Here's everything we know so far about the Universal United Kingdom theme park

Move over Universal Studios Hollywood, there’s a new theme park by the American movie giant – and it’s in Bedford.

The amusement park’s official name, Universal United Kingdom Resort, was officially unveiled yesterday by Universal and the government.

The nearly 270-hectare site, about 45 minutes from London, will open in 2031.

Comcast NBCUniversal, the media giant which is investing £5billion into the project, says the park will draw 8.5million visitors a year.

Mark Woodbury, the chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, said: ‘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.’

Here’s everything you need to know about the Universal United Kingdom Resort.

Where will Universal United Kingdom Resort be?

The amusement park will be roughly 400m from Kempston Hardwick railway station, itself about 3.5 miles southwest of Bedford.

It will be built on the former Kempston Hardwick brickworks.

When it opens, Universal UK will span about 193 hectares, before later expanding to 280, planning permission forms show.

The government is handing developers £1billion to help upgrade local infrastructure and transport links.

This includes adding new platforms to the nearby Wixams station and upgrading the A421 to help the area accommodate the thrill-seekers.

The cheque is part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ pledge for the government to provide funding for the resort.

What rides will be in the park?

No one knows for sure yet, with the illustration of the amusement park not giving too much away.

It does show a large plaza, built around a fountain that appeared to feature a sculpture of the studio’s iconic planet Earth logo.

Insiders, however, claim that the tallest rides in Europe could be built – the tallest in Europe is Spain’s Red Force, towering at 367ft.

One told the BBC that there could be rides themed around James Bond, The Lord of the Rings, Paddington and Jurassic World. 

According to the planning documents, visitors won’t need a ticket to visit.

This won’t be too surprising to anyone who’s been to a Universal park – Hollywood, Orlando, Osaka and Beijing all have an area filled with restaurants, cinemas, escape rooms and mini-golf called CityWalk.

The proposals describe an area called the ‘Entry Plaza’, a ‘festive and exciting area rich with food and drink, retail, and entertainment offerings’.

There will also be a 500-room hotel on site, with the park open 365 days a year.

What do locals make of the amusement park?

Ask any officials in the area, and the park opening is a good thing. Most have focused on how the construction alone will bring 20,000 jobs, with Universal saying a further 8,000 will be created once it opens.

About eight in 10 of those recruits will be from Bedfordshire and the surrounding area.

Project Universal, a Facebook page which has been documenting the resort since 2024, says it’s an ‘amazing opportunity’ for the region.

‘Like most other towns, Bedford is on a downward trend, and the money invested in our town will make a huge difference,’ the page’s anonymous admin told Metro.

Asked what ride they’re hoping for, they added: ‘I like to be immersed in a story and be taken to another world, but I do still enjoy coasters. I think coaster-wise, for me, Back to the Future would be the winner!’

Sunil Parmar, 35, who works in housing in Wootton, says he can’t wait to take his family to the theme park.

‘We have a young son and by the time 2031 comes around, he’ll be the perfect age for all the rides and theme park fun,’ he adds.

Some locals, however, see the government funding as a waste of money.

Anne-Marie Fennell, 22, told Metro that since the plans for a Universal resort were announced, rent prices in Bedford have skyrocketed.

‘Before the announcement, you could rent a one-bedroom flat for about £650ish a month privately,’ the freelance software engineer said.

‘Now? We’re lucky to see a listing of a shared bedroom in someone’s back garden shed for under £1,000 a month.’

Other residents worried whether Universal would also be footing the bill when it comes to upgrading infrastructure, with Anne-Marie adding that the town’s public transport and roads are already buckling under the pressure. When asked this by Metro, Universal declined to comment further.

Though Tony Angie Barnes says this will be a ‘small sacrifice to gain local investment and jobs’.

The admin behind Project Universal added: ‘The money is an investment in the future and it should return £50billion in economic benefit by 2055.

‘You have to spend money to make money. It’s a good return on taxpayers’ cash.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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