Universal Studios is finally coming to the UK: All the juicy details and attractions to expect

This week, the government announced plans to bring Universal Studios to the UK in what will be Europe’s first theme park centered around huge franchises such as Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Wicked, and Despicable Me.

Back in 1964, Universal Studios opened its Hollywood, Los Angeles, location in what soon became a worldwide sensation. People have flocked to it for decades, and following its continued success, Universal opened locations in Orlando, Singapore, Osaka, Beijing, and Japan. For years, we’ve heard rumblings of a UK location, and now it looks like it’s FINALLY happening.

Announced this week, the park is expected to bring a “distinct style of immersive and thrilling rides” alongside dining and entertainment complexes, hotels, and Universal’s usual brand of themed amenities.

“This is a special and historic milestone moment for our company as we continue to accelerate the growth trajectory of our theme parks business and delight audiences around the world,” said Mike Cavanagh, President of Comcast Corporation. “The unparalleled storytelling and technological innovation that the incredible team at Universal Destinations & Experiences brings to life is a perfect complement to the British creative arts and tourism industries.”

Planning approval is yet to be given by the UK government, but considering how keen Keir Starmer is, an official announcement is expected in the near future.

Um, where is it?

In 2023, Comcast NBCUniversal purchased a 476-acre parcel of land in Bedford – a sweet 45 minutes from London and easily accessible through public transport.

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“Bringing the Universal brand to the United Kingdom is another exciting step forward in generating future growth,” said Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences. “Expanding into Europe presents us with a significant opportunity to reach new fans and share the incredible experiences our team creates.”

When is the Universal Studios theme park opening in the UK?

Planning a trip to Universal Studios is no easy feat – nor particularly forgiving on your wallet – but luckily, you’ve got a few years to save and plan your route of attack. Once approved by the Labour government, building is expected to start in 2026, last five years, and provide 28k jobs to Brits.

That means the Universal Studios UK theme park should be opening around 2031.

What attractions can you expect at the UK’s the Universal Studios theme park?

It should go without saying, but Universal produce some of the biggest movies ever, from Harry Potter to Jurassic Park. Other flicks they produce, which could be included in the park in one form or another, include M3GAN, Fast & Furious, Kung Fu Panda, Wicked, Jaws, The Super Mario Bros, and King Kong. They also made Fifty Shades of Grey, but I can’t see that getting an immersive experience.

Though we are still way off getting a confirmed attractions list, by looking at the already established parks we can get a pretty good idea of potential attractions at Universal Studios UK.

The most popular rides at Orlando include Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, The Hogwarts Express, The Simpsons Ride, and MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack, while the top rides at the Japan location include Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge, The Flying Dinosaur, Hollywood Dream, Mine Cart Madness, and JAWS.

As the first European location, it would make sense for the park to capitalise off some of its more UK-centric products, such as Harry Potter, so you can probably expect never-before-seen additions just for us Brits. You’ve also got to consider some of Universal’s more recent projects, and the ones yet to come, such as Wicked, Shrek, Superman, and Lilo & Stitch. If I don’t get to ride a broom like Elphaba, then I’m not going.

Finally, the map also hints at a few interesting details, namely a giant volcano attraction, a huge green rollercoaster that goes over the water, a massive pavilion in the center of the park, and another rollercoaster that goes over the shops.

What about amenities?

We obviously don’t know a lot of information, but Universal theme parks are known for their themed restaurants, swanky hotels, and shopping complexes. Already, we know there will be a 500-room hotel and a retail, dining and entertainment complex.

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Featured image credit: Universal Studios