Universal United Kingdom Resort to bring millions of visitors to UK from across the world - when does it open?

A new UK theme park will be called the Universal United Kingdom Resort, it has been announced. The US firm and the UK Government unveiled the title, alongside news of investments of £7.3 billion in the project, with planning already underway and construction set to begin soon on the site in Bedfordshire.

Universal United Kingdom Resort will be the media company’s first theme park and resort in Europe, and is expected to generate nearly £50 billion of economic benefit for the UK economy by 2055. Millions of visitors are expected to visit the resort each year, including more than a million additional overseas visitors, which would make the attraction the UK’s most popular.

Comcast NBCUniversal has committed to invest more than £5 billion in the entertainment resort complex during the expected five years of construction, as well as an additional £1bn in capital investment over its first 10 years of operation. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it was “one of the largest-ever investments in the UK tourism sector” and would bring nearly 20,000 jobs during construction and a further 8,000 jobs when the resort opens.

The Government will support the project with an investment of £1.3bn on regional and local community infrastructure to “ensure the park can operate successfully, with improved transport links for local residents and visitors from across the UK and abroad”, DCMS said. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves visited the site this morning (June 3), where she met some of the first workers employed on the project after being greeted by Mark Woodbury, chair and chief executive of Universal Destinations & Experiences.

Speaking to Mr Woodbury and Universal workers Ms Reeves, who donned a hi-vis jacket and hard hat, said: “Thank you for choosing the UK. I know that you could have chosen locations in other parts of Europe. We’re really thrilled you’re going to be here and we’re determined to work with you to make it the massive success that I know it’s going to be.”

Mr Woodbury said the resort would bring “immersive storytelling, thrilling attractions and unparalleled creativity and innovation to the UK” and told Ms Reeves the company was “ready to break ground and make this the most spectacular theme park in all of Europe, if not the world”.

Molly Murphy, president of Universal Creative, said the company was “thrilled” to have the Chancellor visit to mark the beginning of enabling works on the site. Asked why Bedfordshire was selected, Ms Murphy told reporters: “We chose Bedfordshire because it is an exciting place.

“There’s an amazing amount of creative talent in the UK that we can tap into and this place is a perfect location to build the greatest theme park in all of Europe, so we’re very excited about doing that.”

Following the site visit, the Chancellor and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy hosted Brian Roberts, chair of Comcast Corporation, and Mr Woodbury at 11 Downing Street to unveil the resort’s name and logo. Mr Roberts said the company looked forward to “creating a spectacular destination that supports the UK creative industries and brings joy to millions for generations to come”.

The Chancellor said: “This landmark investment in the heart of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor will unlock nearly £50bn of economic growth and create tens of thousands of jobs across Bedfordshire in construction, hospitality, creative and technology sectors. Our own investment in transport and infrastructure means that local people will benefit – improving connectivity, backing our creative industries, and bringing millions of visitors to the UK from across the world.”

As part of the £1.3bn investment, the Government will provide a grant of £400 million through the Exceptional Regional Growth Fund and DCMS will provide a grant of £438m to invest in new community infrastructure to “maximise the benefits of the development and support growth across the region”.

The grants will be paid once Universal has completed the community infrastructure, in the case of the DCMS grant, and officially opened the theme park and resort. The Department for Transport will also upgrade the strategic road and rail network, on the A421 and at Wixams train station at an expected cost of £474m.

DCMS said Universal choosing Bedford for its first European park is “a testament to the strength of the UK’s visitor offering and creative industries” and that the US company had “committed to world-class training opportunities for the next generation of its workforce, including through a range of apprenticeships and internships”.

Culture Secretary Ms Nandy said: “This unparalleled investment is a huge vote of confidence in the UK and puts rocket boosters under our entertainment industry. When it comes to creating world-class experiences, the UK is second to none. We’re proud to be backing British industry, investing in local talent and partnering with powerhouses like Universal to create jobs, growth and opportunities across the UK.”

More than 100 people in the UK have already been employed to work on the project, with Universal receiving expressions of employment interest from some 33,000 people. Around 80% of employees at the theme park and resort are expected to come from Bedfordshire and the surrounding regions.

Dame Caroline Dinenage, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport (CMS) Committee, said the investment had “potential to provide a welcome boost to our tourism industry at a time when there are concerns that the policy landscape is making the UK a less attractive destination for overseas visitors”. “The Government must work with Universal to ensure the project brings long-lasting benefits, not just to tourism, but also to our wider creative industries,” she added.

When will Universal United Kingdom Resort open?

While planning and behind the scenes work is underway on the Universal United Kingdom Resort, it is expected to take some years before the first guests arrive. The multi-billion pound project will employ tens of thousands of workers on the 700-acre Bedfordshire site, creating multiple themed areas, including rides, attractions, and live entertainment venues.

Initial plans also included a 500-room hotel and an integrated retail, dining, and entertainment complex. Previously, Universal said construction was expected to be finished in 2031.

Universal resorts locations

The new Universal United Kingdom Resort will be the company’s only European park. It currently operates five entertainment and resort complexes around the world: Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios Hollywood in the US, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Universal Beijing Resort in China and Universal Studios Singapore.