Puy du Fou, the French operator known for large-scale historical spectacles, has submitted an outline planning application for a proposed £600 million immersive theme park near Bicester in Oxfordshire, the company and local planners confirmed.
The application, lodged with Cherwell District Council on Sept. 1, envisages a visitor destination built around live theatrical shows and recreated period villages. The proposed development would include four themed villages covering different eras of British history, up to 13 live shows per day, three themed hotels, a conference centre and extensive landscaping including around 40 acres of wildflower meadows, lakes and more than 20,000 new trees, the company said.
Puy du Fou said the UK site could create about 2,000 direct jobs and a further 6,000 roles in local hospitality and services, estimating a local economic boost of up to £500 million. The operator, which runs parks in France and Spain that attract millions of visitors annually, said it is already in advanced discussions with Oxfordshire planners and councillors and held a public consultation over the summer.
Olivier Strebelle, managing director of Puy du Fou, told media outlets that British shows are being developed and that likely subjects would include the Roman period, Vikings, the legend of King Arthur, medieval knights and the trenches of World War I. He said the company is working with UK history experts and intends the storylines to link local people and local history to broader national events, adding that the representation of history can cause tensions and that the company aims to avoid that.
The company said it hopes to open the UK park in stages starting from 2029, while Strebelle was reported as saying a timeline "between December 2027 and December 2028" could be realistic. He also stressed that any opening schedule remains dependent on obtaining planning approval and addressing matters such as traffic and noise raised during consultations.
Puy du Fou's existing sites are built around live spectacles and immersive sets rather than conventional roller coasters and thrill rides. Shows at the operator's flagship park near Nantes include large-scale battle re-enactments, pyrotechnics, water and light effects, mechanical sets and close-contact theatrical sequences. Media reports and promotional material show scenes staged to depict historical violence, and some productions in France carry warnings that they "may offend the sensibilities of young audiences." The company has described a requirement to place 20–30 minutes of emotional narrative into each historical show.
Planners and local residents are expected to scrutinise the proposals on a range of issues commonly associated with major visitor attractions, including transport impacts, noise, environmental effects and heritage considerations. Puy du Fou said it is developing mitigation measures and that the park design is intended to blend with the surrounding landscape.
On its UK website, the company states a commitment to sustainability and the preservation of nature and encourages the use of public transport. Strebelle also confirmed Puy du Fou teams are exploring other international opportunities, including a possible site in northern Italy and potential future projects in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Cherwell District Council will consider the outline application and public responses before deciding whether to grant consent for the principle of development. If the council grants outline permission, detailed planning applications would follow for individual elements such as the hotels, shows and associated infrastructure. The operator said it would welcome visits from councillors and planners to its existing parks to review the scale and operation of its live attractions.
The proposal marks one of the largest planned cultural and entertainment investments in the region in recent years and comes amid a growing interest among operators in immersive, narrative-led visitor experiences that combine live performance, sets and special effects with accommodation and conference facilities. Local authorities and stakeholders now face the task of balancing potential economic benefits with community and environmental impacts as the planning process proceeds.