Thanks to a multimillion pound deal, the tiny town of Kempston Hardwick is about to be turned into Britain’s Orlando. Keir Starmer announced earlier this week an agreement had been reached between Bedfordshire Council and Universal Studios to build a 476-acre entertainment resort complex, complete with a 500-room hotel.
Universal Studios includes massive franchises like Harry Potter, Nintendo and Minions and has promised immersive attractions, rollercoasters and other rides when the resort opens in 2031. Kempston Hardwick is a peaceful village on the outskirts of Kempson in Bedfordshire, where locals describe the town as being “a little shabby”.
Express reporter James Knuckey visited Bedford earlier in the week to find out what the locals thought of this new investment in their city – and the majority said they were excited.
More than 80 per cent of the resort’s staff are expected to come from local areas, which means thousands of jobs.
Knuckey spoke to June McDonald, 72, who has lived in Bedford for 41 years and said the theme park will be a welcome addition. She said the town centre has gone “a bit shabby” but this will give it a “wonderful economic boost”.
“It’s going to bring billions of pounds into the country, of course it’s what’s needed, It’s a huge economic boost – it might offset some of those tariffs!”
The site where the theme park will be built stretches on “as far as the eye can see” according to Knuckey, who was one of a handful of journalists granted access to the Kempston site.
The location has been described as “ideal” by Universal, due to its rail links to London and the nearby Luton Airport. The studio says it is “well-connected for travel from all parts of the UK and Europe”. Additionally, the town is is flanked by two dual carriageways which travel across the country, including the south-east, Midlands and north of England.
At the moment, house prices in Kempston Hardwick are at an average of £211,000 over the last year – this has declined rapidly over the last few years.
According to Rightmove, historical sold prices in Kempston Hardwick over the last year were 70 percent down on the previous year and 52 percent down on the 2010 peak of £440,000.
Although it’s a small town, there is plenty to explore. Kempston Hardwick is surrounded by a wealth of fun family-friendly activities such as Whipsnade Zoo just half an hour away and Kempston Outdoor Centre even closer.
Kempston Outdoor Centre offers activities like rock climbing, kayaking, high rope courses, archery and orienteering – perfect for a day out.
