Universal Studios is officially coming to our doorstep, Luton!

The 476-acre site will spring up from a former brickworks just south of Bedford, bringing Hollywood magic practically to our doorstep. We’re talking thrilling rides, mind-blowing attractions based on blockbuster films, a swanky 500-room hotel, and shops and restaurants galore.

A £50 billion economic boom!

Universal thinks their mega-attraction will pump a whopping £50 billion into the British economy by 2055. And with 8.5 million thrill-seekers expected to flood through the gates in year one alone, Luton is perfectly positioned to catch the wave of what’s set to be the largest visitor attraction in the UK. 

We know that Luton is already an excellent place to do business, but with millions more visitors set to travel via Luton, and our local hotels, pubs, shops, and taxi firms will be rubbing their hands. 

Here’s hoping this major development will encourage more businesses to set up shop in Luton. With all those visitors heading to and from the park, there’s real potential for new cafés, restaurants, hotels and shops to thrive here!

Local jobs for local people 

Here’s where it gets really exciting for local families. We’re looking at serious new job opportunities– 28,000 expected in total! That’s nearly 20,000 during the building work (calling all Luton construction workers!) and another 8,000 permanent positions once the park opens.

The best bit? Universal reckon that 80% of these jobs will be for locals from Luton, Bedford, and surrounding areas. They’ve also promised to team up with local colleges (looking at you, Barnfield and Luton Sixth Form!) offering apprenticeships, training and educational opportunities. So if you’re wondering what to do after GCSEs or A-levels, staying local could mean landing a job with one of the world’s biggest entertainment companies.

Property prices set to soar?

Let’s talk bricks and mortar – property experts are already buzzing about what this means for house prices in our area. With thousands of more high-quality jobs coming and international visitors looking for places to stay, Luton homeowners could see their properties become even more valuable in the coming years.

Luton airport + Universal = tourism superpower

And if Luton isn’t well connected enough, Universal’s arrival could mean the government investing in even better transport links for us and the surrounding areas. This announcement has come hot on the heels of the Luton Airport expansion approval, creating a perfect tourism partnership.

International visitors can fly directly into Luton and hop straight to the theme park. Our airport won’t just be “London’s third airport” anymore – it’ll be “the gateway to Universal Studios Europe”! Expect more flights, more routes, and Luton becoming the transport hub of choice for millions of international visitors each year.

Let’s hope it also encourages National Rail to pull their finger out and get the Luton Central station redeveloped once and for all! In fact, don’t forget to sign the petition to help get it done. 

Something to be proud of!

Let’s face it, Bedfordshire deserves this moment in the spotlight, and as Lutonians, we get to share the excitement. Having one of only six Universal Studios in the entire world in our county gives us something truly special – something to celebrate about. 

“Where are you from?” “Luton in Bedfordshire, home to Universal Studios Europe!” has a proper ring to it, doesn’t it? And just imagine – popping to Universal for a day out without having to pay for flights to Florida. Perfect!

We’ll keep you posted as we learn more, but one thing’s for sure – 2031 can’t come quickly enough!