[title]
Just over a year ago, Universal Destinations and Experiences (better known by its former name, Universal Studios) revealed that it was in the very early stages of planning an enormous new theme park for the UK. It’s exciting news for all film buffs slash adrenaline junkies, but we still know very little about the venture.
It’s been confirmed that the US company is still in talks with the UK government, so it’s still not 100 percent guaranteed that the resort will go ahead. If the park does get the green light, Universal apparently has ambitions to make it the largest theme park in all of Europe, featuring a 500-room hotel and creating 8,000 new jobs.
Universal already has world-famous parks in California, Florida, Singapore, Beijing and Osaka, known for ‘Harry Potter’ and ‘Jurassic Park’ rides, but this would be it’s first outpost this side of the Pond. Here’s all the latest on the potential Universal Studios UK theme park.
Where is Universal Studios UK being built?
Universal Studios has apparently already bought a 476-acre piece of land in Bedfordshire where the theme park could be built, less than an hour’s drive from London (and well-located for Luton airport). During a public consultation, it suggested that the final size of the proposed theme park could cover 700 acres.
Speaking to the House of Commons this week, Blake Stephenson, the MP for mid Bedfordshire asked ‘will the minister confirm when he intends to conclude negotiations with Universal Studios and come back to the House with an update?’.
Treasury minister Darren Jones answered: ‘I am afraid I cannot give the honourable gentleman a date, because negotiations are, as he will know, negotiations.’
When will Universal Studios UK be built by?
That’s not clear right now. Universal Studios UK isn’t set in stone, so we don’t know yet if it’ll even happen, let alone when it could be built by.
A spokesperson for Universal Destinations and Experiences told the Independent: ‘We are having productive conversations with the UK government and will have more to share at the appropriate time.’
Get the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.
Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out London newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox.