When Universal Studios first announced it was building its first European theme park, it was obvious from the outset that they would choose Bedford as its location.
After all, who wouldn’t put Bedford on the same international pedestal as Orlando, Beijing, Osaka and Singapore?
The government has now given the huge theme park the green light, which is set to open in 2031 and could bring £50billion to the UK economy.
Universal says it plans to build its new 476-acre theme park in a way that ‘celebrates this area’s vibrant history’ – with locals asked to fill in a questionnaire to share their ideas.
NBC Universal said it would like to ‘design select food and drink facilities and attractions with Bedford’s town history in mind’.
Visitors at other Universal parks can be ‘chased by velociraptors, fend off alien attacks or escape indoor tombs’ – not activities known for their popularity in Bedford.
So Metro decided to the questionnaire and educate Universal about Bedford’s fascinating history and how this would translate to white-knuckle rides and thrilling attractions.
Lace industry
Kicking off in the 16th century, Bedford became one of the main centres of England’s lace century, which continued into the early 1900s.
Lace-makers originally from Flanders settled in the area in the 1700s, leading to the development of Bedfordshire Lace.
You can already see historic examples of Bedfordshire Lace at museums in Bedford and nearby Olney – but we think Universal could take lace to the next level.
Could we soon see a ‘lacercoaster’ – a roller coaster designed to be as intricate and beautiful as lace – appearing in Bedford? It’s unclear whether riders could handle the potential g-force, so maybe the design should be purely decorative rather than forming the tracks of the ride.
The lost castle
Bedford Castle was built by Henry I at some point after 1100 – but unfortunately it’s no longer standing.
In 1224 Henry III besieged the castle, and when the siege ended with surrender eight weeks later, the king demanded it was destroyed.
It was partially rebuilt during the English Civil War, but in more recent years houses were built over the castle site, meaning only part of the motte still stands today.
So how could Universal pay homage to the historic and long-lost Bedford Castle?
One option could be to lovingly recreate the castle based on historic artist impressions and archaeological research into how it would have looked back in the 1100s.
Or maybe they could put on a reenactment of the castle’s siege and eventual fall – although despite concerns about historical inaccuracy, the full eight-week siege should probably be cut down a bit.
The John Bunyan prison experience
Back in 1660, preacher John Bunyan spent 12 years in Bedford’s prison, after refusing to give up preaching.
While behind bars he penned The Pilgrim’s Progress, a Christian allegory which is considered one of the most significant works of theological fiction in English literature.
It became one of the most published books in the English language and has never been out of print.
But what was life really like in Bedford Gaol? We reckon Universal could put together an exhibition highlighting the conditions of 17th century prisons.
The Great Flood and the Great Fire
Sadly Bedford has been victim to some serious disasters over the years.
In 1802 the Great Fire of Bedford badly damaged the northern part of the town, while in 1823 the Great Flood swamped most of the town when the River Great Ouse burst its banks, with floodwater reaching almost two metres above ground level.
So what if Universal themed parts of the park on these terrible events? Visitors can feel like they’ve stepped back in time as they walk through streets engulfed in (fake/projected) fire, before descending into an underwater world of flooded homes, pubs and other buildings.
Bedford’s famous musicians
There are plenty of famous musicians who were born and raised in Bedford.
Don Broco, an alternative rock band, was formed in the town back in 2008, and pop stars Tom Grennan and Alfie Templeman also call it home.
Sopranos Rachel Nicholls and Carolyn Sampson, as well as multi-instrumentalist and composer Adiescar Chase, and Garry Cobain from The Future Sound of London, are also from Bedford.
Plus if you’re looking for other famous faces who call the town home, why not look to comedian and actor Matt Berry, the late great Ronnie Barker, comedian and television presenter John Oliver, presenter Carol Vorderman, and fashion designer turned Great British Sewing Bee host Esme Young.
So maybe Universal could pull all of these famous faces together in a Madame Tussauds-style line-up? Maybe the musicians’ greatest hits could be played on hidden speakers throughout the park?
The River Great Ouse
Despite its less than spotless history (see above) Bedford is well known for being cut almost in half by the River Great Ouse.
Maybe Universal could capitalise on this by making the river a running theme throughout the park?
We can imagine a number of the town’s bridges lovingly recreated throughout the park – or why not go all out and build a lazy river?
Surely there’ll be no issues with adding a water ride to a British theme park, considering our famously consistent, warm and sunny weather.
This article was first published on April 10, 2024
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
