Universal Destinations & Experiences is moving toward a major Universal-branded theme park and resort in the United Kingdom. The lucky spot? Bedfordshire— a county situated just an hour outside of the central London area.
This means tourists and residents alike can easily make the trip from the big city without having to stay overnight. However, official releases say this expansion will offer more than just a park, so a sleepover will definitely be possible.
The story sounded more tentative at first, and it helps to remember why. In December 2023, Daily Hive reported Universal was exploring the “feasibility of a potential park and resort” near Bedford, with easy access from London by train or car.
The most exciting part of this news is that this will be the first time Universal has expanded its reach across the Atlantic.
On The Path To Officiating
The Ministry of Housing first published an official request for planning permission for the city of Bedford in July 2025. The request said, “The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has received a request from Universal Destinations & Experiences to grant planning permission for an Entertainment Resort Complex and associated development at the former Brickworks and adjoining land, Kempston Hardwick, Bedford.”
The big milestone arrived on April 9, 2025, when the UK government announced a deal for a Universal theme park and resort in Bedfordshire. Officials said the target opening year is 2031 and projected to create around 28,000 total jobs across construction and operations. The same release forecast includes about eight and a half million visitors in the first year and nearly £50 billion in economic benefit by 2055.
Planning then progressed through a Special Development Order route, with documents made public. A national consultation on the planning request ran from July 3 to August 31, 2025, and it covered an “Entertainment Resort Complex” at the former brickworks and adjoining land in Kempston Hardwick.
Why Bedfordshire Fits The Brief
Bedfordshire is being sold as a “get in, get out” location, with a solid transportation system that can take a massive influx of people. Sky News reported the resort site as about 55 miles north of London and around 20 miles from London Luton Airport, with rail routes that can reach Bedford from central London in under an hour. Nearby road access is also part of the pitch, including references to the A421 as a key corridor. Universal also hopes to expand and upgrade the Wixams railway station to bring its plan to fruition.
The footprint is another reason this location keeps winning on paper. Official and media descriptions place the project at the former brickworks, and adjoining land at Kempston Hardwick, with nearby places like Stewartby and Wixams often used for orientation. A large, single site makes it easier to build hotels, backstage infrastructure, and expansion space without constant compromises. In practical terms, it also means the resort can be designed as one connected district rather than scattered pieces.
On the local side, council information repeats the same core components and benefits you see in national messaging. Central Bedfordshire Council’s planning page describes a theme park with several themed lands, plus a 500-room hotel and a retail, dining, and entertainment complex. It also echoes the job and economic projections that have been tied to the project in official announcements. That consistency is useful if you’re trying to separate what’s documented from what’s just travel chatter.
What You Should Expect Next
Ingrid Martinussen on Unsplash
Right now, the dependable details are about scope, not franchise names. Planning summaries describe themed lands, rides, attractions, and entertainment, but they do not publish a full lineup of intellectual property. If you see confident lists circulating online, treat them as speculation unless they show up in official documents.
The timeline is clearer, even if it still asks for patience. Government statements have repeatedly pointed to 2031 as the opening target, and the Special Development Order is set to take effect on January 12, 2026. From there, construction can move forward under the conditions and limitations described in the decision materials. That gives you a few years to watch for hotel details and transportation upgrades before you start pricing out a trip.
If you want to track progress without needing to go down a rabbit hole, stick to the sources that publish updates as a matter of record. Universal’s official UK project site posts milestones and explains where the project sits in the approval process. Government consultation pages and local council notices are also useful when you want dates, documents, and plain-language summaries in one place.
Regardless, it's exciting to see such a well-loved theme park make its way across the pond. Perhaps we’ll start to see some Disney-level expansions in the near future.
