Legoland Discovery Centre Lakeside due to open in 2014 (UK)

greekmick

I was speaking to a friend and mentioned my lego hobby, and they said that a friend was working on the designing for the new discovery centre at Lakeside Thurrock. This is said to be opening in 2014. This is probably old news to you guys but thought I would mention it just in case. It is worth getting excited about?? At least it is somewhere me and the boy can go while the wife and daughter do the shops.

princedraven

I had heard about this, but only in rumour form. Does this friend of a friend know if it is signed and sealed or if it is in design for a 'potential' site?

andhe

If it's anything like the LDC in Manchester it won't be a 'real' lego shop but more like a activity centre with a (over-priced, under-whelming) shop strapped on the end. The pictures of LDCs in the US look far more grand and exciting however. Let's hope it's more like those!

greekmick

@princedraven - I believe he works in the architectural design department for Lego but will try to find out more info. Definitely seems to be going ahead as he is promising free passes and such to my mate.

cheshirecat

So long as you have another (proper) Lego store nearby and no great hopes of the LDC and its shop then it will be fine.

greekmick

I can't see them opening a lego store at Lakeside as the Bluewater one is too close. Thats why its strange to pick Thurrock as a site for the discovery centre.

princedraven

@greekmick Cool. Good to hear, from my discussions with 'someone', the LDC model is working VERY well when combined with a shopping center scenario, and I hear they are looking to make them considerably better, but we will see.

Si_UKNZ

^^ I agree, of all the locations, East London does seem strange, with Stratford and Bluewater both very close/ easy to get to. The real 'gaps' around London are Watford side, west end and Croydon side, if they focus anywhere I would have thought they'd focus there.

princedraven

^ My understanding is that it is a lot to do with the availability of cheap land and the location close to a shopping 'mall'.