Universal theme park is coming to UK – here’s what it will look like

The UK’s first Universal Studios theme park is due to open in Bedfordshire in 2031.

The attraction, set to be the biggest of its kind in Europe, will create 28,000 jobs between construction and operation, the Government said.

The park, which will be known as the Universal United Kingdom ​Resort, was first announced in April last year.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has called the investment a “huge vote of confidence” in Britain.

What to expect from Universal United Kingdom Resort?

The resort will be built on a site spanning nearly 500 acres and is expected to showcase Universal’s immersive entertainment experiences, primarily through a theme park.

The resort will also feature hotels and other accommodation, dining, shopping and entertainment areas.

Some areas will be available to visit without a ticket, but access to the main park will be restricted to ticketholders.

Universal has not yet confirmed which specific rides, lands or shows will feature in their newest theme park. It said it will “still be some time” before it can share details of the particular attractions the park will feature.

Planning documentation revealed the firm said it could build structures in the park reaching up to 377ft (115m), which means it could be home to the tallest rides in Europe.

By comparison, the UK’s current tallest ride, Thorpe Park’s Hyperia, stands at 72m.

What impact will the theme park have on the UK economy?

The theme park deal represents one of the largest ever investments in the UK tourism sector, boosting the economy by nearly £50bn, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said.

Comcast NBCUniversal, the firm behind the park, has committed to invest over £5bn in the entertainment resort complex during the construction period, expected to take five years, as well as an additional £1bn in capital investment over the first 10 years of operation.

It said approximately 80 per cent of employees are expected to come from Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.

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.

As part of the wider development linked to the theme park resort, transportation infrastructure will be upgraded, including an expansion of Wixams railway station and direct slip roads from the A421.

How have locals responded to the planned build?

Some residents have raised concerns about potential congestion on the local road network, and on specific key routes including the M1, A421 and B530, as a result of visitor numbers once the development is operational.

The theme park resort is predicted to attract 8.5 million visitors in its first year alone.

Questions have also been raised about light and noise pollution, and how the theme park complex will impact demand for housing.

Local health officials have expressed concern that there could be knock-on effects on emergency response times due to impacts on the transport network.

Last week, a local councillor claimed one Bedfordshire village is at risk of becoming a “park-and-ride” site for visitors to the Universal resort, because of East West Rail’s plans to serve the attraction.

Conservative Cranfield and Marston Moretaine councillor Sue Clark said: “It feels like the village is in danger of becoming collateral damage for East West Rail and Universal Studios.”

What has the Government said about the development?

At a local level, Bedford Borough Council has said the “once-in-a-generation” investment will put the area “firmly on the entertainment map”.

Marc Frost, a Conservative councillor for Wixams and Wilstead ward, referred to the resort as a “fabulous opportunity for Bedford and the UK”.

Last year, the Prime Minister said the attraction would “put Bedford on the map for millions of people – film lovers, people coming here for fun, people building their careers here”.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves previously said the deal with Universal was “a real sign of confidence in the local economy and in the national economy”.