It’s official: Construction Plan Coming soon to Universal theme parks in the UK. It will be named Universal United Kingdom Resort.
“We have bold ambitions to bring Universal’s innovative and immersive experiences to new audiences,” Mark Woodbury, chairman and CEO of Orlando-based Universal Destinations & Experiences, said in a news release. “Universal UK Resorts reflects our long-term strategy to focus on our key markets, while continuing to enhance our existing parks and strengthen our position as the destination of choice for our guests.”
The attraction will be built on a 540-acre site in Bedford, England, approximately 90 miles north of London. Universal said it expects to open UUK in 2031.
The resort will include a theme park with “several immersive lands featuring innovative attractions and story-driven experiences,” as well as a 500-room hotel, retail, dining and entertainment complex, the company said. The company confirmed the purchase of the land in December 2023 and announced its intention to build the park in April 2025.
The project is expected to create approximately 20,000 construction jobs in the region and 8,000 jobs once the resort opens.
Prime Minister Rachel Reeves and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy hosted Comcast co-chairman Brian Roberts and Mr Woodbury at 11 Downing Street on Wednesday to announce the name and logo for the theme park and resort.
The main theme parks currently operating in the UK include Alton Towers in Staffordshire (approximately 160 miles from the Universal site), Thorpe Park in Surrey (near London), and Legoland Windsor in Berkshire (west London). The closest Disney theme park to Universal United Kingdom is Disneyland Paris, approximately 570 miles away.
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Universal’s construction boom continues at Universal United Kingdom, with the opening of Epic Universe in Orlando in May 2025 and the year-round Universal Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas last August. Universal Kids Resort is scheduled to open in Frisco, Texas on July 1st.
dbevil@orlandosentinel.com
