Popular French historical theme park to submit plans for £300m destination near Oxford
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The attraction focusing on different eras of UK history could open on 370 acres near Bicester. A famed French theme park is looking to bring Roman gladiator shows and World War One reconstruction to the UK if proposals for an almost 400-acre attraction are approved.
![[Four period villages, 20 immersive shows, themed restaurants and over 2,000 animals entertain at the original French park]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/10/GettyImages-1231962464.jpg)
The team behind Puy du Fou – a historical theme park in Les Epesses in the Pays de la Loire region – plans to bring the “journey through time”, including Roman chariot races and jousting, to Cherwell in Oxford. Puy du Fou, France’s second most popular park after Disneyland Paris since 1978, welcomes over 2.5 million visitors yearly.
![[The UK project could employ up to 700 people]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/01/20/10/iStock-2153010203.jpg)
Lauded as one of the world’s best “showparks”, it contains four period villages, 20 immersive shows, themed restaurants and over 2,000 animals from the Roman Era to the 20th century at the original site. Following a surge in popularity since the pandemic, Puy du Fou opened a second park in Toledo, Spain, in 2021.
Now the famed attraction could be opening near Oxford with a theme park worth at least £300 million on 370 acres of land just off the M40 near Bicester. He revealed plans for up to 20 historical live shows and four villages potentially inspired by the Romans and WW1 after a consultation with British historians.
“We are coming from a humble perspective, and we want this park to be a park that works for local people. At our French and Spanish parks 90 per cent of people are coming from inside the country,” said Mr Strebelle. According to Mr Strebelle, the project could employ up to 700 people with Puy du Fou in discussions with local theatre groups, including the Mill Arts Centre in Banbury, to discuss potential partnerships.
