A combined £7.3bn commitment from Comcast NBCUniversal and the UK government puts Universal United Kingdom Resort on the map, with a 2031 opening and 28,000 jobs on the line.
Universal United Kingdom Resort is now official. Comcast NBCUniversal and the UK government have confirmed a combined £7.3bn commitment to the project – Universal’s first theme park and resort in Europe – to be built on a 540-acre site in Bedford, Bedfordshire.
The name and logo were unveiled on 3 June 2026. Chancellor Rachel Reeves and culture secretary Lisa Nandy hosted Brian Roberts, chairman of Comcast Corporation, and Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive of Universal Destinations & Experiences, at 11 Downing Street for the announcement. Reeves also visited the Bedford site the same morning.
Comcast NBCUniversal will invest more than £5bn during the expected five-year construction phase, with a further £1bn in capital investment across the resort’s first decade of operation. The UK government is contributing £1.3bn for regional and local community infrastructure, including improved transport links.
The Department for Culture, Media & Sport described the package as one of the largest-ever investments in the UK tourism sector. Construction has already begun in enabling works, with full build activity to follow shortly.
Universal projects 8.5 million visitors in its first year of operation in 2031. The resort is expected to attract more than one million additional overseas visitors annually and is forecast to generate nearly £50bn of economic benefit for the UK economy by 2055.
The jobs numbers are substantial. DCMS estimates the project will create 20,000 roles during the five-year construction phase, with a further 8,000 positions when the resort opens. That figure is projected to reach 10,000 permanent roles by the resort’s twentieth year of operation, with 80% expected to be drawn from the local area.
Mark Woodbury, chairman and chief executive of Universal Destinations & Experiences, said: ‘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.’
The project sits within the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor and the government’s plan to increase business investment in the creative industries from £17bn to £31bn by 2035. Universal currently operates five entertainment and resort complexes – in Orlando, Hollywood, Osaka, Beijing and Singapore. Bedford will be the sixth – and the first on European soil.
Image: universalukproject.co.uk
