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Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Inside Universal Studios' brand new Epic Universe – here's what you should see
And the incredible food you must try OUT OF THIS WORLD Inside Universal Studios' brand new Epic Universe – here's what you should see IT'S been a long time since I've been to Universal Studios Orlando. The hazy days of 1999 feel much further away than its quarter of a century of distance. Advertisement 10 Even the entrance to the park is epic Credit: ALL_RIGHTS 10 Stardust Racers is all thrills and no filler Credit: ALL_RIGHTS 10 The Isle of Berk brings the classic How To Train Your Dragon films to life So when I heard about the grand opening of the first new theme park in Florida in 25 years, I just had to be there. Universal has been working for years to bring the incredible new Epic Universe to the theme-park capital and it was well worth waiting for. It's home to five brand new hyper-immersive worlds themed on legendary franchises with rides, shows, and experiences unlike anything else in the world. Travelling over to Florida, I enjoyed the luxury of British Airways World Traveller Plus, which offers lots of comfort and some serious leg room. This is long-haul luxury I could get used to. Advertisement With over two decades since my last visit, it's safe to say things have changed a tad. I stayed at the thoroughly modern Universal Stella Nova resort, just a five-minute bus journey from the centre of all the excitement in the new park. The rooms were absolutely huge, with plenty of space for families to use as a base for their trip. Stepping into Celestial Park, it was clear this was on another level compared to anything I had ever experienced before. Advertisement Acting as a hub and a world in its own right, it features plenty of restaurants and attractions for visitors to explore. The highlight of Celestial Park, and one of the best thrill rides Universal has to offer, is Stardust Racers, which features two carts that intertwine and loop round each other as they battle to reach the finish. Most popular treats for Brits on holiday It goes toe-to-toe with the most hardcore rides in the original park. To get the full experience, make sure to split your party of riders in two. Advertisement Spinning fully vertical over your friends at 62mph while waving and jeering each other during straight sections makes this one of the most enjoyable coasters on the planet. My pals and I chose to ride it four times in one day, including twice back-to-back on each set of cars. It was just that good! Stepping through the entrance to each of the themed worlds is like walking through a portal to a different universe. Genius theming and brilliant design fully immerses you. Advertisement GO EPIC UNIVERSE GETTING/STAYING THERE: A week room-only at the 5* Universal Helios Grand Hotel is from £1,449pp and seven nights at the 3.5* Universal Stella Nova Resort is from £829pp on selected dates in January. See MORE INFO: Universal Orlando Resort All Park Tickets from £439pp for a week including one day at Epic Universe from British Airways Holidays. For all you need to know before you visit Epic Universe see 10 The incredible queue for Battle at the Ministry The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic As you rush through the portal to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, you're transported to a picture-perfect Parisian street with cracked cobbles below and towering French architecture. It's hard to believe you're still in the heart of the Sunshine State. Advertisement Potter fans will lose their minds at the new Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry ride. Entering using Floo Powder in the fireplace just like in the films, you find yourself within the Ministry on the day of Dolores Umbridge's highly anticipated trial. It was like walking on the actual film sets themselves — incredible. And that's just the queue! Once on the ride, you'll experience the thrilling trial in its entirety with cutting-edge CGI and animatronics bringing every second of the intense battle to life. Advertisement 10 Super Nintendo World feels like a video game come to life Super Nintendo World If gaming is more your speed (it definitely is mine), then jumping through the warp pipe to Super Nintendo World will take you to a bright and colourful playground where fun is top of the agenda. With the much-loved Mario Kart ride melding the game, virtual reality, and traditional indoor rollercoasters, one ride will never be enough, and you'll find yourself wanting to turn back and immediately start queuing again, just like me. Advertisement In a first for the USA, Super Nintendo World offers visitors a chance to visit Donkey Kong Country, a vibrant jungle based on the classic SNES games. Its main ride, Mine-Cart Madness, captures the feel of jumping from track to track on an old mine cart just like those retro levels. Even Yoshi's Adventure is a perfect beginner coaster for younger children, if you can pull them away from the hidden mini games and interactive elements scattered throughout the world. Kids (and nostalgic adults) also have the chance to meet iconic Nintendo characters like Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad and Donkey Kong as they explore. Advertisement 10 Hiccup's Wing gliders proved a fast favourite within the group How To Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk How To Train Your Dragon — Isle of Berk is a must for fans of the Dreamworks classic. Easily the biggest of the new worlds, it captures the spirit of the series perfectly. Hiccup's Wing Gliders sees you soaring through the air on a dragon glider, swooping from left to right as the movie's soundtrack fills the air felt utterly whimsical. Advertisement The park's only water-based ride, Fire Drill, lets you soak your friends, and was a fantastic, if slightly cruel, way to beat the Florida heat. The show, The Untrainable Dragon, was a real highlight, with Hiccup and Toothless soaring over us, giving a fantastic view of all the attention to detail paid to bring the franchise to life in the new world. 