Universal confirms UK resort name
Universal Destinations & Experiences today confirmed the official name for its new theme park in Bedford, England.
It's Universal United Kingdom Resort.
The theme park will open in 2031, along with an accompanying 500-room hotel. Expanded rail service will connect the 540-acre resort site to the London area and other destinations across Great Britain.
"We have a bold ambition to bring Universal's innovative and immersive experiences to new audiences," Universal Destinations & Experiences Chairman and CEO Mark Woodbury said. "Universal United Kingdom Resort reflects that long-term strategy focused on key markets while continuing to enhance our existing parks and strengthen our position as a destination of choice for guests."
Concept image for the Universal UK Resort theme park, courtesy Universal Destinations & Experiences
Universal has not yet announced any specific attractions or IP that it will include in its UK theme park, though you are invited to post your guesses based on the official concept art, above. Vertical construction will begin soon at the site, Universal said.
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Replies (16)
540-acre resort is really Big.
I am sure there will be a Hulk Like coaster, WWOHP and they will have minions ride.
FF coaster and a flume ride and a Jurassic Park attraction.
No small ball here..
I appreciate the subtlety of the name. On the one hand it evokes the United Kingdom, where it will be located. It also includes the name Universal, which will come in handy for those who aren’t sure what this place is when they go there.
The name is all well and good, but what we all want to know is, will this new theme park be immersive?
/reads Woodbury’s quote again
Ah, I see that it will indeed be immersive. Thank goodness.
Universal certainly likes the lake in the middle design for it's parks. It will be interesting to see what they pull from their other resorts to include here and what they save for a second gate.
I'm a bit surprised this wasn't called Universal London Resort given its proximity to one of the world's most recognized cities. Sure, it's not within London proper, but it's likely that this park will predominantly be visited as 1-2 day add on to a London vacation.
I think the term "London Resort" is now as toxic in the UK as the site that the project recently using that name tried to build on. /s
Given 3 of the 4 governments in the UK are lead by parties that want to see the end of the UK, part of me wonders what happens if they ever have to change that name...
Bit of a mouthful, maybe use 'UK' instead of United Kingdom. I'm a Brit, and everyone I know just uses 'UK'.
Weird it's in Bedford though. Must be outside the prime land/acre rates that closer to London would make it less financially viable.
Interesting they moved away from the portals for this park ... but for sure, there'll be Harry Potter, Minions, 2 or 3 coasters (F&F UK drift?), Spiderman more than Transformers, and Seuss for the kids area.
It'll be interesting to see how they get on with their timing. Weather in Blighty isn't quite as predictable as in FL.
Darn, they ruled out Universal United Kingdom Escape.
Mako, if they port F&F over to the UK, I bet they'd just gonna call it Hollywood Drift again. Even if it's in the New York section of the park. Yes I'm still bitter.
This government will go down as one of the worst in British history but, by jove, have they backed this venture pledging another £1.3bn yesterday in support of it going ahead by improving the infrastructure and transport network.
It is reported that the resort will cost £5bn (likely a lot more in England by the time it opens c.2031 but that date is ambitious for a UK major construction project) with Universal pledging another £1bn in expansion over its first 10 years saying that they have already bought more land nearby.
Regarding the name, "United Kingdom" represents the whole of the nation which is their target audience so the right decision for me. As for its location, Bedford is easy to get to with our motorway infrastructure and sits nicely between London and the Midlands, the two most populous regions in England.
This is genuinely exciting news for the UK however given the fact that here in the UK we are incapable of building any major infrastructure project either remotely on time or remotely within budget I do hope that Universal have contingency plans for expediting the construction. Maybe they'll import their builders!
SO UUKR for short?
Universal United Kingdom Resort.
Any information on if and how they want to target mainland Europe?
Bedford is between the M1 and A1(M), so certainly better placed than AT, but still not ideal considering just what those 2 roads can be like during busy holiday periods.
I haven't seen anything to suggest Universal are helping with infrastructure to ease traffic flow in and out of the new park.
Anyway, they have 5yrs, so let's give them the benefit of the doubt, and look forward to the park opening on time .... what could go wrong :)
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Outstanding News! Five year build is ambitious.
I like it!
A cursory look into the availability of labor should give Comcast confidence about staffing the park and the associated hotel.