
Universal's UK theme park plans have dropped – here's what you can expect including nightclubs and film studios
The
5
Plans have been dropped for the new Universal theme park coming to Bedfordshire
Within these zones will be the theme park;
retail
and entertainment destinations; visitor accommodation including
hotels
,
camping
and caravanning; sport, recreation, leisure and spa facilities and conference and convention spaces.
The plans state: "[Guests will ]experience blockbuster attractions, adrenaline-pumping
"They'll come face-to-face with incredible creatures, heroes, and villains.
"They'll discover great food, new laughs, new ways to play, and step into immersive worlds they've only ever dreamed of."
Read more on Universal
The application also expresses that in the first year, 8.5million visitors are expected to the Core Zone.
Then, in
future
years, 12.5million visitors are expected annually.
The split between domestic and international visitors is expected to be 70 per cent and 30 per cent respectively in the first year.
Then 52 per cent and 48 per cent respectively in future years.
Most read in News Travel
The attraction is also due to be open each day between 9am and 9pm, with visitors starting to arrive at 7am and depart up until 10pm.
Inside Universal Epic Universe with incredible thrill rides and amazing food
The
Rides, experiences and attractions
Many parts of the application reference what will be included in the theme park.
This includes indoor and outdoor
There is also set to be events spaces for parades, shows and displays.
Entertainment venues are set to include theatres and cinemas and sport, recreation, leisure and
Other entertainment venues suggested are music and dance venues, nightclubs and even tattoo parlours.
Planned indoor and outdoor cultural spaces include exhibition spaces, art galleries and
Under the accessibility section, the proposal also includes ride examples such as a Men in Black experience, One Fish Two Fish fairground ride and a
5
The attraction will be divided into four main land areas known as the Core Zone, Lake Zone, West Gateway Zone and the East Gateway Zone
Credit: Universal Destinations & Experiences
Interestingly, the document also reveals that the site could have media and
film
production facilities, stating: "For instance a building may be used as a sound stage, film studio, event space or hosting a Universal Destinations & Experiences show or even a mixture of these uses."
The application goes on to explain how the use of some buildings at the site may vary seasonally, "for instance during events such as Halloween
Horror
Nights".
There will also be a maximum height of anything in the theme park of 115metres.
Core Zone
The Core Zone will be the central part of the attraction and is set "to contain the theme park, amusement park and/or
The plans also show that it could have an entry plaza, car and coach parking, a 500-room hotel, valet parking service and a
transport
hub.
Lake Zone
The Lake Zone will be the northernmost part of the attraction.
In this zone, the proposed plans include
business
hotels with 2000 rooms, further
This zone is also set to include the Convention Centre, which will span across 55,000square-metres.
5
Within these zones will be the theme park; retail and entertainment destinations; visitor accommodation including hotels, camping and caravanning; sport, recreation, leisure and spa facilities and conference and convention spaces
Credit: Universal
Any shops in this zone will have a maximum size of 1,100square-metres.
In addition, this zone would have a new wetland habitat.
East Gateway Zone
The East Gateway Zone will be located in the eastern area of the
Bedfordshire
site, located near the village of Wixams.
The East Gateway Zone would also adjoin the planned site of the new Wixams Rail Station.
West Gateway Zone
The westernmost area of the site will feature the West Gateway Zone.
This zone is set to include a petrol station with 16 pumps,
restaurants
up to 5,866square-metres, a 200-bedroom hotel and entertainment resort complex support.
Any shops in this zone will have a maximum size of 1,100square-metres.
Accessibility and inclusion
Universal is also committed to "creating a
5
The plans state: "[Guests will ]experience blockbuster attractions, adrenaline-pumping coasters, and mind-blowing spectaculars"
Credit: Universal Destinations & Experiences
For the UK park this means that there will be wide and smooth pathways for wheelchairs, ramps and lifts, accessible toilets in each toilet block and accessible hotel accommodation.
Rides would each have one row or seat that can accommodate wheelchair users or visitors with walking impairments.
Assistive technology would also be available throughout the park such as captioning, audio description, tactile maps and a phone app.
Transport
The overall site also plans to include a new junction on the A421, an expanded
The vision includes a four-platform, four-track station at Wixams with a new station building.
The application also reveals that the Core Zone could have a transport hub, where a "rail-related development may be provided".
Pedestrian and cycle routes are set to be added to the park too.
