Universal Studios UK RUMOURED Lands – Let’s Discuss

So now that it’s official we know a Universal Studios UK theme park is on its way and 2031 is the rumoured date of opening as construction looks to begin next year, concept art was released for the park at midnight and we’ve been studying it ever since.

We’ve studied it so hard that since we recorded a video of the entire speculation (see video below) some of our area ideas have changed WILDLY as more information comes to light on the most exciting theme park project the UK has seen in decades!

Please keep in mind this is all speculation based on first impressions of the concept art released.

The Map

Here is our first blueprint look at the concept art for Universal Studios UK and it’s a very exciting piece of work indeed!

Let’s zoom into the map and pinpoint a few key areas of note as we discuss our theories and what these potential lands/attractions could be!

Dreamworks / Paddington (Children’s Themed Area)

Originally that circular globe upon closer inspection looks like a Dreamworks logo and the attractions within this space are very family-friendly including a balloon ride, what looks to be a splash bash and a play area with a building that could also house a small attraction.

If you zoom in more you can see a small Pagoda, what looks to be marmalade-themed accents and the building at the bottom looks to have chimneys in what looks very reminiscent of Windsor Gardens from the Paddington movies.

There looks to be a blend of all three films including the brand new Paddington in Peru film and the hot air balloon scene from Paddington 2.

Whilst Dreamworks certainly isn’t out of the question, I’m certainly leaning more towards Paddington with this particular area than I was before after closer inspection.

This would be Universal’s first-ever Paddington-themed land if indeed it does become this.

Jurassic World

The biggest area at Universal Studios UK looks to be this particular area and with its palm tree theming, giant rollercoaster and a huge indoor dark ride this looks almost nailed on to be themed around Jurassic World.

The giant dark ride building could house a unique Jurassic World Adventure experience, two drop towers look identical to Dr Doom’s at Universal Orlando Florida and the building on the bottom left of the photo looks to be a themed restaurant with lake views.

Foliage is heavy in this area which is reminiscent of Jurassic Park / World-themed areas at Universal Studios and it’s a staple of all Universal parks.

What looks to be an arena is also shown at the top right of the image which could still be themed within this particular area or it could be something else entirely especially with a separate banner across the path that could distinguish it from the rumoured Jurassic World area.

This arena could be the home to the Waterworld show that is commonplace at most Universal theme parks or it could be something else entirely.

Green track with that profiling and element over the lake looks very B&M to me and if I was a betting man I’d go as far as saying it’s a B&M hyper-themed around Jurassic World in some capacity.

Let’s hope it doesn’t wobble and rattle too much like the current B&M coaster offerings.

Minions Land

In what looks like a carbon copy of Universal Studios Beijing’s Minions land we have what was originally a rollercoaster which is now more than likely a rollercoaster on-top of a building that isn’t a functioning ride just like in Beijing.

The building shapes and even the entrance of Minions Land seem to be depicted on the main map (see video for more zoomed-in footage) and the colours of the buildings match the standard Minions colour palette for the area.

Out of all of the lands at Universal Studios UK I’d say that Jurassic World and Minions were the two lands almost certain to be nailed on whereas the others are more speculative.

Right, onto the next land!

Dreamworks / Shrek / Lord of the Rings?

With the castle theming and heavy foliage, I was instantly leaning into the Dark Universe / Universal Monsters angle with this one and I posted the video, then I stopped.

I thought, there’s NO way they’d put scarier monsters next to a Minions Land and then I looked a little closer as the building at the bottom left looked very familiar.

The Poison Apple Tavern from Shrek… and now I’ve seen it I can’t unsee it.

Could we have a Shrek dark ride to compliment the tavern? One can dream!

Could it also be an Animation Land which would then incorporate Minions leaving room for another land?

Lord of the Rings has also been linked heavily to Universal Studios UK and with this particular area shrouded in mystery and with the limited view of this area of the park it’s still plausible that it may have it’s own land but the more likely option is that it’ll be a Standalone attraction as opposed to a land themed around the IP.

Back to the Future

What looks to be an Intamin Spike coaster similar to Spitfire at Six Flags Qiddiya City lies within this area of the park with an Amphitheatre opposite and a strange square-shaped square before the ride.

I think Universal, I think square area with hedges and I instantly jump to Hill Valley and Back to the Future.

If you zoom in more on the coaster trains you can see that the colours are very similar to Marty’s hoverboard in Back to the Future II and whilst I can’t see a building that resembles the iconic clock tower there is certainly an 80s USA vibe to the are with the colour scheme and building facades.

With a giant indoor building expect pre-shows and indoor coaster shows before launching outside into the coaster layout… at 88mph perhaps?

The only thing that doesn’t make sense here is the amphitheatre as there wasn’t one in Hill Valley or in Back to the Future at all unless they’ve turned Twin Pines Mall into a theatre.

This one is the biggest question mark land of them all, it could be merged with another land without me realising or a number of other reasons. It’s the curveball of them all and I’ll be watching this land very closely as it develops.

Jaws (NOT A LAND)

Whilst it may not be its own land this area certainly has me curious as a boathouse-looking building in addition to a small lagoon and what looks to be a hanging object (maybe a shark) suggests a Jaws / nautical theme with enough room behind the facade for a dark ride.

I’m scratching my head with this one as they wouldn’t build a Jaws land, there’s just not enough to stretch the IP beyond a small area so maybe this is a standalone attraction similar to Transformers maybe where it’s just placed in the area on its around without too much surrounding it.

Either way this is one to certainly keep an eye on but I think I’m onto something here and it would be a massive fan service to those who mourned the old Orlando Jaws ride!

Overall

So if we take all of this speculation into consideration and highlight each of the lands within Universal Studios UK (excluding my Jaws theory) then we come up with the following image to represent the IP’s (NOT the lands).

The show-building on the main street will most likely house a 007 show as opposed to a Bourne Spectacular type of show (at a guess) as a more detailed image, in my mind at least, is becoming realised.

Now the reason I say it’s categorically not going to consist of 6 lands is because in the below BBC video the Comcast president very clearly tells UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer that it will consist of FOUR lands.

Now if we exclude Jaws, as this is clearly not going to be its own land but perhaps a standalone attraction if indeed it is Jaws then we have 5 lands remaining.

This means that Back to the Future out of the lot of them is the one most likely to be absolved into Jurassic World creating an even bigger land UNLESS both Dreamworks and Minions were merged under an ‘Animation Land’ or similar.

Minions is a separate entity and can’t be merged with Dreamworks (it’s an Illumination production) and that looks 100% certain to be Minions.

Shrek looks pretty nailed on in terms of a Dreamworks space and is next to the family-friendly minions. Jurassic World looks nailed on so there’s a HUGE question mark over that Back to the Future theory of mine.

Time will tell!