Everything we know about the Back to the Future rollercoaster coming to Universal Studios UK

The Back to the Future rollercoaster in the concept art: what it’s telling us

When Universal unveiled early concept art for its planned UK theme park on the former brickworks site near Bedford, one detail immediately grabbed attention: a high-speed rollercoaster visually rooted in Back to the Future. Not a vague, generic track in the distance—but a ride that appears to burst from a clock-tower-style structure, with sweeping launches, tight turns and unmistakable time-travel cues.

With Universal Studios UK currently targeting an opening around May 2031 via the Special Development Order (SDO) planning route, that single piece of artwork has shifted the conversation. Fans are no longer asking if a headline coaster will exist, but whether this specific Back to the Future rollercoaster is already being quietly telegraphed.

Is the Back to the Future rollercoaster in the artwork confirmed?

Short answer: no—at least not officially.

Universal has not announced any ride line-up, and no planning document publicly names a Back to the Future attraction. Concept art is, by definition, illustrative rather than contractual. That said, Universal does not place recognisable IP-coded structures into artwork lightly. These images are carefully curated to communicate intent—even if the details evolve.

The key point here is that the coaster shown is not abstract. Its clock-tower architecture, dramatic launch profile and time-jump theming align so closely with Back to the Future that it reads less like coincidence and more like a placeholder for a very specific idea.

In other words: not confirmed—but deliberately suggestive.

Why this particular coaster design screams Back to the Future

Looking closely at the concept art, several design choices stand out:

• A landmark launch structure reminiscent of Hill Valley’s courthouse clock tower, positioned as a visual anchor for the land
• Rapid acceleration sections, echoing the DeLorean’s famous 88mph moment
• Track that dives in and out of show buildings, suggesting indoor “time jump” scenes between outdoor elements
• A compact but intense footprint, consistent with story-driven coasters rather than pure out-and-back thrill rides

This is exactly how Universal tends to visualise its modern “narrative coasters”: rides where the story is readable from across the park, not just once you’re on board.

Back to the Future, as a property, lends itself perfectly to that approach. The clock tower isn’t just set-dressing—it’s the emotional and narrative engine of the entire trilogy.

Why Back to the Future works so well for a UK flagship coaster

If Universal were choosing an IP to headline a British park with a visually striking rollercoaster, Back to the Future makes exceptional sense:

• Deep cultural resonance in the UK – the trilogy is a TV staple and generational touchstone
• Instantly readable visuals – clock towers, DeLoreans, lightning strikes and flaming tyre tracks need no explanation
• Proven contemporary appeal – Back to the Future: The Musical continues to draw crowds in London’s West End
• Natural justification for speed and spectacle – few stories make acceleration itself part of the plot

Crucially, it also avoids over-reliance on dinosaurs or wizarding worlds, giving Back to the Future room to stand as a defining Universal UK icon rather than a supporting act.

What the concept art suggests about the ride experience

Based on Universal’s recent coaster philosophy—and the cues embedded in the artwork—the Back to the Future rollercoaster shown would likely be:

Story-first and tech-heavy
Guests could queue through Doc Brown’s lab or the Hill Valley Institute of Technology, with the ride framed as a test run gone wrong. From there, a multi-launch sequence would “misfire” riders through different eras, each marked by lighting shifts, music stings and environmental effects.

A hybrid of indoor and outdoor thrills
The visible track implies outdoor speed and airtime, while the enclosed sections would allow for projection-mapped scenes of 1955, 1985, 2015 and the Old West—each transition acting as a narrative beat rather than a simple block brake.

Accessible, but unmistakably a headline coaster
This feels less like an inversion-heavy extreme ride and more like an exhilarating adventure coaster: fast, punchy, re-rideable, and story-driven. Think thrilling rather than terrifying—something that families with teens can build a whole day around.

Where it appears to sit within the Bedford masterplan

In the artwork, the coaster is positioned as a visual weenie—a landmark drawing guests deeper into the park. That suggests a placement within a dedicated land rather than on the periphery.

A Back to the Future zone could be compact but dense: a Hill Valley town square at ground level, with the clock tower looming above and coaster track slicing overhead and behind façades. The cleverness would be in concealment—hiding most of the track while letting trains explode into view at precisely choreographed moments.

It’s classic Universal placemaking.

How it fits Universal’s global coaster strategy

Across Orlando, Osaka, Beijing and beyond, Universal has leaned hard into story-driven launch coasters as its modern calling card. The Back to the Future rollercoaster depicted in the UK concept art fits neatly alongside that lineage.

For Universal Studios UK, it would:

• Provide a signature, non-Wizarding flagship
• Balance indoor, weather-proof attractions with outdoor spectacle
• Anchor marketing imagery with something uniquely “Universal”

If the park opens with a single coaster that defines its identity, this is exactly the kind of ride it would be.

So what should we take from the concept art—real signal or clever tease?

Right now, this is what we can say with confidence:

• Universal is intentionally showing a large, story-driven rollercoaster in its UK park artwork
• The design language strongly aligns with Back to the Future, not a generic thrill ride
• No official confirmation exists, and no ride is named in planning documents
• Universal has a track record of using concept art to softly introduce ideas long before announcements

Until steel goes vertical or trademarks start filing, the Back to the Future rollercoaster remains unconfirmed—but far from fanciful.

If time travel does arrive in Bedford, the concept art strongly suggests it won’t be a quiet dark ride tucked away in a show building. It will be loud, fast, kinetic—and visible from half the park.

As Universal Studios UK moves from paperwork to construction, Universally Bedford will continue tracking every planning submission, visual update and behind-the-scenes clue. Because if there’s one sound fans are hoping to hear echoing across Bedfordshire in the 2030s, it’s not just a launch countdown—it’s someone shouting:

“Great Scott!”