Yahoo Finance UK openings that may be delayed by Covid-19, from a woodland wonderland to the England coast path
The coronavirus lockdown put the UK’s collective plans on hold and brought tourism to a standstill in March.
This weekend brings something of a grand reopening. From July 4, England’s hotels, self-catering providers and campsites can welcome back visitors while pubs will reopen their doors.
In the interim, the sector has been hit hard and, in some cases, construction plans and launch dates have been delayed. Below are some of the most exciting openings Britons can look forward to in the coming months and years, with details on how they have been affected by the pandemic.
Britain’s answer to Disneyland
The London Resort, a £3.5 billion attraction, comprising two theme parks, is set to open in Kent within the next few years. It is billed as a rival to Disneyland Paris.
Its first park will open in 2024, followed by the second in 2029. The London Resort will be three times bigger than any other UK theme park. Around 70 per cent of the attractions are expected to be undercover - ideal for Britain’s changeable weather.
Lockdown, and social distancing rules, have made public consultations on the London Resort difficult. However, its developers have pencilled in virtual consultations with local businesses and residents from the end of July, allowing the next stage of planning to continue.
Visitors to the London Resort will have six different “lands” to explore. These are likely to be influenced by (and perhaps feature characters from) partnerships with the BBC, Paramount Pictures and ITV studios.
The resort will include a “high street” of shops, restaurants, hotels and a waterpark. Park-goers will also be able to explore The Studios, a warehouse district with action film features. Close to this, they'll find The Woods, which will play on fairytales and fables, and The Kingdom, based on the legends of King Arthur. Other areas will include The Isles (based on mythical beasts), The Jungle (complete with ruins of a long-lost civilisation) and The Starport (filled with sci-fi-themed rides).
A woodland adventure park
BeWILDerwood Cheshire was due to open in May, after years of local anticipation. The coronavirus lockdown put paid to the grand unveiling, which has now been pushed back to 2021. The £5 million woodland attraction will be the second BeWILDerwood. The first site, based on a popular book series by Tom Blofeld, is in Horning, Norfolk.
The 76-acre Cheshire venue is now expected to open early next year. Those with pre-booked tickets have been issued a refund.
A statement on its Facebook page reads: "BeWILDerwood Cheshire have been closely following the advice and guidance from the government and Public Health England with regards to the coronavirus.
"Whilst the wider situation is ever changing, keeping our visitors and staff safe and healthy, and allowing them the opportunity to run WILD is always our priority and as a result we have made the disappointing decision to delay the opening date of BeWILDerwood Cheshire to early 2021."
England’s longest coastal path
A decade in the making, the opening of the 2,717 mile England Coast Path is now slated for 2021. The path takes in existing and well-worn routes, but will also provide new access to beauty spots.
Telegraph Travel writer Mark Rowe reported on the project back in March: “The coastline offers miles of unbroken beaches, high cliffs, wildlife-rich estuaries and secluded inlets, providing a staggering choice for travellers of England’s shores”.
The path's rambling highlights will include views from some of the highest cliffs in the UK, little-visited salt marshes on the Isle of Wight and plenty of bird watching opportunities on Walney Island, Cumbria.
Natural England, which is behind the project, said: "We hope it will still be possible to open a number of stretches of the path throughout next year and to have all stretches approved and with establishment works underway by the end of 2021."
A long-anticipated London hotel
The first NoMad hotel outside of the US was due to open in London this summer. “The 91-room hotel will be housed inside the historic Grade II listed former Magistrates Court and Police station on Bow Street, Covent Garden,” Adele Cooke reported in April 2019. Its reopening has now been pushed back to December.
Visitors will enjoy the hotel’s prime location, opposite the Royal Opera House. Its backstory should also prove a draw. When it was an active courthouse, playwright Henry Fielding served as magistrate and Emmeline Pankhurst and Oscar Wilde were tried within its walls.
Adele Cooke writes: "Interiors, by designers Roman and Williams, will draw on the original materials, colour palette and unique architecture, while referencing the decorative traditions of England’s heritage and exploring the relationship between the New York and London art scenes.”
