Located in Bedford, Universal United Kingdom Resort will be the first Universal branded theme park and resort destination in the UK and Europe, featuring a world-class theme park featuring several immersive lands with innovative attractions and story-driven experiences, alongside a 500-room hotel and a retail, dining, and entertainment complex! Here we round-up all the details revealed so far and the latest progress on the project.
Plans for Universal United Kingdom Resort first emerged in December 2023, when Comcast NBCUniversal confirmed the company’s purchase of the land forming the 540-acre site. Over the course of 2024, Universal Destinations & Experiences progressed with its feasibility and due diligence work, alongside undertaking public engagement activities to share initial details of the proposals.
Following confirmation of their intent to proceed with building the first Universal branded theme park and resort in Europe in April 2025, the company submitted a Special Development Order which was approved by the UK Government in December 2025, putting the resort on track to open in 2031.
This enabled on-site activity to get underway in the first half of 2026, with the project being officially named as Universal United Kingdom Resort in June 2026.
While Universal are providing official information and updates on the project via a dedicated website, Attraction Source will continue to delve deeper into all of the latest details and document key milestones in the resort’s construction!
About Universal Studios
Universal Destinations & Experiences represents the theme park division of NBCUniversal, itself a subsidiary of the Comcast Corporation (Comcast). The division was rebranded from Universal Parks & Resorts in early 2023 to reflect the planned diversification of experiences offered and the business’ global expansion plans, of which Universal United Kingdom Resort is now confirmed to be a key part of.
For those based in the UK, it is likely to be Universal Orlando Resort of which they are most familiar. Consisting of Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Volcano Bay and, as of 2025, Universal Epic Universe, it has been a popular holiday destination amongst UK families and thrillseekers alike since first opening in 1990. Nonetheless, it was Universal Studios Hollywood that was the company’s original theme park, developing from the studio tours offered of the working sets situated at the same location dating back to as early as 1915. The 2000s subsequently brought further international expansion for the company with the opening of Universal Studios Japan in 2001, Universal Studios Singapore in 2011 and Universal Beijing Resort in 2021.
What will Universal United Kingdom Resort feature?
Currently Universal have only officially confirmed the following regarding Universal United Kingdom Resort:
“The resort will include a world-class theme park with several themed lands featuring Universal’s immersive storytelling, thrilling rides, innovative attractions and exciting entertainment experiences. It will also feature a 500-room hotel, alongside retail, dining and entertainment.”
However, a concept image was released in April 2025 providing a first glimpse at what to expect from the resort and the theme park in particular, with the latter shown to be set around huge lake to create a picturesque centrepiece, with several themed lands sprawling off from this on the outskirts.
Attraction-wise, two large outdoor roller coasters can be spotted, which will likely bring thrills to the crowds of the new Universal park. Accompanying this are show buildings to house dark rides, children’s rides, and two outdoor theatres to make the whole family feel included, all continuing Universal’s streak of bringing the industry’s most thrilling and technologically advanced attractions to its destinations. Below we take a closer look at the concept art and the clues it provides regarding what Universal United Kingdom Resort will feature!
Entrance & Hotel
The entrance to the theme park looks set to feature the iconic Universal globe and arches, which guests will enter underneath. The resort’s 500-room hotel is shown to be located alongside the street that leads from to the central lake.
Potential ‘Back to the Future’ Area & Coaster
The entrance plaza to an attraction on the left of the concept imagery gives us our first idea of what we might be seeing thematically at the resort. A unique ‘Back to the Future’ themed land could be making its way to the UK, with similarities being present between this concept and the ‘Hill Valley Courthouse Square’ from the famous movie franchise. The roller coaster within this land appears to be a first in the UK. When zoomed in, it can be deduced that this will likely be a multi-launch roller coaster. Certain elements suggest this could be manufactured by Intamin, incorporating high-speed switch tracks to traverse you over airtime-hill swing launches, leading into two large spikes, inversions, and then completing the layout.
Potential ‘Jurassic World’ Area, Dark Ride & Coaster
A Jurassic World area is something we are also likely to see – the concept imagery has distinct features from the existing area at Universal Beijing, most notably an apparent clone of the ‘Jurassic World Adventure’ show building. What appear to be two S&S Worldwide shot tower attractions are also visible in the area. Nearby is also a building of similar design to ‘Hammond’s’ a restaurant located in Universal Beijing’s area. A green roller coaster also sits adjacent to the main Jurassic World show building. With the theme here not as apparent, it is unclear whether the coaster will also form part of the Jurassic World area or be the flagship attraction in another themed land.
Potential ‘Minions’ Area
The Universal Beijing inspiration continues throughout, with it looking like Minions will make their UK debut in the theme park. The concept art draws from the existing area in Beijing, which features Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, an indoor family roller coaster as a result (the roller coaster on the roof of the central building is for theming only in Beijing), as well as plenty of other appropriately Minion-themed retail and dining offerings throughout.
Potential Dreamworks and ‘Lord of the Rings’ Attractions
A final large themed area can be spotted on the right-hand side of the concept art. Its medieval appearance could suggest that something more rustic will be taking shape in this location. Two indoor buildings will seemingly accompany this area, likely to contain some highly-themed dark ride attractions and appropriate entertainment, food offerings, and more. The exterior appearance of one building appears to match that of The Poison Apple from the Shrek film franchise, suggesting that the popular Dreamworks character and friends will feature in the park. The second building does not have any distinguishing features – could it house attractions based around another Dreamworks IP or even inspired by the Lord of the Rings franchise, which has been rumoured to materialise in some form at this park.
Live Action Show Venue
Also shown is a live-action show venue similar to that of ‘Waterworld’ at Universal Studios Hollywood and Beijing. Initial rumours did suggest that the park could feature a James Bond stunt show, so perhaps this is what the venue would be used for at the UK park, although equally such a show could be housed in one of the buildings around the park (perhaps off from the main entrance walkway) and take on a similar format to The Bourne Stuntacular at Universal Studios Florida.
Potential ‘Paddington’ Area
Some more abstract areas and attractions are shown around the park within the concept art. This includes an area which looks to feature attractions which can be enjoyed by all members of the family. It has been speculated that this area could be themed to Paddington, another quintessential British IP, with what could be a giant jar of marmalade (famously a favourite spread of Paddington Bear) located at the centre of a play area.