French theme park operator Puy du Fou has submitted an outline planning application to Cherwell District Council for a £600 million historical attraction near Bicester, Oxfordshire. The plans, announced on 1 September, include four period villages and 13 live shows, as well as three on-site hotels themed to different eras of British history and a conference centre.
If approved, the park would open in phases from 2029, welcoming guests from April to October each year. Puy du Fou, which runs history-themed parks in France and Spain, expects to create around 2,000 direct jobs on site, with a further 6,000 in hospitality services, and estimates a £500 million boost to the local economy.
The development also includes new lakes and gardens, with 40 acres of wildflower meadows and 20,000 new trees. The company aims for half of daytime visitors to arrive via public transport, with a free shuttle bus linking the park to nearby stations.
CEO Olivier Strebelle said the plans followed a year-long consultation involving six in-person events and over 250 meetings. “We have wanted to come to the UK for many years. Britain has such a rich, colourful and exciting history, and the site we have chosen near Bicester is the ideal location,” he said, adding that the investment puts “environment and sustainability at its heart.”
Puy du Fou, France’s second most popular park after Disneyland Paris, attracts over 2.5 million visitors annually. It predicts 550,000 visitors in the first year, rising to 1.47 million when fully developed.
