This morning the government confirmed a former brickworks site in Bedford will become home to the new British tourist magnet.
Every year families from the UK spend thousands on trips to Florida to visit the infamous Universal Studios. However, the entertainment behemoth now has plans to construct a theme park in England. Granted, the establishment won’t be as big as the park in America and the weather won’t be nearly as good, but visiting won’t burn such a huge hole in your wallet.
The plans for the new theme park were confirmed by the government this morning and it is projected to bring 8.5 million visitors to Bedford, which is 50 miles north of London. The development will squat on a 192-hectare site at the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks.
Alongside the theme park, a 500-bed hotel is also earmarked for construction as well as ‘a retail, dining and entertainment complex’.
While announcing the deal, prime minister Keir Starmer claimed our country will reap dozens of benefits.
‘This is our plan for change in action,’ he said, ‘combining local and national growth with creating around 28,000 new jobs across sectors such as construction, AI and tourism.
‘It is not just about numbers; it’s about securing real opportunities for people in our country. Together, we are building a brighter future for the UK, getting people into work and ensuring our economy remains strong and competitive.’
Meanwhile it goes without saying that the theme park will likewise benefit young people. Experts leading the scheme have said that while it’s still ‘too early’ to think about planned rides, the Minions -themed Loop-Dee Doop-Dee, the Transformers Megabase Decepticoaster and an area entitled the Kung Fu Panda Land of Awesomeness could make an appearance. These attractions have recently opened at Universal’s latest resort in Beijing.
Currently the project, which has been in talks for more than a year, is earmarked to be finished by 2031 though it doesn’t yet have planning permission, but it is backed by local government leaders.
Photo by Guneet Jassal via UnSplash
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