The Jurassic franchise has been a Universal Parks staple for three decades. Here's how Jurassic World could roar to life at Universal Studios Bedford.
Dinosaurs and Universal Parks have been inseparable since Jurassic Park: The Ride opened at Universal Studios Hollywood in 1996. Across three decades, the Jurassic franchise has evolved from a single water ride into a full themed land experience, with Jurassic World-branded areas at multiple Universal resorts. For Universal Studios Bedford, a Jurassic presence would continue this proud tradition whilst offering British fans their first chance to experience Universal's dinosaurs without crossing an ocean.
The original Jurassic Park: The Ride at Hollywood was groundbreaking — an 84-foot water flume descent past animatronic dinosaurs that set the standard for water rides worldwide. Universal Studios Japan and Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando received their own versions, with Orlando's later being reimagined as Jurassic World: The Ride in 2021 with updated animatronics and a modernised storyline reflecting the newer films.
Islands of Adventure's Jurassic Park area remains one of the most popular sections of any Universal park. VelociCoaster, which opened in 2021, is consistently rated among the world's best roller coasters, featuring a 155-foot top hat, multiple inversions, and a 70mph launch. Jurassic World: The Ride, the Pteranodon Flyers family coaster, and the Discovery Centre interactive exhibit create a well-rounded land that serves every demographic. Camp Cretaceous elements have also been integrated, reflecting the franchise's animated expansion.
A Jurassic World land at Bedford could combine the best elements from existing parks whilst adding entirely new experiences. A water ride is almost certain — the classic Jurassic flume experience is beloved by fans and provides essential variety in a ride lineup. Whether this follows the traditional boat-based format or introduces a new ride system remains to be seen, but the climactic T-Rex encounter and splashdown are surely non-negotiable.
The bigger question is whether Bedford will receive a world-class coaster comparable to VelociCoaster. Building a ride of that calibre would be a significant investment, but it would also be a powerful statement of intent. A VelociCoaster-style experience, potentially with a unique layout and theme tailored to the Bedford site, could become the park's signature thrill ride and generate enormous publicity.
Beyond headline attractions, a Jurassic area could feature a dinosaur encounter experience using advanced animatronics — imagine face-to-face meetings with a life-sized Velociraptor or baby Triceratops, using robotics that make current theme park animatronics look primitive. A Jurassic-themed dining experience, perhaps styled as the park's visitor centre from the films, would add another layer of immersion.
Britain has a deep connection to palaeontology — Mary Anning, Richard Owen, and Gideon Mantell are foundational figures in dinosaur science, and the Natural History Museum's dinosaur gallery is one of London's most visited attractions. British children are famously obsessed with dinosaurs, and the Jurassic franchise taps directly into that cultural enthusiasm. A Jurassic land at Bedford would feel like a natural extension of Britain's long love affair with prehistoric life.
Jurassic World at Bedford is considered highly probable. The franchise has featured at every Universal resort to date, the IP remains commercially powerful, and the combination of water ride and potential coaster would give Bedford essential ride diversity. Expect Jurassic to be among the first lands announced and likely part of the park's opening-day lineup.
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