Not yet finalised your holiday plans for the summer of 2031? How about Bedford? Six years from now, a Universal theme park is due to open in a former brickworks just south of the town, close to the existing Woburn Forest Center Parcs. Could Bedfordshire steal Florida's crown as theme park capital of the world? No, but Universal Studios GB (as I speculate it will be called) will multiply the thrills on offer in the commuter belt north of London. Until now, Bedfordshire hasn't troubled more celebrated English locations such as Cornwall and the Cotswolds as strong competition for visitors from home and abroad. But in what can only be described as a rollercoaster week for the world, news broke that Jurassic Park and other wonders loosely based on movies are heading for MK43 9LZ. The firm has shrewdly chosen a location close to western Europe's biggest city, London, guaranteeing a steady supply of visitors even in the depths of winter. A few overseas coaster chasers will set the controls for the new capital of thrills – particularly if some unique rides are created. Tourists on holiday in London may visit for the day; the train to Bedford takes an hour. But the main effect will be to persuade more British people to holiday at home, which will help reduce the vast gap in the balance of payments for tourism: we spend far more on trips abroad than visitors bring to the UK.
Universal appeal: the best of the rides, in my 48 Hours in Orlando
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Sunshine State: VelociCoaster at Universal's theme park in Florida, coming soon to Bedfordshire |
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| Our writer has spent the last 20 years visiting the Portuguese capital and knows its streets well. Read more. |
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| The wine scene in eastern Croatia is not only great value, but has also been quietly accumulating awards. Read more. |
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| From legendary properties to a bevy of new high-end options. Read more. |
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If all goes according to plan, some of those thrillseekers heading for Universal Studios GB in 2031 will arrive by train from London St Pancras International, with a simple connection to Bedford. This week Italian State Railways, a serious player in high-speed rail, said it would start running trains between Paris and London, as a challenger to Eurostar, by 2029. Competition is desperately needed: on Monday, the cheapest train between the English and French capitals is £195, three times more that a flight from Heathrow or Gatwick to Paris. All the evidence shows that bringing competition to key intercity links cuts fares and increases choice. This week Robert Sinclair, the man who runs St Pancras station and the HS1 line to the Channel Tunnel told me there is enough platform capacity at the hub to treble passenger numbers. The main constraint, said the chief executive of London St Pancras Highspeed, is international departure capacity at the station. Deft reworking of the current arrivals area could magic up more space. Robert also proposed a range of possible destinations direct from London. "Cologne, possibly Dusseldorf, Frankfurt. Switzerland is within range: so Geneva, Basel, Zurich. And there's, of course, additional destinations in France: the likes of Marseille, Toulouse, Bordeaux, etc. Possibly even Milan." For now, Eurostar says it has ambitious plans for expansion., and welcomes the prospect of competition. As do we all. |
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Each week, we'll ask you to choose between two holiday destinations in our exclusive Travel Week poll. This Friday, it's a choice between popular Costa Rica and its lesser-visited neighbour, Panama.
Last week's results were decisive, with 72 per cent opting for a Med cruise over a ski holiday. Don't forget to check back next Friday for the results! |
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Paris: a marathon, not a sprint |
Sightseeing in the French capital is likely to prove difficult this weekend. The Paris Marathon begins at 7am on Sunday, with runners enjoying a course that is designed to take in as many sights as possible – including the Eiffel Tower, Musee d'Orsay, the Louvre and both banks of the Seine. Many road closures are being put in place ahead of the race, with disruption for pedestrians and buses. Most Metro services will operate as normal. But Sunday could be a good day to explore the Chateau de Versailles. |
Medical diversions increase |
Passengers flying from the Bahamas to London this week took around 11 hours longer than expected as a result of a medical diversion. BA's Nassau-Heathrow trip was initially diverted to Gander in Newfoundland, Canada. By the time the emergency was dealt with, the crew were reaching the limit of their hours – and so the Boeing 777 flew only as far as Iceland, where a new crew was flown to meet them. Anecdotally, medical diversions are happening more frequently as the flying population grows and becomes older. To minimise the risk of being on a plane that has a medical diversion, travellers should opt for the lowest-capacity aircraft, such as the JetBlue narrow-bodied jets between the US and UK. Bluntly: the fewer fellow passengers on the aircraft, the lower the chances of one of them taking ill. Your flight rights |
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My 18-year-old son is talking about going on holiday in Georgia. Is it worthwhile? |
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Assuming he means the former Soviet republic of Georgia, rather than the US state of the same name, that sounds an excellent prospect: spectacular scenery, tourist sights and excellent places to eat and drink, all on a budget to suit a young adventurer. Tbilisi, the capital, suddenly finds itself at the centre of a fares war. British Airways (from Heathrow) and easyJet (from Luton) are competing on the 2,225-mile run to the Georgian capital. BA has a midnight plane to Georgia that will help save on accommodation. Tbilisi has a superb natural setting beneath the mountains and astride the Kura river. At the heart of the capital is the old town, crowded with medieval buildings. This district is but one part of a fascinating repertoire of architecture that also includes Art Nouveau and Soviet-era structures. Perhaps more of interest for your son: by all accounts Tbilisi has a thriving club scene. The capital is a good base from which to explore the east of Georgia, including the magnificent monastery at Mtskheta to the north and the fascinating city of Gori – Stalin's home town – to the west. For more extensive touring of the rest of the country, though, the western city of Kutaisi is the ideal base. Your son could happily split a week between Tbilisi and Kutaisi, and even add a few days relaxing by the Black Sea at Batumi, close to the Turkish border. A word about safety is in order. Avoid the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, which are under Kremlin control. In Tbilisi and other cities, the Foreign Office warns that political rallies and demonstrations are frequent occurrences, and that "Tensions can escalate without warning". |
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| Meet the fearless women redefining adventure – Tough Women shares epic journeys from Arctic treks to wingsuit flights, and it's now just £6. |
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| Sun's out, shades on – don't miss Meller's 2-for-1 deal on sunglasses! |
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