Europe’s First Universal Theme Park Is Coming To Bedfordshire

For some, theme parks are a nauseating one-way ticket to the toilet while for others, the allure of a rollercoaster is unsurpassed. To be strapped in, heart pounding, gripping the handlebars (or the hand of the person beside you) is a thrilling experience. And despite being hit by Covid restrictions, the cost of living crisis, supply chain issues and inflation, the theme park industry is flourishing. In the past five years, industry revenue for UK theme parks has grown by 1.1 percent annually, and today the prime minister has shared a brand new theme park is set to land on British shores by 2031. Spanning a 476 acre complex in Bedfordshire, the multi-billion pound Universal theme park will be the brand’s first foray into Europe. Set to be one of the largest and most advanced theme parks on the continent, it adds to a recent ranking of the best theme park rides proving America doesn’t always do it better…

A new survey by Ocean Florida, in collaboration with OnePoll, gathered the opinions of 2,000 Brits to find out what their favourite theme park ride is – and the results are in. Despite the top 20 being dominated by American rides, first place is taken by Nemesis at Alton Towers in Staffordshire. The ride dates back to 1994 when it was one of the first inverted rollercoasters (meaning the carriages ride beneath the tracks) – quite the revolution at the time. In November 2022, it closed for major renovation, which involved replacing the entire track, reopening in March 2024. The new and improved ride is called Nemesis Reborn, and has been described by Alton Towers staff as a creature with ‘fury heightened and more uncontrollable than ever before’.

Second place is Space Mountain at Florida’s Magic Kingdom. This space-themed rollercoaster in the dark is a thrilling ride. Immersive lights and sound effects thrust you into the cosmos, creating an exhilarating experience – ideal for the Star Wars fan.

Other UK rides which made the top 20 included The Swarm at Thorpe Park and Vampire at Chessington World of Adventures, both of which are located in Surrey. Maybe it’s time to plan a trip down south and see what the hype is about?

The report also showed that younger respondents (aged 18 to 24) preferred the adrenaline-filled rides while those who were a bit older (aged 25 to 34) had a greater preference for storytelling in their rides.

Here’s the full ranking.

The Best Rollercoasters In The World, Ranked

1. Nemesis – Alton Towers – Staffordshire, UK
2. Space Mountain – Magic Kingdom, Florida, USA
3. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey – Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Florida, USA
4. Jurassic World: The Ride – Universal Studios Hollywood, California, USA
5. Pirates of the Caribbean – Disneyland Park, California, USA
6. Jaws (no longer operational) – Universal Studios Florida, USA
7. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Disneyland Park, California, & Disneyland Paris
8. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Florida, USA
9. Splash Mountain (soon to be Tiana’s Bayou Adventure) – Magic Kingdom, Florida, USA
10. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Florida, USA
11. The Swarm – Thorpe Park, Surrey, UK
12. Vampire – Chessington World of Adventures, Surrey, UK
13. It’s a Small World – Disneyland Park, California, USA
14. E.T. Adventure – Universal Studios Florida, USA
15. The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man – Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Florida
16. Avatar Flight of Passage – Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Florida, USA
17. Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Florida, USA
18. Runaway Railway – Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Florida, USA
19. The Incredible Hulk Coaster – Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Florida
20. Expedition Everest – Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Florida, USA