In the mean time The Sun's Sophie Swietochowski spent three days at
5
The Universal UK theme park is expected to open in 2031
Credit: PA
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
The ‘popular' Irish playground with climbing web, slides, swing sets & toilets – it's right beside the beach
TAKE a look at the "popular" Irish playground with climbing web, slides, swing sets and toilets - and it's right beside the beach. Located in 4 Bray's seaside playground is one of the town's most underrated spots Credit: Google Earth 4 It features lots of different equipment for kids of all ages Credit: Google Earth 4 And it features stunning sea views Credit: Google Earth Just a short walk from Bray town centre and nestled beside the beach, the playground is set within Bray Head Park and surrounded by stunning views. The highlight for visitors is the large, modern play area with colourful equipment – and it's open all year round. This underrated spot is bright and spacious with plenty of features to keep kids active and entertained this summer. It says on Dublin Fox: 'The long-awaited playground on the promenade in Bray is a very popular one. READ MORE IN TRAVEL 'At weekends it can be very crowded, even if the sun does not shine, but usually it is not empty on weekdays, either.' One of the standout features is the climbing tower and tunnel slide, which lets kids climb high and race back down again. There are also swings and roundabouts that let little ones spin all day long. The area is designed to be inclusive, with equipment that suits Most read in News Travel This includes sensory panels, wide ramps, and wheelchair-accessible features throughout - making it the perfect spot to visit for any child. For younger children, there's a fenced toddler zone with smaller slides, low platforms and safe ground surfacing. One of the UK's oldest theme parks launches first water ride in 25 years Other features include a spiderweb that allows children to climb up and a supernova. The playground also offers benches, shaded areas and wide open grass for relaxing or having a And with public toilets, parking and accessible paths nearby, it's an easy and stress-free place for a family outing this summer. What's more, its location right by the promenade makes it easy to combine a playground trip with a stroll along BEACH NEARBY Stretching for almost 2 kilometres, the beach is a popular spot among tourists and locals alike, known for its stunning views overlooking Bray Head. And families can enjoy a full day out, with nearby ice-cream shops, cafés and restaurants just minutes away. Visitors have shared their thoughts on One wrote: 'Great playground on the seafront at Bray. Runs alongside the promenade. Enclosed area for the kids to play and it's free of charge.' Another commented: 'Super long park with a bandstand, playground, cycle track and, of course, it's right beside the beach. 'Great spot for relaxing and jogging.' 4 The park is located right beside Bray beach Credit: Google Earth


The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
The cider ‘capital of the world' has been declared with massive party taking over city centre – and it's in the UK
THE CIDER capital of the world has been declared with a massive party set to take over a city centre - and it's in the UK. Huge celebrations will kick off this weekend with a block party followed by a city-wide cider trail. 3 The cider capital of the world has been declared and it's in the UK Credit: Supplied 3 Celebrations will kick off in Bristol this weekend Credit: Supplied Bristol is set to crown itself the 'Cider Capital of the World' beginning with a takeover of King Street on July 26. Cider City is a celebration of the UK's best independent cider and perry. The party will kick into action with special releases, tap takeovers, music and festivities along the street's rank of historic pubs and venues. It will also feature a declaration from Bristol's High Sheriff to crown Bristol the world's cider capital. Read more Travel News The iconic Bristol Old Vic will also showcase some of the UK's most exciting new ciders. Bristol will also be flooded with world class cider for nine days between July 26 and August 3. A range of venues will be showcasing a selection of local and independent craft cider. Cider City have also released an online interactive Cider Trail map to "discover where they can get involved and sample the golden nectar". Most read in News Travel Cider City organiser Ed Gibson, of Bristol's Branch Cider, said: "We want to build the "Oktoberfest" of cider right here in Bristol, firmly establishing our city as the undisputed Cider Capital of the World. 'Cider is a part of our cultural identity; it's in our blood! Bristol has been at the heart of British cider for centuries and is surrounded by orchards growing the finest cider apples on the planet. So where better to build the world's biggest cider & perry festival?" Tourist attraction at famous Scots beauty spot liquidated after shock closure He added that there's "never" been a more exciting time for the event with cider and perry "in the midst of a global renaissance". The official Cider City bar at Bristol Old Vic will feature a curated list of more than 30 of the finest craft ciders of 2025 at a special bar facing out onto King Street. There will be DJs outside on the terrace, the 'Cider Capital of the World' declaration at 8pm, followed by a performance by Bristol party band Total Clusterfunk. Cider City takes place as part of Bristol Cider Week which will feature public and industry events across the city including Bristol Cider Salon which is now in its fourth consecutive year. With a whopping 324 million pints sold in the UK last year, cider is now the most popular alcoholic drink after beer. Earlier this month, The Sun found a supermarket cider that's better than Kopparberg and it's almost half the price. The One 500ml bottle will set you back around £2.65 depending on where you shop, and the high price has prompted some supermarkets to bring out some dupes. 3 Cider City is a celebration of the UK's best independent cider and perry Credit: Supplied


