Comcast NBCUniversal officially revealed the name for their first theme park built from the ground up in Europe. They say the “Universal United Kingdom Resort” will begin major construction soon. They are targeting a 2031 opening.

First announced back in December 2023, the project has been going through government approvals and initial preparation steps up until this point.

The first concept art for the upcoming theme park was released last year, showing the possible layout for the park and resort, being built on the 540 acres of land in Bedfordshire, England.

Universal says Universal United Kingdom Resort will include “a world-class theme park featuring several immersive lands with innovative attractions and story-driven experiences, alongside a 500-room hotel and a retail, dining, and entertainment complex.”

Brian Roberts and Mike Cavanagh Co-CEOs of Comcast Corporation had the following to say about today’s announcement:

“The United Kingdom is a highly attractive market and builds on the significant investments we’ve made elsewhere around the globe to create extraordinary experiences for millions of guests that are rooted in the stories and worlds only Universal can deliver.”

“We have a bold ambition to bring Universal’s innovative and immersive experiences to new audiences,” said Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences. “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.”

The company and UK government shared photos from today’s groundbreaking event at the work site as well.

The official name was first trademarked in the UK back in September of last year, as UNIVERSAL UNITED KINGDOM RESORT.

This isn’t even the first time we’ve seen the company use the now official name. Fan sites had pointed out that it was initially included in job listings earlier this year, (before quickly being removed after being pointed out online).

Resort name confirmed!

In the most recent job posting at https://t.co/pXWAwLMEiX, one of the role's responsibilities is, 'Represents *Universal United Kingdom Resort* at on‑site and external job fairs.''

This is the first public use of the official name for the UK resort! pic.twitter.com/ipEUZKpY7h

— Universal United Kingdom Resort Updates (@USGBUpdates) February 26, 2026

In December of last year, The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government approved Universal’s plans to build, which was the last big hurdle before this major construction could begin.

We shared a full breakdown of the hundreds of pages of planning documents about one year ago.

In the months since, land has been moved around, access roads have been added for heavy machinery to be moved in and out, and staging lots have been set up for materials and vehicles. The site appears ready for work to finally pick up steam now, all these years later.

The company is investing more than £5 billion during the expected five-year construction period, with another £1 billion planned to be invested during the first ten years of operation.

The construction of Universal United Kingdom Resort is projected to create 20,000 jobs, with more than 5,00 on site at its peak. The park and resort will employ around 8,000 local residents once it is operational.

While Universal has been tight-lipped on what properties the immersive lands of the new park will be based on, fan speculation includes things like Back to the Future, Minions, Jurassic World, and Paddington.

Rumors from outlets like the BBC include The Lord of the Rings and James Bond. And The Sun reported they believe the park could contain Harry Potter attractions. So far absolutely none that this has been confirmed, (but the concept art has offered some clues).

For now, see our last story with a breakdown of all of the requirements the company agreed to before getting approval to build, including limitations on fireworks and noise, height limits, and more.

Universal United Kingdom Resort is still expected to be ready for a 2031 grand opening. Stay tuned for continuing coverage on this massive project in the coming years, as we have been on top of this story since the very beginning.

Subscribe to the news feed or enter your email address below to never miss an update. Official Art: Universal Destinations & Experiences | Official Documents: gov.uk | Graphics and Overlays: Alicia Stella | Other Images as Captioned

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