The Hollywood studio has parks in the US, China, Singapore and Japan and is considering building something of a similar scale at a site near Bedford, just 45 minutes from London.

The sites include huge constructions like a replica Hogwarts School in the The Wizarding World of Harry Potter experience at the parks.

Its parks division is understood to have purchased 480 acres of land, including a large former London Brick Company brickworks site in Stewartby.

A Universal Destinations and Experiences spokesperson told Sky News the company was “at the early stages of exploring its feasibility for a potential park and resort at this site”.

“It will be many months before we are ready to make a decision to proceed and we look forward to engaging with all relevant stakeholders and the local community.”