Universal’s announcement of a major new theme park and resort in Bedford, UK has ignited a huge fan buzz — and with that comes a swirl of rumours.
Here are eight of the biggest and most talked-about theories about what the park “might” include:
1. Ultra-Tall Rides: Europe’s Highest Coasters?
One of the most eye-catching rumours is that Universal UK could feature rides reaching up to 115 m (377 ft) — potentially making some of its attractions the tallest in Europe.
- In planning documents, Universal argued for very tall structures so the park can be “visually competitive” with other European attractions.
- If true, this suggests they’re not just going for family rides — they want major thrill coasters, possibly iconic skyline-defining towers.
2. Back to the Future: Return of Hill Valley?
Concept art (circulating among fan sites) depicts a 1950s-style American town square, complete with classical façades and a prominent vertical spike coaster.
- Fans speculate this could hint at a Back to the Future-themed ride — maybe even a DeLorean-style launch coaster that “goes to 88 mph.”
- That spike could be a lightning-rod-inspired piece, echoing the iconic clock tower — perfect for a time-travel narrative.
However, nothing’s been confirmed by Universal — this is highly speculative, though pretty tantalising for fans of the franchise.
3. Jurassic World Dark Ride
Another section of the concept art strongly suggests a Jurassic World–style land, complete with a large show building and dinosaur-themed architecture.
- Some believe this could be a trackless, immersive dark ride similar to the Jurassic World Adventure ride in Universal Beijing.
- There are also designs for drop towers in the art, which might tie into a dinosaur “escape” narrative or an observation element.
Given Jurassic is one of Universal’s biggest IPs, this is one of the most plausible rumours.
4. Minion / Illumination Land
Fans think there’ll be a Minion-themed land (or more broadly, an Illumination IP area), based on bright, playful architecture and a coasting ride weaving through the space.
- The concept art’s colourful designs strongly match Universal’s Illumination-themed lands in other parks.
- This would be a smart move: a family-friendly area to balance out the more intense thrill zones.
5. Lord of the Rings, Shrek, or Kung Fu Panda?
One of the more speculative areas in the concept art features two large enclosed show buildings.
- Rumours suggest these could house immersive attractions for Lord of the Rings, Shrek, or Kung Fu Panda.
- These IPs resonate with UK/European audiences and could allow for dark rides, shows, or walk-through experiences.
But — again — these are not confirmed. There’s no official IP announcement yet.
6. Pokémon or Nintendo Land Possibility
This is more community-driven speculation than from official docs: on forums like Reddit, some fans argue that Universal might skip Mario-style Nintendo land (because of overlap with other parks) and go for Pokémon, Legend of Zelda, or other big IPs.
- One user wrote: “Rumour is that Pokémon is replacing the Simpsons … Universal doesn’t want any duplicate attractions between Florida and the UK.”
- The idea is that a Pokémon dark ride + flat rides could give Universal UK a unique draw for families and Nintendo / gaming fans alike.
No official word yet, so treat this as pure fan theory — but a fun one.
7. Long-Term Investment: A “Century-Long” Vision
According to some insiders and commentators, Universal sees the UK park as more than just a theme park — it could be part of a century-long investment in the region.
- That suggests Universal may plan future phases: more lands, expansions, perhaps even local economic development beyond the park.
If true, this could change how the park is designed — not just a one-off build, but a growing, evolving resort.
8. Transport & Infrastructure: Massive Government Backing
One strong (and partially confirmed) “rumour” — more of a plan — is that the UK government is backing the park with huge transport investment.
- Reports and planning docs mention a new or expanded railway station near the site (Wixams) to support guest access.
- A £500 million transport package is being discussed to upgrade road and rail infrastructure.
- This level of infrastructure commitment hints at Universal expecting massive attendance and making the resort a national-level attraction, not just a local theme park.
The truth will probably be somewhere between the most ambitious fan speculation and the cautious optimism of planning documents.
As more planning applications move forward, we’ll likely see more solid reveals — but for now, these rumours are making the Universal UK project one of the most exciting in the theme-park world.
