2021 is set to be the year that construction of the new London theme park resort commences. Dubbed the UK’s answer to Disneyland, the enormous theme park and water park resort will sit on the banks of the Thames, covering over 535 acres of land. It will be the largest scale theme park constructed in Europe since Disneyland Paris in 1992, and just a 17-minute train journey from London’s St Pancras station.
Early artist impressions reveal the size and scope of the park, which is split into distinct sections. The Jungle is an area filled with ruins of a long-lost Mesoamerican civilisation, The Studio will be a movie-themed area based on blockbuster movies with a design paying homage to classic Hollywood. The Starport is a twenty-third-century sci-fi travel port, transporting guests to a world, unlike anything they have ever known.
The designs also show areas named The Isles, The Kingdom and The Woods, along with The High Street, a central plaza packed with shops and restaurants leading off towards hotels and the waterpark.
Rides for the park are currently being created in collaboration with Paramount Pictures, the BBC and ITV Studios, with a focus on next-generation experiences. Construction on the park is expected to involve 30,000 people, with a cost of approximately £3.5 billion.
PY Gerbeau, CEO of London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH) said, “We are creating one of the most exciting theme park projects in the world. The London Resort will be a next-generation theme park resort, a world-class destination that maximises a wide range of immersive, interactive technologies and experiences.”
The public consultation is underway, with plans for the park expected to be submitted later in the year. The resort plans to open in 2024, with a second park to be added as part of the development in 2029. Bosses at the resort already have a deal in place with EDF Energy, for renewable, low carbon energy.
