Theme park nicknamed 'UK Disneyland' delays opening until 2025

Its location has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest

Author: Radina KoutsaftiPublished 11th Jan 2022

A new UK theme park, which is being compared to Disneyland, has confirmed it will be revisiting its opening date to 2025.

Theme park fans will have to wait a bit longer as The London Resort originally planned to open in 2024.

The £3.5 billion project will be built on a 535-acre site on the Swanscombe Peninsula near Dartford in Kent with construction set to begin within 2022.

A new teaser image on The London Resort's official Twitter account reveals a medieval-themed castle which could be a key part of the theme park.

The medieval-themed castle boasts lava waterfalls and a fire-breathing dragon

The project has faced problems due to the pandemic, while last year Natural England designated the Swanscombe Peninsula a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

In a letter sent to the Infrastructure Planning Inspectorate, the resort's CEO PY Gerbeau said that following the decision there wouldn't be "material changes" to the application.

However, he said, there will be "subtle changes in the green infrastructure strategy".

Mr Gebeau also wrote: "We believe the decision was erroneous and not the best means of achieving a balance between the economic and environmental objectives for the site."

The park was first talked about in 2012, promising to be one of the 'largest construction projects across Europe'.

Once the London Resort comes to life, it will become the biggest theme park in Europe to be built from the ground up since Disneyland Paris in 1992.

Developers also plan to open a second park sometime in 2029.

Although you'll have to wait a bit longer to visit the London Resort, you can take a sneak peek of the park:

The London Resort

The entrance to The London Resort will be via a grand plaza that leads visitors and hotel guests through 'The High Street'. Full of shops, restaurants, hotels, a Convention Centre and a first-class waterpark.

Base Camp

Base Camp, a prehistoric nature reserve, will feature roaming dinosaurs, two coasters, advanced dark rides, interactive dig sites and a fine dining experience with a difference.

A prehistoric dining venue

Situated at the edge of an underwater cliff, visitors can find a prehistoric dining room at Base Camp. Floor-to-ceiling "windows" will offer a front-row seat to the flora and fauna of the prehistoric oceans.

The Quetzalcoatlus rollercoasters

The first of two rollercoasters planned for the land will celebrate the reign of Quetzalcoatlus, one of the largest known, winged reptiles of all time. The second coaster inside Base Camp will offer a family orientated experience.

Hear all the latest news from the North East of Scotland on Northsound 1. Listen on FM, via our Rayo app, DAB, or smart speaker.