The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
New ‘trains of the future' revealed with cinema-style screens and onboard nap pods
FANCY whizzing through the countryside with 360-degree views of the landscape through glass-to-ceiling windows? Or perhaps, getting your10,000 steps in as you travel from London to Penzance? 5 Train operator LNER has predicted what the future of travel could look like in 2075 Credit: Mischief PR MHP Group 5 Passengers could expect to see 'nap pods' and onboard cinema-style screens Credit: Mischief PR MHP Group Well, these things could appear on trains in the UK in the future , according to As part of the Railway 200 celebrations, which celebrate 200 years of modern railways, LNER and applied futurist Tom Cheesewright have predicted what we could see from trains in 2075. According to Cheesewright, in 2075 train carriages will have a focus on maximum comfort, entertainment and wellness. Instead of just transporting passengers from A to B as most trains do now, train travel could be an experience that promotes passenger Read more on travel inspo As such, trains could feature floor-to-ceiling windows, with 360-degree views of the landscape. Of 2,000 people asked, 57 per cent expressed how they would like this, commenting that gazing out at the countryside is often their favourite thing to do whilst on a train. And 60 per cent said they need constant entertainment whilst travelling. As a result, carriages could feature Most read in News Travel 'Nap pods' might feature too - which 22 per cent expressed they wanted as well. Speed remains a top priority for travellers , with 66 per cent declaring this is why they opt for Most glamourous train carriage in the world revealed with disco balls, library and private tearoom Cheesewright predicts that new technologies could help trains to become faster, slashing travel times considerably. This would start by making trains more aerodynamic, with complicated things like quantum computing and AI being used together to test thousands of designs at the same time. New materials could also help, with laboratories creating 'super-stiff' composites that can be made to a specific shape. And 3D technology could be used to print metals for the trains. Cheesewright added that the customer experience of getting to and on the train could improve as well. This could include facial recognition replacing ticket barriers. 5 There could even be facial recognition instead of ticket barriers Credit: Mischief PR MHP Group 5 LNER's 'Train of the Future' will be open for people to actually visit Credit: Mischief PR MHP Group Many travellers who were asked (44 per cent) shared how sitting back and relaxing is one of the main selling points of train travel. As such, 'smart' seats could be introduced in the future - where the seats would adjust to the customers' microenvironment, with temperature options and different seat firmness levels to choose from. The seats could also pre-save customer preferences. And for those who hate to sit still, there could be the option to book a 'treadmill seat' where passengers can get their steps in on All of Cheesewright's predictions have been brought to life in a first-of-its-kind train from LNER called the 'Train of the Future'. The futuristic train will be on show at The top 10 future train advancements Brits would most like to see on trains LNER asked 2,000 people what they wanted to see on trains in the future, and here is what they said. Cinema-style onboard entertainment - 36 per cent Wellness carriages - 23 per cent On train nap pods - 22 per cent Pre-programmed smart seats - 22 per cent Pet zones - 21 per cent Self-balancing food trays - 21 per cent Family playrooms - 19 per cent Odourless food - 19 per cent Onboard concierge for destination recommendation - 16 per cent Neurodivergent-friendly areas - 16 per cent Rachel Pope, head of digital experience strategy for LNER, said: "It's a very special year for the railway industry, we're participating in nationwide festivities, including various exhibitions showcasing the impact of the railways on society and celebrating the past, present, and future of rail travel." Tom Cheesewright, applied futurist said: "The train journey of the future will be smooth from start to finish, aided by AI planning, "The train of the future will look like a science-fiction marvel: swooping and organic, powerful and quiet, and with an onboard experience that connects us to the countryside around us, or the digital world, or even a seamless combination of the two." The LNER 'Train of the Future' will be open from 9am to 5pm in London's King's Cross Station from July 30 to August 1. Railway 200 started in January and celebrates 200 years of the modern railway. Across 2025, the celebration will see a number of different events and activities for the public to get involved in. There is also a Plus, 5 People can explore the train from July 30 to August 1 at London King's Cross Station Credit: Mischief PR MHP Group