the investor(s) who are paying for it so I would imagine they have information we are not privy to.

 

[Smugpugmug]

The "Wizarding World of Harry Potter" lands are a big draw in the Florida Universal parks, and it would probably be good marketing to combine that with tours of real the filming locations, etc. that are also in England.

I didn't know this beforehand but apparently Warner Bros has exclusive rights to Harry Potter attractions in the UK so as of right now Universal would not be allowed to use Harry Potter in their new theme park. This could change before 2031 obviously but I speculate that Warner Bros would not want competition to drive people away from the Studio tour that already exists.

 

[clappyclaps]

I am super excited about this. It's about a 3 hour drive from me (which sadly involves going down the M6 past Birmingham), but I'm already looking forward to it.

I'll probably also be in the minority here, but I'm actually glad if they can't do any Harry Potter stuff and do something completely different. Would be a nice change. I'm already keeping my fingers crossed for a Jurassic Park land with the water ride and Velocicoaster.

Do agree on the weather though, it's not exactly best placed for the sunshine but at least it isn't further north... I'll be interested to see if it's open all year round? As don't most UK theme parks, if not all, shut for the winter?

 

[Cyberc1978]

Because they're already big Universal fans but don't want to travel to the US?

Then they aren’t big fans.

If you are a big Disney fan then you travel to the U.S and then occasionally to the other parks.

I consider myself a Disney fan, if I’m a big fan or not I leave it up to others to decide. Even with DLP sort of in my back yard I wouldn’t even consider visiting the park - but that’s because of the French, they are too arrogant, grumpy and stuck up.