Difference between revisions of "SegaWorld London"

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| logos=[[File:Segaworldlondonlogo.png|250px]]
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| logo=Segaworldlondonlogo.png
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| tab1=Outside
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| imgwidth=
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| tab2=Inside
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| name=
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| venueimage=SegaWorldLondonExterior.png
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| location=The Trocadero, London, United Kingdom
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| venueimage2=SegaWorldLondon.jpg
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| opened=1996-11-07
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| location=The Trocadero, Piccadilly Circus London, United Kingdom
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| closed=200x
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| mapref=51.510490,-0.133022
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| opened=1996-09-07{{fileref|CVG UK Freeplay 07.pdf|page=1}}
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| closed=1999-09-07{{ref|https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-1577337/Chorions-Segaworld-game-over.html}}
 
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{{sub-stub}}'''''SegaWorld London''''' was a [[SegaWorld]] indoor theme park which opened on September 7, 1996. It was housed within the London Trocadero complex within the city of London, UK.  
+
'''SegaWorld London''' was a [[Sega World]] indoor [[Amusement Theme Park]] opened by [[Sega]]. Housed within the [[wikipedia:London Trocadero|London Trocadero]], the site became the flagship Sega venue in Europe upon opening in September 1996, and was the first theme park to be opened outside of Japan by the company.
  
−
Opened in the height of [[Sonic the Hedgehog]]'s popularity, ''SegaWorld London'' had numerous floors with arcade machines and indoor rides. From 1997 Pepsi sponsored the Pepsi Max Drop Ride and the Pepsi IMAX cinema, being the first 3D IMAX cinema to appear within the UK. The venue was heavily promoted by earlier editions of ''[[sonic:Sonic the Comic|Sonic the Comic]]''.
+
It was claimed to be the largest indoor theme park in the world, occupying an area of 10200m² on seven floors{{intref|Press release: 1996-09-12: INTERNATIONAL MANAGER : Sega Tests the Theme-Park Route}} and making it the largest venue to be developed and wholly ran by Sega, but has since closed permanently. Parts of the park were ran as an unrelated amusement arcade into the early 2010s.
  
−
Unfortunately visitor numbers were not large enough to keep the attraction open, and so Sega were forced to sell it to new owners. It was then stripped down considerably, with several floors closed, the Pepsi-endorsed features removed and the attraction being renamed "FunLand".
+
==Layout==
 +
[[File:SegaWorldLondonMap.jpg|thumb|250px]]
 +
Taking up over 100,000 of the Trocadero's 600,000 square feet, SegaWorld London was a seven-floor indoor amusement theme park. Whilst billed as such, much of its floor space was taken up by its large amount of coin-operated arcade machines, including full-size deluxe iterations of games and imported versions scarcely seen elsewhere in the UK. Alongside numerous other Sega venues, it was specifically used for the location testing of both upcoming and never-released titles, as well as holding occasional officially-organised events.
  
−
Many parts of the original ''SegaWorld London'' remain on the site, but are unused. The area was not refurbished after Sega left, and hence many of the remaining floors provide clues to once-present attractions and themed areas. Perhaps one of the most obvious leftovers is the "Rocket Escalator", used by ''SegaWorld'' as an entrance. Rather than the escalator being removed, it was simply blocked by a vending machine, with the steps still clearly visible.
+
After entering the Trocadero building through its shopping arcade area, visitors would be taken up the "rocket escalator", (16.43m in length (with 80m of handrail), 31.5 tons in weight and 193 steps{{magref|cvg|175|57}} (although it was technically two escalators, not one)), running through the main atrium containing other Trocadero tenants, to the sixth "level" (floor). This acted as the park's reception, with each subsequent floor based around differing themes and concepts. The arcade machines on these floors were generally kept in line with the designated theming, and various other attractions and amenities could be found between them, including a McDonald's restaurant and refreshment stalls.
  
