Announced on 19 December 2023, it is the first Universal Studios Resort in the United Kingdom, and Universal's third attempt at a European resort,[a] and is to be located approximately 45 minutes north of London.[2] The planned site is to be located on a plot of land mostly within the A421 road, B530 road, and Broadmead road, with Manor road cutting through it. The planned site is split into four "zones": the "Core Zone" is where the theme park and hotel(s) are to be located, the adjacent "Lake Zone" located north of the "Core Zone" is intended for mixed-use purposes (likely a Universal CityWalk), and two transportation hubs dubbed the "East Gateway Zone" and the "West Gateway Zone".[5] Universal has yet to proceed with the project, however construction could potentially start as early as January 2025, with an opening expected around 2030.[6][1]
Notes
^Their first attempt was a cancelled Universal Studios Europe park in Sénart, France, which was cancelled in the 1990s due to the then failure of Euro Disneyland.[3] Their second attempt was their 1998 purchase of PortAventura Park and the subsequent construction of the surrounding Universal Mediterranean Resort in Salou, Spain. Universal ended up selling the resort and theme park in 2004.[4]
