In a historic announcement today, the Prime Minister’s Office in the United Kingdom confirmed the development of a brand-new Universal Studios theme park, scheduled to open its gates in 2031.
“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,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said.
The new theme park will be constructed on the site of the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks near Bedford. Covering 476 acres, the development will include a theme park, a 500-room hotel, and a retail complex, as outlined in the site plans. While Universal has already secured 476 acres for this endeavor, there is the potential to acquire additional land, expanding the total area to about 700 acres, which would facilitate connections to transport routes.
Universal projects that the theme park could attract an estimated 8.5 million visitors in its first year and contribute £50 billion to the UK economy by 2055.
Comcast President Mike Cavanagh expressed enthusiasm regarding the project, saying, “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.”
Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, emphasized the significance of the development: “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.”
A full planning proposal is expected to be submitted to the UK government soon, with construction projected to begin in 2026.
Universal has not yet released information about the attractions planned for the new theme park.
This announcement arrives as Universal gears up for the grand opening of its new theme park in Florida, Epic Universe, set to open on May 22, 2025.
Comments