Are you a new parent living in Britain? Then be sure to mark 2031 on your calendar, because at that point, your kids will be old enough for a trip to the brand-new Universal Studios in Bedford!
Yep, Universal Studios is coming to Europe. It’s coming to Bedfordshire, England to be precise. This means there’s about to be an influx of child-friendly attractions within easy reach for British parents. Franchises including Paddington, Minions, and Super Mario are owned by Universal, and if you’ve visited any of the other Universal parks around the world, you’ll have seen the impressive things the Studios can do with those characters.
The British Universal Studios park will highlight what’s best in British popular entertainment. Don’t expect much Harry Potter stuff at the park, though–and no, it's not because of JK Rowling becoming a hate figure among some Brits. Strict exclusivity contracts mean that the park will not be able to showcase Hogwarts, as that’s being left to the bigger Universal Studios park in Orlando. Millions of people go there every year to see the world of Harry Potter, and the big cheeses in Orlando don’t want to lose visitors to England.
There’s been some news about the upcoming attractions
So you’re probably wondering, what will there be for adults at this park? After all, you’re going to need something to do while the kids are seeing the Minions. A source who spoke to the BBC believes that James Bond and The Lord of the Rings will be the inspiration for a lot of the park’s attractions. A James Bond stunt show looks likely, but the Lord of the Rings plans are shrouded in mystery. Perhaps a version of the Shire or Mordor might spring up, and you’ll be able to visit the Green Dragon or take your photograph at the crack of Mount Doom?
Concept art also revealed rollercoasters dotted around the park. Thrill-seeking adults might want a go on those, but they probably won’t be suitable for children.
Universal Studios are exceptionally talented at providing an experience for the whole family, though. The other Universal Studios parks have adult attractions side-by-side with child attractions, ensuring no-one will ever be bored when they visit.
Brits are very excited about the new park
Though Britain has a lot of theme parks already, such as Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, the country has never had a park as big as Universal Studios. It’s an absolute game-changer for the theme park industry in the UK, and is expected to provide thousands of jobs for people in the areas around Bedford.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told the BBC she was excited about the park showing off, "great British creations to the world.” She went on, "These are things like James Bond, Paddington Bear, these are things like Harry Potter. We've got so much to be proud of.”
If you want your kids to grow up loving theme parks, Britain is a good place to be right now!