−
[[Category:Venues]]
+
The subsequent floors themselves were connected and accessible to visitors by working their way down a further series of escalators and travelators, frequently situated on the left and right sides at the top of the Trocadero's main atrium area, as well as several static staircases. Also originally located in the atrium was the official Sega Shop, which sold merchandise exclusive to the park and small quantities of other consumer products created by Sega. Alongside a second McDonalds outlet directly opposite it, the retail unit that housed the shop was positioned to the left of the bottom of the exit escalator, until the shop's later upstairs relocation to the Sports Arena.
 +
 
 +
Following Sega's removal from the facility, portions of the floors were redesigned extensively.
 +
 
 +
{{InfoTable|imagewidths=200|
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Reception
 +
| screenshot=SWL Reception.jpg
 +
| desc=At the reception, visitors could obtain tokens and attraction tickets, have photos taken with statues of Sonic the Hedgehog (the de-facto mascot of the park), and try a selection of free to play [[Sega Saturn]] consoles. Also housed on the floor was an interactive information centre, projection video screens displaying promotional films, and the first attraction, ''[[Beast In Darkness]]'', with its exit leading out onto the following floor.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Combat Zone
 +
| screenshot=CombatZone.png
 +
| desc=The Combat Zone floor was more akin to a dimly-lit conventional amusement arcade, featuring black and yellow striped décor and no attractions. Its space was instead devoted to a selection of over 50 action games, with genres ranging from fighting to shooting. At launch, games included ''[[Virtua Cop 2]]'' and ''[[Fighting Vipers]]'', as well as non-Sega titles such as ''Time Crisis'' and ''Area 51''.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Race Track
 +
| screenshot=RaceTrack.png
 +
| desc=Boasting extensive theming, with replicas of race cars in its walls and giant traffic lights, the Race Track featured over 70 racing games, most notably back to back 8 player deluxe setups of ''[[Daytona USA]]'' and ''[[Manx TT Superbike]]'' with live commentators. The floor's attraction, officially known as ''[[Aqua Nova]]'' at previous Sega amusement theme parks, was renamed and localised as ''Aqua Planet''.
 +
 
 +
One of Damon Hill's FW15C racing cars from the 1993 Formula One season was also situated on the floor for photo opportunities. During that season, Hill drove with Alain Prost for Williams, who were famously sponsored by Sega at the time. Incidentally, Prost partly owned the La Tête Dans Les Nuages entertainment centre chain in France, whose Paris and Amiens locations contained [[Centre Sega]] amusement arcades.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Flight Deck
 +
| screenshot=FlightDeck1.png
 +
| desc=Themed around aviation and aircraft, the Flight Deck level housed 20 "flying" games, taking in titles such as ''[[Sky Target]]'' and ''[[Wing War]]'', as well as Namco's ''Prop Cycle''. At one point in time, both  ''[[Dennou Senki Net Merc]]'' and ''[[G-LOC: Air Battle]]'' ''[[R360]]'' machines were located on the floor, the former of which was originally stationed in the Combat Zone at launch.
 +
 
 +
Promoted as one the venue's premier attractions, much of the Flight Deck's space was taken up by ''[[VR-1|VR-1: Space Mission]]''. Hanging from the floor's ceiling was the first commercially available ex-RAF Harrier Jump Jet, transported to the venue in the months prior to its by being towed through London on a boat for a PR event and subsequently reported on by Computer & Video Games magazine.{{magref|cvg|177|8}}
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Carnival
 +
| screenshot=Carnival.png
 +
| desc=The Carnival, a brightly lit area with décor loosely based on the Sonic the Hedgehog games, contained over 80 arcade machines, typically [[UFO Catcher|UFO Catchers]] and prize redemption. A prize desk to reward ticket payouts accommodated these. Also located on the floor was "Segakids", featuring a McDonalds outlet and indoor play equipment for young children.
 +
 
