For thrill-seekers, the roar of a rollercoaster is the soundtrack to a perfect day out. While record-breakers like Saudi Arabia's Falcon's Flight draw global crowds, a very different kind of park in Spain has just claimed a prestigious European crown.
Award-Winning Immersion Without the Rides
Puy du Fou España, located in Toledo, has been named Europe's Leading Theme Park 2025 at the World Travel Awards. This remarkable venue, which opened its gates in 2021, is an offshoot of the wildly successful French original. Situated roughly an hour's drive south of Madrid, it remains a hidden gem for many British tourists.
Forget loop-the-loops and dizzying drops. This park offers a journey through time instead. Visitors won't find classic pendulum rides or dodgems, but they will experience large-scale, immersive historical shows. The experience is closer to a living museum, where guests can wander through meticulously recreated medieval villages, watch artisans at work, and sample traditional cuisine.
From French Success to Spanish Triumph
The Puy du Fou concept has proven immensely popular. The French park, founded in 1977, is now the country's second-most visited theme park after Disneyland Paris. It attracted a record 2.8 million visitors last year, generating an annual turnover of €3 billion (£2.5 billion).
The Spanish version captures this same magic. One moment, guests might watch a gladiatorial duel in a replica Roman amphitheatre; the next, they could be transported to the trenches of the First World War. This unique formula previously earned the original Puy du Fou the title of world's top theme park in the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for 2022.
Ticket prices for Puy du Fou España start from around €30 (£26) for an adult one-day ticket booked in advance, with child tickets (ages 3-13) from approximately €24. Prices are higher on the day, typically around €38-€39.
Crossing the Channel: A British Chapter Begins
The story is now set to continue in the UK. In a significant expansion, the company behind Puy du Fou announced plans in September to build a massive new park near Bicester in Oxfordshire. The firm's boss exclusively told the Daily Mail that plans for the UK version have been developed in secret for the past two years.
An outline planning application was submitted to Cherwell District Council on 1 September. The ambitious project aims to open in stages from 2029. The UK park will follow the same ride-free, history-focused ethos, allowing visitors to witness centuries of British history, from Viking invasions to knightly tournaments, brought dramatically to life.
The proposed site will feature four fully recreated period villages, each representing a different era. Thirteen live shows will be staged daily, ranging from theatrical performances to musketeer battles. The development also includes plans for three historically themed hotels and a large conference centre.
This news comes alongside another major development for UK theme park fans, with planning permission officially granted for the country's first Universal Studios resort. That project, set to be built in Kempston Hardwick near Bedford, is expected to be ready by 2031.
