British 'Disneyland' Is Set To Open In 2021

Hollywood-on-Thames: Britain set to get a £ 2 billion Disneyland-style theme park in 2021 with BBC, Paramount, and Aardman Animations attractions:

The London Paramount resort in Kent, financed by Kuwait’s Al-Humaidi family, is set to attract 50,000 tourists daily
It will be located near Ebbsfleet International station, on the Eurostar route between London and Paris
Attractions will include a water park, theatres, live music venues, rides and cinemas, and around 5,000 hotel rooms
The 872-acre site is near twice the size of the Olympic Park and will be built on the Swanscombe Peninsula

Britain is to get a £ 2 billion theme park that could rival the scale of Disneyland Paris – and it could open its doors as early as 2021. Measuring twice the size of the Olympic Park, the London Paramount Entertainment Resort is to be built on the Swanscombe Peninsula in Kent.

It is estimated that around 50,000 tourists a day will flock to the attraction, including a giant indoor water park, theatres, live music venues, rides, cinemas, restaurants, event space, and 5,000 hotel rooms. (H/T)

Attraction: Developers have unveiled plans to build one of Britain’s biggest theme parks in the world. The £ 2 billion, 872-acre entertainment complex will create an estimated 27,000 jobs.

The resort, which will feature a theme park, water park, cinema, and large theatre, is expected to open in 2021.

Hints of attractions can be seen in the plans, with a Mission: Impossible training center detailed in sketches and Star Trek emblems on rides.

Plans for the resort appear to show a Star Trek-themed land, with the emblem visible on one of the rides.

Kuwait’s Al-Humaidi family is financing the theme park. It is set to feature attractions themed around BBC Worldwide shows, Aardman Animations, and Paramount Pictures, the oldest major Hollywood studio. The deal with the BBC may mean that some of the corporation’s most notable characters, such as Doctor Who and the Daleks, may also appear. This could mean that elements from films including Mission: Impossible and The Godfather could feature throughout the resort.

The project is said to have suffered several delays since its proposal, including planning application setbacks. The main opposition has been from companies from the industrial estate that will be cleared to house the tourist attraction. Following meetings with residents last year, construction will begin in 2018. It is estimated that the resort will create around 27,000 jobs in the area and boost tourism to other attractions on the outskirts of London, such as Knole and Hever castles.

Fenlon Dunphy, the company’s chief financial officer, said to the Western Daily Express: ‘This is going to have a hugely significant impact on the economy – we will dovetail into a lot of the other attractions in the area. It will be a game changer for much of Kent.’

WHAT FILMS CAN WE EXPECT AT THE MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR PARK?

There is no indication yet as to which of Paramount’s films might form the basis of any of the theme park’s attractions. However, with such a vast library of movies it has produced, co-produced, or has distribution rights, it could include any number of hit films to bring visitors flocking. The Indiana Jones series and Transformers, both distributed by Paramount, would provide ideal themes for rides too.

In particular, the mine chase from Temple of Doom could offer an experience similar to Disneyland’s Thunder Mountain runaway train. To appeal to younger visitors, the park’s creators could look to 2010 hit How to Train Your Dragon for inspiration, and a Top Gun-style flight simulator can’t be out of the question.

The production company has any number of horror movies it can incorporate into a ride with a fear factor, such as the Friday the 13th series. The agreement with the BBC means programs such as Doctor Who and Top Gear could feature in lands, rides, and games across the new park.

The London Paramount website features renderings that show how the resort could look, one of which is the concept of a bustling port section.

The UK theme park will compete with Disneyland Paris for European visitors when it opens. Although it is not an official design picture, this rendering shows a castle, similar to the French resort.

The Paramount park will feature several themed areas with rides and attractions. This concept shows how the port could be created.

That’s entertainment: Swanscombe Penninsula, as it appears on Google Earth, has handy links with London.

Potential: The proposed site for the giant theme park is currently an overgrown wasteland.

Further setbacks were experienced in February, when they massively overstated their cash assets, according to The Sun. The accounting error stated that London Resort Company Holdings had £291,000 in the bank when it had just £952.

Other concerns include how the surrounding area will cope with increased tourists. Peter Fleming, leader of Sevenoaks District Council, told the news site: ‘We have not got a lot of accommodation for tourists at the moment. ‘People already come to our area and find they cannot get a bed.’ The park will be located near Ebbsfleet International station, on the Eurostar route between London and Paris.

The ambitious resort will be located in the Swanscombe Peninsula in Kent, currently a brownfield site.

Lucrative: One of the notable films in the Paramount stable is Titanic (right), and a BBC favorite that could make an appearance is Doctor Who (left).

The website says the park will contain ‘exciting rides and attractions for families, children, and the more adventurous thrill-seeking visitor.’ In this design, a river rapids ride can be seen in the Adventure Isle section.