 +
Initially, only one attraction was installed on the floor within the park's opening: ''[[Ghost Hunters]]'' (localised and adapted under the name of ''Ghost Hunt''). This number would later increase to three with the additions of the small ''House of Grandish'' 3D sound room attraction developed by [[Human]] in late 1996 and the ''[[Power Sled]]'' simulator after 1997.
 +
}}
 +
{{InfoRow
 +
| title=Sports Arena
 +
| screenshot=SportsArena1.png
 +
| desc=The final floor, Sports Arena, housed over 90 sports games. These included Sega-made examples such as ''[[Virtua Striker]]'' and ''[[Sega Bass Fishing]]'', as well as the more unconventional ''[[SegaSonic the Hedgehog]]'' and ''[[Sonic the Fighters]]'' cabinets at one stage. On opening day, ''[[Virtua Fighter 3]]'''s official UK launch occurred on the level.
 +
 
 +
The floor housed two attractions, ''[[Mad Bazooka]]'' and a pair of ''[[AS-1]]'' motion simulators. ''Mad Bazooka'' was closed and removed around 1998, and it is possible that the Sega Shop (which moved space to this floor from the exit escalator at around the same time) used the area it occupied and other parts instead.
 +
}}
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
==History==
 +
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/History}}
 +
 
 +
==Attractions==
 +
* ''[[Beast In Darkness]]''
 +
* ''[[Aqua Nova]]''
 +
* ''[[VR-1]]''
 +
* ''[[Ghost Hunters]]''
 +
* ''[[Power Sled]]''
 +
* ''[[AS-1]]''
 +
* ''[[Mad Bazooka]]''
 +
 
 +
==Videos==
 +
*[https://segaretro.org/File:Trocadero_SEGAWORLD.mp4 3D concept model by 3D modeller John Robertson]
 +
*[https://segaretro.org/File:Segaworld_Trocadero_'96_Promo_Video.mp4 Sizzle reel trailer, 1996]
 +
*[https://segaretro.org/File:SegaWorld_London_Tros_2Vandaag.mp4 ''2Vandaag'' report, 1996]
 +
*[https://segaretro.org/File:MicroKids_SegaWorldLondon.mp4 ''Micro Kid's'' coverage, 1996]
 +
*[https://segaretro.org/File:Escape_SegaWorldLondon_Incomplete.mp4 ''Escape'' report, 1996]
 +
*[https://segaretro.org/File:Gamesmaster_S06E02_SWL.mp4 ''GamesMaster'' coverage, 1996]
 +
*[https://segaretro.org/File:Cucciolo_IT_Video_1998_(SegaWorldLondon).mp4 Scene from Italian film ''Cucciolo'' shot at SegaWorld London, 1998]
 +
 
