Universal’s £5bn Bedfordshire theme park will become ‘UK’s most popular tourist attraction’

The first Universal theme park and resort in Europe will be built in Bedfordshire after ministers pledged £1.3bn for transport and local infrastructure

Universal’s first theme park and resort in Europe is set to create 28,000 jobs and deliver nearly £50bn for the UK economy after ministers agreed a £1.3bn infrastructure package to support the Bedfordshire project.

The resort, now officially named Universal United Kingdom Resort, will be built on a nearly 500-acre site in Bedford and is expected to open in 2031.

Comcast NBCUniversal has committed to invest more than £5bn during the expected five-year construction phase, with a further £1bn of capital investment planned during the first 10 years of operation.

The Government said the project was one of the largest ever investments in the UK tourism sector and would be among the most significant investments made in the country during this parliament. It would, the government said, become the “UK’s most popular tourist attraction”.

Universal also expects the site to become one of the highest-attended attractions in Europe, drawing millions of visitors each year, including more than one million from overseas.

The development is projected to support nearly 20,000 jobs during construction, with more than 5,000 workers on site at the peak. A further 8,000 jobs are expected once the resort is operational. Around 80 per cent of employees are expected to come from Bedfordshire and surrounding areas.

More than 100 people in the UK have already been employed to work on the project, while Universal has received expressions of employment interest from more than 33,000 people.

The Government’s £1.3bn support package is intended to fund regional and local community infrastructure so the park can operate successfully and improve transport links for residents and visitors.

As part of that package, ministers will provide a £400m grant through the exceptional Regional Growth Fund.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will also provide a £438m grant for new community infrastructure.

Those grants will only be paid after Universal has completed the relevant community infrastructure and officially opened the theme park and resort.

The Department for Transport is also proceeding with upgrades to the A421 and Wixams station, at an expected cost of £474m.

The Government said the investment would support wider growth across the region and help lay the foundations for Bedford to become an innovation hub.

The project is also being linked to the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and the Government’s plan to increase business investment in the creative industries from £17bn to £31bn by 2035.

The UK creative industries generate £124bn for the economy and support more than 2.3m jobs, according to the Government.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves visited the Bedfordshire site as enabling works got under way and construction moved closer.

She said: “This landmark investment in the heart of the Oxford to Cambridge Growth Corridor will unlock nearly £50 billion of economic growth and create tens of thousands of jobs across Bedfordshire in construction, hospitality, creative and technology sectors.

“Our own investment in transport and infrastructure means that local people will benefit — improving connectivity, backing our creative industries, and bringing millions of visitors to the UK from across the world.

“We have the right economic plan — working with global investors and local leaders so we can deliver jobs, opportunity and long-term prosperity for Britain.”

Reeves also hosted Comcast Corporation chairman Brian Roberts and Universal Destinations & Experiences chairman and chief executive Mark Woodbury at 11 Downing Street with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to unveil the resort’s name and logo.

Nandy said: “This unparalleled investment is a huge vote of confidence in the UK and puts rocket boosters under our entertainment industry.

“When it comes to creating world class experiences, the UK is second to none. We’re proud to be backing British industry, investing in local talent and partnering with powerhouses like Universal to create jobs, growth and opportunities across the UK.”

Roberts added: “This historic partnership is a special moment for our company as we bring our first Universal theme park and resort to Europe.

“We have a long and proud history in the United Kingdom through Sky and NBCUniversal and look forward to creating a spectacular destination that supports the UK creative industries and brings joy to millions for generations to come.”

Universal Destinations & Experiences is part of Comcast Corporation, which also owns NBCUniversal and Sky in the UK.

The Bedfordshire resort will be Universal’s first major destination in the UK and Europe.

The company confirmed in December 2023 that it had bought the Bedford land and spent 2024 carrying out feasibility and due diligence work.

Public engagement in spring 2024 drew nearly 1,500 people to in-person events, engaged almost 100 local organisations and received more than 6,000 survey responses, with more than 92 per cent expressing support for the project.

Comcast NBCUniversal announced in April 2025 that it intended to build the first Universal-branded theme park and resort in Europe at the Bedford site.

Planning permission was granted in December 2025 by way of a Special Development Order for the former brickworks and adjoining land at Kempston Hardwick.

That order came into force on January 12, 2026.

Universal said the project would build on the company’s global theme park expansion, including the 2025 opening of Universal Epic Universe in Orlando and the development of Universal Kids Resort in Frisco, Texas.

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_{Main image: Universal United Kingdom Resort is planned for Bedfordshire and is expected to create 28,000 jobs, attract millions of visitors a year and deliver nearly £50bn in economic benefit to the UK. Credit: Composite graphic by Belters News using imagery from Universal Destinations & Experiences / Comcast NBCUniversal.}