London Resort: First look at £3.5bn theme park that is UK’s answer to Disneyland
The first pictures of The London Resort, a £3.5bn theme park set to open in 2024, have been released.
The concept artwork for the six lands, spread across a 535-acre site in Kent, show a Union-Jack designed dome, a Disney-esque castle lit up by fireworks, and a Paramount Pictures entry way.
It will be the first European development of its kind to be built from scratch since Disneyland Paris opened in 1992.
Lands include The Studio, “a gritty, modern-day warehouse district” inspired by blockbuster films; The Woods, “an enchanted realm” where bedtime stories, fables and fairy tales reign supreme; The Kingdom, an immersive realm of “swords, sorcery, dragons and legend”; The Isles, a land of giant creatures, mythical beasts and adventures; The Jungle, where the ancient ruins of a long-lost Mesoamerican civilisation are seen pushing up through the trees; and The Starport, a 23rd-century landing zone that “will launch visitors into thrilling science-fiction adventures”.
There are also hotels, a convention centre and a waterpark on site.
Although the first parts of the park are set to open in 2024, more features will open during the five years following, with an expected completion date of 2029.
The London Resort aims to open as the most sustainable major theme park destination in the world.
Partnering with EDF Energy, the park is aiming to be an attraction with net zero emissions.
“We are creating a first-class theme park,” said PY Gerbeau, chief executive of London Resort Company Holdings (LRCH).
“A destination that maximises all the new, immersive and interactive technologies and experiences in the world. But we won’t just be creating a world class leisure destination, it will also be one of the most sustainable theme parks on the planet.”
He added that the company used three guidelines when developing the park: to make it innovative, relevant and flexible.
“We’re not here to copy what’s been done before even if it has been successful,” said Gerbeau.
Read more
Why us ‘childless millennials’ should definitely go to theme parks