 +
==Gallery==
 +
===1996-1999===
 +
<gallery>
 +
SegaWorldLondon openingsign.png|Sign advertising its Summer 1996 opening date
 +
SegaWorldLondonOutside.jpg| Outside of the Trocadero with Sega signs + Sonic statue, circa 1997
 +
SegaWorldLondonEntrance.jpg| The entrance to SegaWorld at the bottom of the Rocket Escalator
 +
SegaWorldLondonAtrium.jpg| Main atrium
 +
SegaWorldLondonBillboard.png| A large advertising billboard for the venue in the atrium, circa September 1996
 +
Reception.png| Reception welcoming sign, incorporating a Sonic wall fixture
 +
SonicStatue.png| Reception Sonic statue
 +
CombatZone.png| Combat Zone
 +
CombatZone1.png|
 +
CombatZone2.png| Sega NetMerc machine, later moved to the Flight Deck
 +
RaceTrack.png| Race Track
 +
RaceTrack2.png| ''Daytona USA''
 +
RaceTrack3.png| ''Manx TT Superbike''
 +
RaceTrack4.png|
 +
SWL_Aqua.jpg|''Aqua Planet''
 +
FlightDeck1.png| Flight Deck
 +
SWL_VR1.jpg|''VR-1: Space Mission''
 +
Carnival.png| "SegaKids" play area, on the Carnival floor
 +
Carnival2.png| Different view of the same floor area
 +
SportsArena1.png| Sports Arena
 +
SportsArena2.png| Megalo cabinets
 +
SWL_AS1.jpg|''AS-1'' units
 +
SegaWorldLondon Token Heads.jpg|Token (heads)
 +
SegaWorldLondon Token Tails.jpg|Token (tails)
 +
SegaWorldLondon2 UK Coin Heads.jpg|Alternative token (heads)
 +
SegaWorldLondon2 UK Coin Tails.jpg|Alternative token (tails)
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===2000-2014===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Trocadero2001.jpg| Funland's changes to the SegaWorld floors and atrium, circa 2001
 +
FunlandDodgems.jpg|Former "Carnival" floor
 +
SegaWorld London blockage.jpg|Blocked second Rocket Escalator
 +
Trocadero2004.jpg| Trocadero/Funland circa 2004
 +
FunLand Entrance.jpg| Stripped-down Funland entrance circa 2008
 +
FunLand 2011.jpg|Remains of Funland after closing, 2011
 +
FunLand 2014.jpg|Demolition of the basement, February 2014
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
==Merchandise==
 +
<gallery>
 +
SegaWorldLondon Penny.jpg|Squashed penny
 +
SegaWorldLondonTicket_Front.jpg|Front of ticket issued for park entry
 +
SegaWorldLondonTicket_Back.jpg|Back of ticket issued for park entry
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
==Magazine articles==
 +
{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Magazine articles}}
 +
 
 +
==Promotional material==
 +
<gallery>
 +
File:SegaWorldLondon Leaflet 1997 English.pdf|Leaflet circa early 1997
 +
File:SegaWorldLondon Leaflet 1998.pdf|Leaflet circa 1998
 +
File:SegaWorldLondon CorporateEntertainment Front.jpg|Front of booklet promoting corporate hospitality packages
 +
File:SegaWorldLondon CorporateEntertainment Inside.jpg|Inside of booklet promoting corporate hospitality packages
 +
File:SegaWorldLondon CorporateEntertainment Back.jpg|Back of booklet promoting corporate hospitality packages
 +
File:SegaWorldLondonOpeningProgramme.jpg|Opening day events programme
 +
File:SegaWorldLondonMap.jpg|1996 map
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
==External links==
 +
* [https://web.archive.org/web/19980401000000*/http://www.segaworld.com SegaWorld London homepage] (archived)
 +
 
 +
==References==
 +
<references />
 +
{{clear}}
 +
{{SegaVenuesUK}}

Latest revision as of 23:22, 20 September 2023

Segaworldlondonlogo.png
  • Outside
  • Inside
SegaWorldLondonExterior.png
SegaWorldLondon.jpg
SegaWorld London
Location: The Trocadero, Piccadilly Circus London, United Kingdom
Google maps: 51.510490,-0.133022
Opened: 1996-09-07[1]
Closed: 1999-09-07[2]

SegaWorld London was a Sega World indoor Amusement Theme Park opened by Sega. Housed within the London Trocadero, the site became the flagship Sega venue in Europe upon opening in September 1996, and was the first theme park to be opened outside of Japan by the company.

It was claimed to be the largest indoor theme park in the world, occupying an area of 10200m² on seven floors[3] and making it the largest venue to be developed and wholly ran by Sega, but has since closed permanently. Parts of the park were ran as an unrelated amusement arcade into the early 2010s.

Layout

SegaWorldLondonMap.jpg

Taking up over 100,000 of the Trocadero's 600,000 square feet, SegaWorld London was a seven-floor indoor amusement theme park. Whilst billed as such, much of its floor space was taken up by its large amount of coin-operated arcade machines, including full-size deluxe iterations of games and imported versions scarcely seen elsewhere in the UK. Alongside numerous other Sega venues, it was specifically used for the location testing of both upcoming and never-released titles, as well as holding occasional officially-organised events.

