Universal Theme Park Officially Comes to UK – Opening in 2031

(eap) After concrete plans for a possible Universal theme park resort in Bedford, UK, had already been presented and discussed in recent months, the mega project has now been officially agreed on: The destination, a theme park and resort, is set to open in 2031, bringing the Universal theme park brand to Europe. UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer has today closed the deal.

The site for the development in Bedford is approximately a 1.5 hours’ drive from London – a favourable catchment area to also reach the wide target group of tourists. The plans of Universal Destinations & Experiences (a business unit of the Comcast Corporation) envisage a world-class theme park resort with several themed worlds, numerous rides, innovative attractions and exciting entertainment formats. In addition, a hotel with 500 rooms, retail outlets and gastronomic facilities are to be built. The large-scale development is expected to create almost 20,000 jobs during the construction phase, with a further 8,000 new positions to be filled when the park opens in 2031. By 2055, an economic contribution totaling almost GBP 50 billion (EUR 58 billion) is expected for the UK, with the Bedford region in particular benefiting from Europe’s first Universal-branded resort. Around 80 per cent of the future workforce is expected to come from the local area.

“Today we closed the deal on a multi-billion-pound investment that will see Bedford home to one of the biggest entertainment parks in Europe, firmly putting the county on the global stage. This in our Plan for Change in action, combining local and national growth with creating around 28,000 new jobs across sectors such as construction, AI, and tourism. It is not just about numbers; it’s about securing real opportunities for people in our country. Together, we are building a brighter future for the UK, getting people into work and ensuring our economy remains strong and competitive,” states Prime Minister Starmer.

“We could not be more excited to take this very important step in our plan to create and deliver an incredible Universal theme park and resort in the heart of the United Kingdom, which complements our growing US-based parks business by expanding our global footprint to Europe. […],” says Mike Cavanagh, President of Comcast Corporation.

Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, adds, “Bringing a world-class theme park and resort to the United Kingdom is a tremendous opportunity and is part of our strategy to introduce the Universal brand and experiences to new audiences around the globe. We appreciate the incredible support for our proposed project and look forward to bringing it to life in the years ahead.”

While the new park development in the UK is now officially underway, another new Universal theme park, Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, is about to open soon. The “next-level” theme park will officially open its gates for the first time on 22 May and welcome visitors to its fantastic worlds. Read all about the numerous highlights in Epic Universe in one of the next EAP magazine issues. ■