Universal Studios Hollywood and the art of the living film set
Published on 09/18/2026 at 15:50 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Universal Studios Hollywood in Los Angeles is both a working film studio and a theme park, spread across the hillsides of Universal City on the north side of the San Fernando Valley. Its roots go back to Carl Laemmle’s Universal City studio lot, which opened to the public in March 1915, and the modern theme park grew out of a studio tram tour that launched on 15 July 1964.
A hillside studio that became a theme park
The story of Universal Studios Hollywood starts with Universal Pictures relocating production to what became Universal City in the early twentieth century, creating a ranch-like studio complex that invited visitors to watch filmmaking on set in the silent era.Universal City history When sound films arrived in the late 1920s, the studio closed those early tours to keep ambient noise off the sets, turning Universal into a more conventional closed lot for several decades.
The idea of bringing visitors back returned in the early 1960s, leading to the creation of a dedicated tram tour that took guests through the backlot streets and soundstages while productions continued around them.theme park origins in 1964 On 15 July 1964 that tram tour opened as the core of Universal Studios Hollywood, and over time more rides, shows and themed areas were added, turning the hillside studio into an integrated theme park built around the idea of cinema and television.
Upper Lot, Lower Lot and the Starway
Universal Studios Hollywood is organised over two main levels, known as the Upper Lot and the Lower Lot, with a long multi-part escalator system called the Starway linking the two terraces.Starway escalators connect levels The Upper Lot sits higher on the slope and mixes views across the valley with streetscapes and plazas themed to familiar settings such as New York, London and Paris, alongside family attractions based on animated films.
This upper level also contains areas like The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, where visitors walk among recreations of locations from J.K. Rowling’s stories, and various restaurants, shops and live entertainment stages clustered around Universal Plaza.Upper Lot attractions and streets The Lower Lot, reached via the Starway, holds a tighter cluster of high-thrill rides linked to franchises such as Jurassic World, The Mummy and Transformers, with the studio backlot stretching beyond.
The world-famous Studio Tour and filmed streets
At the heart of Universal Studios Hollywood, the World-Famous Studio Tour carries visitors by tram through parts of the working backlot, passing soundstages, outdoor streets and special effects sets used for film and television production.The World-Famous Studio Tour The tour is built around the idea that the film studio is not a backdrop to the park but its centre, with trams threading between permanent backlot sets and purpose-built show scenes.
The backlot streets include long-standing facades representing small-town America, city districts and European-style avenues, which can be redressed for different productions and viewed from the tram as it passes.backlot and Hollywood Hills setting Special-effects sequences on the tour combine practical water, fire and motion with large-scale sets, and the route highlights both the entertainment side of Universal Studios Hollywood and the industrial infrastructure that keeps a major film studio running.
Visiting Universal Studios Hollywood: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Universal Studios Hollywood stands in Universal City, north of central Los Angeles, close to the Hollywood Hills and reached by road connections from the wider Los Angeles area.
Major freeways such as US 101 run near the complex, and Los Angeles International Airport lies to the south-west along the coast. - The park is built on a hillside with its Upper Lot and Lower Lot connected by the Starway escalators, so moving between levels involves long escalator rides and walking across outdoor terraces.
- The official language is English and the currency is the United States dollar.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Universal Studios Hollywood
Where is Universal Studios Hollywood located?
Universal Studios Hollywood is situated in Universal City in the Hollywood Hills area of Los Angeles, on a hillside overlooking the San Fernando Valley.
What can visitors expect on a typical day?
Visitors encounter a mix of rides and shows on the Upper and Lower Lots, together with the World-Famous Studio Tour through active backlot streets and soundstages.
What makes Universal Studios Hollywood distinctive among theme parks?
Universal Studios Hollywood stands out because the theme park is built around a functioning film studio, and its signature Studio Tour runs directly through working production areas.