10 Visiting Darkmoor in the Dark Universe felt like stepping into another world Credit: ALL_RIGHTS Dark Universe Advertisement Easily my favourite of the new worlds was the spooky Dark Universe. Based on the classic Universal Monsters, horror fans will be delighted to see throwbacks to sorely missed characters like Frankenstein's Monster, the Bride and the Wolfman. The detail was, once again, on-point, from the austere gothic architecture to the windmill restaurant that bursts into flames as you dine. Both Curse of the Wolfman and Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment rides were just the right mix of thrilling and fun, a love letter to the classic movies. Advertisement The latter's blend of special effects and unique movement had me giggling with joy on each ride. 10 The Burning Blade Tavern literally catches fire as you dine Credit: ALL_RIGHTS Throughout the parks, dining options were excellent. Isle of Berk's incredible mac and cheese cone and the Dark Universe's Monocane drink in a neon green vial proved to be my personal favourites. If you're a theme park newbie or someone who just can't get enough of the much-loved original Universal Studios Orlando, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay, there are also free buses every half-hour from Stella Nova resort. Advertisement All are well worth a visit, and have a great range of coasters, from the classic Revenge of the Mummy Ride to modern favourites like the adrenaline rush that is Hagrid's Magical Creatures, and the unrelenting thrill-filled Jurassic World Velocicoaster. And if you want even easier access to the amazing Epic Universe, Loews and Universal have teamed up to create the stunning Universal Grand Helios Hotel which, among other luxuries, boasts its own private entrance to the park. With rooms themed around worlds like How to Train Your Dragon, it's perfect for families who want to skip the queues or take breaks from the parks throughout the day. Watching the dazzling fireworks display fill the night sky for the grand opening, it became clear to me that Epic Universe well and truly lives up to its name. Advertisement So if you've been looking for an excuse to explore some epic new worlds and have an absolute blast doing so, now is the perfect time. 10 The EPIC grand opening celebrations
Tourism Breaking News
01-04-2025
- Business
- Tourism Breaking News
British Airways announces additional flights from Riyadh to London Heathrow this summer boosting travel and trade connections between the UK and Saudi Arabia
Post Views: 112 British Airways is improving connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the UK by increasing its Riyadh to London Heathrow service from seven to 13 flights per week for the summer season. Starting from 30 March 2025, customers will benefit from nearly double the number of flights, with more than 80,000 additional seats versus last year. This expansion will strengthen connections between the UK and Saudi Arabia, supporting growing demand from both business and leisure travellers, who can now take advantage of the added frequencies for business trips, family getaways or reconnecting with loved ones. The new flight additions will operate nearly every day of the week (excluding Tuesdays), strategically timed to offer customers more flexibility for onward connections within British Airways' extensive global network from London Heathrow to more than 200 destinations. The airline consistently has Arabic speaking cabin crew on its flights to and from Riyadh enabling them to offer a more comfortable and personalised experience on board, reinforcing the airline's deep understanding of its Saudi Arabian customers' requirements. With fares starting only from SAR 1956, travellers will have the option to choose from British Airways' four-cabin configuration*, First, Club World (business class), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), and World Traveller (economy), ensuring a tailored experience to suit every travel preference and budget, all while enjoying world-class service and comfort. British Airways' Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, Neil Chernoff, said: 'We are delighted to be increasing our services from Riyadh to London Heathrow, giving customers more options to travel between both regions, connecting families, friends and businesses. 'This addition to our schedule not only benefits our many business and leisure customers, but also strengthens our long-standing connection and cultural ties between both two kingdoms, and we look forward to welcoming our customers on board this year.' British Airways' Riyadh flight times are as follows (all local): FLIGHT NO CITY TIME OF DEP TIME OF ARR FREQUENCY IN A WEEK AIRCRAFT RIYADH BA262 RUH-LHR 00:35 05:30 7 DAYS 777 BA258 RUH-LHR 08:25 13:20 6 DAYS (except Tuesday) 787 BA263 LHR-RUH 14:05 22:45 7 DAYS 777 BA259 LHR-RUH 22:00 06:35+1 6 DAYS (except Monday) 787 Tickets for the additional Riyadh services are now available for booking on
Zawya
01-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
British Airways adds more flights on Riyadh-London sector
Flag-carrier British Airways has announced that it is improving connectivity between Saudi Arabia and UK by increasing its Riyadh to London Heathrow service from seven to 13 flights per week for the summer season. The new flight additions will operate nearly every day of the week (excluding Tuesdays), strategically timed to offer customers more flexibility for onward connections within British Airways' extensive global network from London Heathrow to more than 200 destinations, said the airline in a statement. The airline consistently has Arabic speaking cabin crew on its flights to and from Riyadh enabling them to offer a more comfortable and personalised experience on board, reinforcing the airline's deep understanding of its Saudi Arabian customers' requirements, it stated. The new flight took off yesterday (March 30) from King Khalid International Airport, strategically timed to offer customers more flexibility for onward connections within British Airways' extensive global network from London Heathrow to more than 200 destinations, said the airline in a statement. The customers will benefit from nearly double the number of flights, with more than 80,000 additional seats versus last year. This expansion will strengthen connections between the UK and Saudi Arabia, supporting growing demand from both business and