Originally announced in April 2025, the highly-anticipated Universal theme park coming to Bedford, England now has an official name: Universal United Kingdom Resort, complete with a newly unveiled logo.
The name was revealed on Wednesday, June 3, following a ground-breaking ceremony attended by senior executives. The occasion brought Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy together with Comcast Corporation Chairman Brian Roberts and Universal Destinations & Experiences Chairman and CEO Mark Woodbury at 11 Downing Street for the announcement.
Construction was given the green light by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government late last year, and two major contractors were confirmed for the build earlier this February.
Speaking to Woodbury during her first visit to the site, Chancellor Reeves 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.”
Situated roughly 45 minutes from London, the resort is projected to generate 28,000 jobs across both its construction and operational phases. At capacity, the park is designed to handle 55,000 visitors per day at peak times in its opening year, with an annual target of 8.5 million guests – a figure expected to climb to 12.5 million the following year.
Comcast NBCUniversal has pledged more than £5 billion (nearly $7 billion) over an anticipated five-year construction period, with an additional £1 billion ($1.3 billion) earmarked for its first decade of operation. The UK government is contributing £1.3 billion ($1.7 billion) toward surrounding regional and community infrastructure improvements. The resort is currently on track to open in 2031.
Mark Woodbury commented: “Today marks a significant milestone on our journey to bring Universal United Kingdom Resort, featuring immersive storytelling, thrilling attractions and unparalleled creativity and innovation to the UK. This new theme park and resort will create so many new opportunities for the people of Bedford and beyond and allow us to share our distinct experiences with guests from around the world.”
Comcast Co-CEOs Brian Roberts and Mike Cavanagh added: “This is a proud moment for our company as we bring the first Universal theme park and resort to Europe. The United Kingdom is a highly attractive market and builds on the significant investments we’ve made elsewhere around the globe to create extraordinary experiences for millions of guests that are rooted in the stories and worlds only Universal can deliver.”
Sources: Universal and LBC News
