The award-winning theme park with no rides that’s set to open a new £300m attraction in the UK
NEW plans have been revealed for a massive £300million theme park in the UK where historical shows and immersive experiences are set to be staged.
Last year, theme park fans went wild with excitement when Puy du Fou expressed interest in building a 400-acre site in England.
At the time, estate agent Savills confirmed that the park was looking for a 300-400 acre site that would be within a 40-mile radius of Oxford.
Now, theme park bosses are proposing for the new attraction to be built in Cherwell, with an initiative being put forward to the District Council.
Boss of Puy du Fou, Olivier Strebelle, told the Banbury Guardian: “With Britain’s rich history, and with so many British people already visiting us in France and Spain, we have been looking for a site in the country for many years, and we have now identified the perfect location in Oxfordshire.
“A new Puy du Fou destination in Oxfordshire would represent a £300 million investment, and could employ 700 people, plus create as many as 2,000 new jobs at hotels, suppliers and other local businesses, from its first year of opening.
“After 10 years, that investment is expected to be doubled, and the number of jobs multiplied by three.”
The Puy du Fou CEO expressed that plans were still in the early stages with proposals still being prepared.
It is not yet known what the UK theme park could include – although it’s likely to mimic its sister sites in France and Spain.
A description on the Puy du Fou website reads: “A British Puy du Fou will be a place where visitors can walk in a beautiful wooded park with stunning landscaped gardens, where they can immerse themselves in British history with carefully curated period villages; and where they can experience a series of world-class live shows based on the country’s history, which will amaze the whole family.”
It is hoped that the new theme park will “blend seamlessly into the landscape” with nearby homes being screened from noise and road traffic carefully managed.
Two public consultations will be held later this month, with one taking place in Bicester on July 18, 2024, and another in Oxford on July 19, 2024, according to the Oxford Mail.
Puy du Fou, near Les Epesses in western France, first opened in 1978 and is the second most popular theme park in Europe after Disneyland Paris.
The French theme park features historical re-enactments like Viking ship battles and kings fighting over lands, which are all set in the Middle Ages.
Its second park opened in Spain on the outskirts of Toledo City, Spain, in 2019.
This theme park recreates 1,500 years of Spanish history through huge performances.
Puy du Fou in France has received 4.5/5 stars on TripAdvisor from over 17,000 reviews.
It was voted the Best Theme Park in Europe as well as fifth Best Theme Park in the World by TripAdvisor back in 2019.
One reviewer wrote: “The whole park is just amazing, with the highlight being the night shows.
“Everything is well done, with creative attractions and caring, attentive service – and an extremely good value for money compared to “traditional” theme parks that usually cost double.”
Another added: “An amazing experience! The spectacular shows illustrate the history of France – both the settings and actors are incredible.”
And this isn’t the only theme park that could potentially open in the UK if plans are approved.
UNIVERSAL’S UK THEME PARK
Back in December, Universal confirmed to Sun Online Travel that they had acquired land in Bedford and were exploring the possibility of building a park in the home county.
Earlier this year, further plans were also revealed for the huge new theme park, including potential hotels, an entertainment zone and a train station.
Even though the theme park giants are still very early in the planning stages of the project, Universal Studios has published a new proposal online.
The new proposal includes several maps of what the theme park could possibly look like, if plans are given a green light that is.
According to the 16-page document, the new site could include features like a hotel, a retail, dining and entertainment zone as well as a Lake Zone, a restoration zone and a landscaped area.
The landscaped will aim to reduce the “visual impact” of the resort on the surrounding area.
Despite the 16-page proposal, Universal hasn’t committed to opening a theme park in the UK.
Use these tips on your next theme park trip
Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out.
- Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens.
- Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer – this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest.
- Download the park’s app to track which rides have the shortest queues.
- Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out “birthday badges” that can get you freebies.
- If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return.
Here’s a little-known theme park in the UK that as named one of the best in the country.
Meanwhile, these five new rides and rollercoasters are opening in the UK this year.
