Universal Plans New UK Theme Park
20.12.2023 - 15:57
/ skift.com
/ Selene Brophy
/ Robert Niles
Universal Studios is looking to England for its next theme park. The attractions operator has bought land in Bedford, 45 minutes outside of London, and may build its next big project there.
The company said it is assessing the viability of a new theme park resort in the United Kingdom, with a decision only expected after several months of stakeholder and community engagement. A Universal Destinations & Experiences spokesperson confirmed to Theme Park Insider’s Robert Niles it had bought the land.
No value for the purchased land has been disclosed. Orlando Park Stop, a theme park publication, initially reported Universal’s parent company, Comcast, had spent $271 million on “land acquisition for potential theme park expansion opportunities” in its third-quarter financial disclosure in October. Still, it was unconfirmed if this land acquisition was the Bedford location.
Universal told Theme Park Insider it views Bedford’s transport links to London and Europe as strategic, with half of the UK’s population within a two-hour travel distance.
The Bedford location is, however, an hour outside East London’s Stratford, which was meant to be the new location for the Sphere Entertainment Company’s second Sphere venue. However, after a lengthy five-year consultation process, the Sphere project was halted in November.
London’s mayor Sadiq Khan turned down the venue due to concerns about light pollution, increased electricity usage, and a need for more sustainable green energy solutions. The project also posed potential risks to heritage sites in the Stratford area.
If the Universal theme park goes ahead, it will be its most significant move into Europe. Universal’s potential entry into the UK theme park market would vie for the attention of enthusiasts who currently have access to several existing attractions: