Universal Announces Plans for a Theme Park and Resort in the UK

by · April 13, 2025

We learned at the end of 2023 that Universal had acquired land in Bedford, England, near London, with the aim of potentially developing a theme park and resort. Now, the plan is coming to fruition, with Universal Destinations & Experiences officially announcing its intention to build the first Universal-branded resort in Europe.

The park will include “several themed lands featuring Universal’s distinct brand of immersive storytelling, thrilling rides, innovative attractions and exciting entertainment,” as well as “a 500-room hotel and a retail, dining and entertainment complex.” Construction is expected to start in 2026, with a planned opening date in 2031.

Should we expect a Wizarding World of Harry Potter to be part of the project? One would think so, given that the UK is the home of Harry Potter. But unfortunately, reports suggest otherwise.

According to the BBC, sources say the lands in the park will feature James Bond, Paddington, and The Lord of the Rings – but no Harry Potter. The concept art released with Universal’s announcement seems to corroborate this, with no visual indication of a Wizarding World park.

 

Concept art for Universal theme park in the UK

 

While this may be disappointing to European Harry Potter fans, we can see why the franchise might avoid the new park. The unique draw for Potter fans traveling to the UK is not only that the story takes place there but that the film series was shot there, particularly at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, which is already a huge attraction. The lure of a theme park might overshadow that of the Studio Tour, and many families would likely be unwilling to shell out for both, leading to a drop in the Studio Tour’s profitability.

Furthermore, if Universal wants to attract international travelers to all its various theme parks, it makes sense to offer different themed lands in different locations. Currently, there are already four Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park locations worldwide: Orlando, Hollywood, Osaka, and Beijing. In fact, the only current Universal theme park location that doesn’t have a Wizarding World is Singapore.

We’ll let you know if anything changes, but for now, it looks like there’s no Wizarding World theme park coming to the UK.

Catherine Lai

I have been a fan of Harry since 2000, a fan of MuggleNet since 2005, and a MuggleNet team member since 2013. I believe in the power of stories to bring people together, and nothing does that quite like Harry Potter. I live in Toronto, Canada.