Universal Studios United Kingdom

Universal Studios United Kingdom
Location	Bedford, England
Coordinates	52°05′23.1″N 0°29′58.5″W / 52.089750°N 0.499583°W
Status	Planned
Opens	TBA (potentially by 2030)
Owner	Universal Destinations & Experiences (NBCUniversal)
Operated by	Universal Destinations & Experiences
Theme	Show business and Universal entertainment
Area	476 acres
Website	Official website

Universal Studios United Kingdom is a planned 476 acres (2 km²) theme park and resort to be located in the town of Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, 51 miles (82 km) northwest of Central London.^[1]^[2] The theme park would be operated by Universal Destinations & Experiences, a division on NBCUniversal.

Development history

NBCUniversal parent company, Comcast, registered the domain names UniversalStudiosGreatBritain.com and UniversalGreatBritain.com in September 2023.^[3]

On 1 December 2023, Comcast acquired construction and development company, Cloud Wing UK, and took control of the company assets including 240 acres (0 sq mi; 1 km²) of land in Bedford, England.

Announced on 19 December 2023, it would be the first Universal Studios Resort in the United Kingdom, and Universal's third attempt at a European resort,^[a] and is to be located approximately 45 minutes north of London.^[2]

Proposal

Potential development area of theme park and resort

The planned site is to be located on a plot of land mostly within the A421 road, B530 road, and Broadmead Road, with Manor Road cutting through it. The planned site is split into four "zones": the "Core Zone" is where the theme park and hotel(s) are to be located, the adjacent "Lake Zone" located north of the "Core Zone" is intended for mixed-use purposes (likely a Universal CityWalk), and two transportation hubs dubbed the "East Gateway Zone" and the "West Gateway Zone".^[6]

Universal has yet to proceed with the project, with construction first suggested as being as early as January 2025, with an opening expected around 2030.^[7]^[1]

Notes

^ Their first attempt was a cancelled Universal Studios Europe park in Sénart, France, which was cancelled in the 1990s due to the then failure of Euro Disneyland.^[4] Their second attempt was their 1998 purchase of PortAventura Park and the subsequent construction of the surrounding Universal Mediterranean Resort in Salou, Spain. Universal ended up selling the resort and theme park in 2004.^[5]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Hutchinson, Erica Roffe & Paul (19 December 2023). "Breaking news: Universal Studios confirm they are planning a theme park in Bedford Borough". Bedford Independent. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
^ ^a ^b Phillips, Jacob (19 December 2023). "Universal Studios planning first UK theme park". Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
^ ‘Universal Studios Great Britain’ mooted. RideRater. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2024.
^ Williams, Michael (14 April 1993). "MCA in talks to become Euro Disney neighbor". Variety. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
^ Hopewell, John; Geitz, Christopher (20 June 2004). "U sells Port Aventura stake". Variety. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
^ "Information Pack (April 2024)" (PDF). Universal UK Project: 6.
^ "Universal UK Project |". Retrieved 29 July 2024.

External links

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[6] Their first attempt was a cancelled Universal Studios Europe park in Sénart, France, which was cancelled in the 1990s due to the then failure of Euro Disneyland.^[4] Their second attempt was their 1998 purchase of PortAventura Park and the subsequent construction of the surrounding Universal Mediterranean Resort in Salou, Spain. Universal ended up selling the resort and theme park in 2004.^[5]

[bedfordindie-1] Hutchinson, Erica Roffe & Paul (19 December 2023). "Breaking news: Universal Studios confirm they are planning a theme park in Bedford Borough". Bedford Independent. Retrieved 29 July 2024.

[Standard-2] Phillips, Jacob (19 December 2023). "Universal Studios planning first UK theme park". Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 July 2024.

[3] ‘Universal Studios Great Britain’ mooted. RideRater. 18 December 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2024.

[4] Williams, Michael (14 April 1993). "MCA in talks to become Euro Disney neighbor". Variety. Retrieved 29 July 2024.

[5] Hopewell, John; Geitz, Christopher (20 June 2004). "U sells Port Aventura stake". Variety. Retrieved 29 July 2024.

[7] "Information Pack (April 2024)" (PDF). Universal UK Project: 6.

[8] "Universal UK Project |". Retrieved 29 July 2024.

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