leisure travellers, who can now take advantage of the added frequencies for business trips, family getaways or reconnecting with loved ones, it stated. British Airways' Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, Neil Chernoff, said: "We are delighted to be increasing our services from Riyadh to London Heathrow, giving customers more options to travel between both regions, connecting families, friends and businesses." "With fares starting from SAR1956 onwards, travellers will have the option to choose from British Airways' four-cabin configuration, First, Club World (business class), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), and World Traveller (economy), ensuring a tailored experience to suit every travel preference and budget, all while enjoying world-class service and comfort," he stated. "This addition to our schedule not only benefits our many business and leisure customers, but also strengthens our long-standing connection and cultural ties between both two kingdoms, and we look forward to welcoming our customers on board this year," he added. Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Trade Arabia
31-03-2025
- Business
- Trade Arabia
British Airways adds more flights on Riyadh-London sector
Flag-carrier British Airways has announced that it is improving connectivity between Saudi Arabia and UK by increasing its Riyadh to London Heathrow service from seven to 13 flights per week for the summer season. The new flight additions will operate nearly every day of the week (excluding Tuesdays), strategically timed to offer customers more flexibility for onward connections within British Airways' extensive global network from London Heathrow to more than 200 destinations, said the airline in a statement. The airline consistently has Arabic speaking cabin crew on its flights to and from Riyadh enabling them to offer a more comfortable and personalised experience on board, reinforcing the airline's deep understanding of its Saudi Arabian customers' requirements, it stated. The new flight took off yesterday (March 30) from King Khalid International Airport, strategically timed to offer customers more flexibility for onward connections within British Airways' extensive global network from London Heathrow to more than 200 destinations, said the airline in a statement. The customers will benefit from nearly double the number of flights, with more than 80,000 additional seats versus last year. This expansion will strengthen connections between the UK and Saudi Arabia, supporting growing demand from both business and leisure travellers, who can now take advantage of the added frequencies for business trips, family getaways or reconnecting with loved ones, it stated. British Airways' Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, Neil Chernoff, said: "We are delighted to be increasing our services from Riyadh to London Heathrow, giving customers more options to travel between both regions, connecting families, friends and businesses." "With fares starting from SAR1956 onwards, travellers will have the option to choose from British Airways' four-cabin configuration, First, Club World (business class), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), and World Traveller (economy), ensuring a tailored experience to suit every travel preference and budget, all while enjoying world-class service and comfort," he stated. "This addition to our schedule not only benefits our many business and leisure customers, but also strengthens our long-standing connection and cultural ties between both two kingdoms, and we look forward to welcoming our customers on board this year," he added.
Syyaha
30-03-2025
- Business
- Syyaha
British Airways announces additional flights from Riyadh to London Heathrow this summer boosting travel and trade connections between the UK and Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Sunday 30 March 2025: British Airways is improving connectivity between Saudi Arabia and the UK by increasing its Riyadh to London Heathrow service from seven to 13 flights per week for the summer season. Starting from 30 March 2025, customers will benefit from nearly double the number of flights, with more than 80,000 additional seats versus last year. This expansion will strengthen connections between the UK and Saudi Arabia, supporting growing demand from both business and leisure travellers, who can now take advantage of the added frequencies for business trips, family getaways or reconnecting with loved ones. The new flight additions will operate nearly every day of the week (excluding Tuesdays), strategically timed to offer customers more flexibility for onward connections within British Airways' extensive global network from London Heathrow to more than 200 destinations. The airline consistently has Arabic speaking cabin crew on its flights to and from Riyadh enabling them to offer a more comfortable and personalised experience on board, reinforcing the airline's deep understanding of its Saudi Arabian customers' requirements. With fares starting only from SAR 1956, travellers will have the option to choose from British Airways' four-cabin configuration*, First, Club World (business class), World Traveller Plus (premium economy), and World Traveller (economy), ensuring a tailored experience to suit every travel preference and budget, all while enjoying world-class service and comfort. British Airways' Chief Planning and Strategy Officer, Neil Chernoff, said: 'We are delighted to be increasing our services from Riyadh to London Heathrow, giving customers more options to travel between both regions, connecting families, friends and businesses. 'This addition to our schedule not only benefits our many business and leisure customers, but also strengthens our long-standing connection and cultural ties between both two kingdoms, and we look forward to welcoming our customers on board this year.' British Airways' Riyadh flight times are as follows (all local): FLIGHT NO CITY TIME OF DEP TIME OF ARR FREQUENCY IN A WEEK AIRCRAFT RIYADH BA262 RUH-LHR 00:35 05:30 7 DAYS 777 BA258 RUH-LHR 08:25 13:20 6 DAYS (except Tuesday) 787 BA263 LHR-RUH 14:05 22:45 7 DAYS 777 BA259 LHR-RUH 22:00 06:35+1 6 DAYS (except Monday) 787 Tickets for the additional Riyadh services are now available for booking on
