Universal has officially announced plans to build its first British theme park resort in Bedford, with a projected opening date of 2031. The announcement was made on April 9, 2025, following months of confidential negotiations between Universal and UK government officials.
The proposed development includes a theme park, a 500-room hotel, and an entertainment and dining district similar to Disney Village. While specific attractions have not been revealed, Universal has released preliminary concept art that some observers interpret as potentially including elements from popular franchises such as Jurassic World, Minions, Back to the Future, and James Bond.
The resort will be constructed on a 200-hectare site north of London in Bedford, more than twice the size of France’s Parc Astérix. The UK government has indicated plans to upgrade regional rail and road infrastructure to support the development.
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Universal is investing several billion pounds in the project, which is projected to generate approximately £50 billion in economic benefits by 2055 and create thousands of jobs. The company is targeting 8.5 million visitors during the resort’s first year of operation.
Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, pending final approvals from local authorities, with a five-year building timeline leading to the planned 2031 opening.
This development represents a significant shift in Europe’s theme park landscape, where Universal will directly compete with Disneyland Paris, which has dominated the European market since opening in 1992. The Bedford resort will be Universal’s seventh worldwide and its first true European presence, aside from a brief ownership of Spain’s PortAventura in the late 1990s.
The announcement comes as Universal prepares to open its Epic Universe park in Florida, further expanding its global entertainment footprint. Subscribe to AirMagique for more news and updates.
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