After entering the Trocadero building through its shopping arcade area, visitors would be taken up the "rocket escalator", (16.43m in length (with 80m of handrail), 31.5 tons in weight and 193 steps[4] (although it was technically two escalators, not one)), running through the main atrium containing other Trocadero tenants, to the sixth "level" (floor). This acted as the park's reception, with each subsequent floor based around differing themes and concepts. The arcade machines on these floors were generally kept in line with the designated theming, and various other attractions and amenities could be found between them, including a McDonald's restaurant and refreshment stalls.

The subsequent floors themselves were connected and accessible to visitors by working their way down a further series of escalators and travelators, frequently situated on the left and right sides at the top of the Trocadero's main atrium area, as well as several static staircases. Also originally located in the atrium was the official Sega Shop, which sold merchandise exclusive to the park and small quantities of other consumer products created by Sega. Alongside a second McDonalds outlet directly opposite it, the retail unit that housed the shop was positioned to the left of the bottom of the exit escalator, until the shop's later upstairs relocation to the Sports Arena.

Following Sega's removal from the facility, portions of the floors were redesigned extensively.

SWL Reception.jpg

Reception
At the reception, visitors could obtain tokens and attraction tickets, have photos taken with statues of Sonic the Hedgehog (the de-facto mascot of the park), and try a selection of free to play Sega Saturn consoles. Also housed on the floor was an interactive information centre, projection video screens displaying promotional films, and the first attraction, Beast In Darkness, with its exit leading out onto the following floor.

CombatZone.png

Combat Zone
The Combat Zone floor was more akin to a dimly-lit conventional amusement arcade, featuring black and yellow striped décor and no attractions. Its space was instead devoted to a selection of over 50 action games, with genres ranging from fighting to shooting. At launch, games included Virtua Cop 2 and Fighting Vipers, as well as non-Sega titles such as Time Crisis and Area 51.

RaceTrack.png

Race Track
Boasting extensive theming, with replicas of race cars in its walls and giant traffic lights, the Race Track featured over 70 racing games, most notably back to back 8 player deluxe setups of Daytona USA and Manx TT Superbike with live commentators. The floor's attraction, officially known as Aqua Nova at previous Sega amusement theme parks, was renamed and localised as Aqua Planet.

One of Damon Hill's FW15C racing cars from the 1993 Formula One season was also situated on the floor for photo opportunities. During that season, Hill drove with Alain Prost for Williams, who were famously sponsored by Sega at the time. Incidentally, Prost partly owned the La Tête Dans Les Nuages entertainment centre chain in France, whose Paris and Amiens locations contained Centre Sega amusement arcades.

FlightDeck1.png

Flight Deck
Themed around aviation and aircraft, the Flight Deck level housed 20 "flying" games, taking in titles such as Sky Target and Wing War, as well as Namco's Prop Cycle. At one point in time, both Dennou Senki Net Merc and G-LOC: Air Battle R360 machines were located on the floor, the former of which was originally stationed in the Combat Zone at launch.

Promoted as one the venue's premier attractions, much of the Flight Deck's space was taken up by VR-1: Space Mission. Hanging from the floor's ceiling was the first commercially available ex-RAF Harrier Jump Jet, transported to the venue in the months prior to its by being towed through London on a boat for a PR event and subsequently reported on by Computer & Video Games magazine.[5]

Carnival.png

Carnival
The Carnival, a brightly lit area with décor loosely based on the Sonic the Hedgehog games, contained over 80 arcade machines, typically UFO Catchers and prize redemption. A prize desk to reward ticket payouts accommodated these. Also located on the floor was "Segakids", featuring a McDonalds outlet and indoor play equipment for young children.

Initially, only one attraction was installed on the floor within the park's opening: Ghost Hunters (localised and adapted under the name of Ghost Hunt). This number would later increase to three with the additions of the small House of Grandish 3D sound room attraction developed by Human in late 1996 and the Power Sled simulator after 1997.

