Puy du Fou, the French operator known for large-scale historical live shows, has submitted plans for a £600 million theme park near Bicester in Oxfordshire that would bring gladiator tournaments, chariot races, medieval sword fights and Viking invasions to the UK.
The company filed an outline planning application with Cherwell District Council on 1 September for a park it says will focus on immersive, history-themed attractions rather than traditional high-thrill rollercoasters. The proposal envisages four fully recreated period villages and up to 13 live shows daily, staged across a site that Puy du Fou hopes to open in phases beginning in 2029.
According to the application, visitors would move through villages designed to represent distinct eras of British history, encountering live theatrical performances that use actors, animals and large-scale special effects. The proposal also includes plans for three themed hotels and a programme of daily shows ranging from theatrical spectacles to musketeer battles.
Puy du Fou operates major parks in France and Spain and draws millions of visitors with staged historical reconstructions, period villages and pyrotechnic and mechanical effects. The company has promoted its approach as an alternative to conventional amusement parks, focusing on storytelling and immersive reenactment rather than ride-based thrills.
The submitted documents do not yet provide a detailed timetable for construction or opening of all elements of the park; the firm has indicated an ambition to open in stages from 2029. Outline planning applications typically precede more detailed reserve matters submissions, and the proposal will be subject to consultation and scrutiny by Cherwell District Council and statutory consultees before any permission is granted.
Local planning processes for large visitor attractions often assess traffic and transport impacts, noise, landscape and heritage considerations as well as economic benefits such as job creation and visitor spending. Puy du Fou’s parks in mainland Europe have been cited by the company as significant tourist draws for their regions.
If approved and completed, the Oxfordshire development would be the company’s first park in the UK and part of a broader expansion beyond its home market. The application marks the latest high-profile proposal for cultural and heritage-led leisure investment in Britain, reflecting continued industry interest in experiential attractions that prioritise live performance and historical immersion over mechanical rides.