SportsArena1.png

Sports Arena
The final floor, Sports Arena, housed over 90 sports games. These included Sega-made examples such as Virtua Striker and Sega Bass Fishing, as well as the more unconventional SegaSonic the Hedgehog and Sonic the Fighters cabinets at one stage. On opening day, Virtua Fighter 3's official UK launch occurred on the level.

The floor housed two attractions, Mad Bazooka and a pair of AS-1 motion simulators. Mad Bazooka was closed and removed around 1998, and it is possible that the Sega Shop (which moved space to this floor from the exit escalator at around the same time) used the area it occupied and other parts instead.

History

Main article: SegaWorld London/History.

Attractions

Videos

Gallery

1996-1999

  • Sign advertising its Summer 1996 opening date

  • Outside of the Trocadero with Sega signs + Sonic statue, circa 1997

  • The entrance to SegaWorld at the bottom of the Rocket Escalator

  • Main atrium

  • A large advertising billboard for the venue in the atrium, circa September 1996

  • Reception welcoming sign, incorporating a Sonic wall fixture

  • Reception Sonic statue

  • Combat Zone

  • CombatZone1.png

  • Sega NetMerc machine, later moved to the Flight Deck

  • Race Track

  • Daytona USA

  • Manx TT Superbike

  • RaceTrack4.png

  • Aqua Planet

  • Flight Deck

  • VR-1: Space Mission

  • "SegaKids" play area, on the Carnival floor

  • Different view of the same floor area

  • Sports Arena

  • Megalo cabinets

  • AS-1 units

  • Token (heads)

  • Token (tails)

  • Alternative token (heads)

  • Alternative token (tails)

2000-2014

  • Funland's changes to the SegaWorld floors and atrium, circa 2001

  • Former "Carnival" floor

  • Blocked second Rocket Escalator

  • Trocadero/Funland circa 2004

  • Stripped-down Funland entrance circa 2008

  • Remains of Funland after closing, 2011

  • Demolition of the basement, February 2014

Merchandise

  • Squashed penny

  • Front of ticket issued for park entry

  • Back of ticket issued for park entry

Magazine articles

Main article: SegaWorld London/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

  • Leaflet circa early 1997

  • Leaflet circa 1998

  • Front of booklet promoting corporate hospitality packages

  • Inside of booklet promoting corporate hospitality packages

  • Back of booklet promoting corporate hospitality packages

  • Opening day events programme

  • 1996 map

External links

References

  1. ↑ File:CVG UK Freeplay 07.pdf, page 1
  2. ↑ https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-1577337/Chorions-Segaworld-game-over.html
  3. ↑ Press release: 1996-09-12: INTERNATIONAL MANAGER : Sega Tests the Theme-Park Route
  4. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "June 1996" (UK; 1996-05-09), page 57
  5. ↑ Computer & Video Games, "August 1996" (UK; 1996-07-11), page 8


Sega-related venues in the United Kingdom
Sega World
Bournemouth (1993-2000) | London (1996-1999) | Tamworth (199x-xxxx) | Wolverhampton (199x-xxxx) | Birmingham (199x-xxxx)
Sega Park
Glasgow (1993-200x) | Acton (1994-199x) | Colindale (1994-2008) | Southampton (1996-2013) | Wood Green (199x-xxxx) | Basildon (199x-2005) | Reading (199x-199x) | Bristol (199x-200x) | Harlow (1997-2003) | Tower Hill (xxxx-200x) | Harrow (200x-200x) | Holborn (200x-200x) | Brighton (2002-2006)
Sega Zone
Brixton (199x-xxxx) | Catford (199x-xxxx) | Woolwich (199x-xxxx)
Sega Megaworld
Croydon (199x-199x) | Harrow (199x-199x) | Romford (199x-199x)
Sega Prize Zone
West Midlands (2015-2020) | Southport (2016-2019) | Hatfield (2016-2020)
Others
Metropolis (1992-199x) | Planet Sega Queensway (199x-200x)
Retrieved from "https://segaretro.org/index.php?title=SegaWorld_London&oldid=924157"