Around 370 acres of land near Oxford looks set to become a whopping big history-themed fun park that could feature WW1 trenches, Gladiator fights, sword fights and chariot racing
Britain could be set to welcome a huge, brand-spanking-new theme park that replaces tea cup rides and rollercoasters chariot racing and medieval sword fights.
Plans for a massive £600million history-inspired theme park in Oxfordshire is set to be given the green light. Puy du Fou, a history-inspired theme park in Pays de la Loire, western France, has plans for a British outpost in Cherwell, just shy of 20 miles north of Oxford.
The immersive experience could open up in the countryside by 2028, subject to panning approval and conditions, bringing with it a host of historic activities for the family.
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Puy du Fou opened in 1977 and has become France’s second-most visited theme park, behind Disneyland Paris.
Visitors flock to the park to see a Roman duel in a replica amphitheatre, chariot racing and sword fights before landing in First World War trenches.
It was ranked the world’s top theme park in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards in 2022. It welcomed a staggering 2.8million visitors last year and has an annual turnover of €3 billion (£2.5 billion), reports MailOnline.
It launched a successful second site in Toledo, Spain, and now the Puy du Fou group, led by the de Villiers, a Catholic aristocratic family made up of right-wing politicians and businesspeople have their sights on setting up a third site, right near the designer shopping outlet, Bicester Village.
Puy du Fou’s chief executive Olivier Strebelle said the British outpost would like Kew Gardens with “very beautiful trees, water, plants”.
He told The Times: “We want our guests to be disconnected from the 21st century. We have our guests travel through time… the best segue between them is nature because it’s always been there.”
He added that Puy du Lou would work with a group of British historians to decide what eras to look at.
Strebelle continued: “The British people love their history and love live shows as well.” However he stressed that the parks are not “educational”.
The company bought up 370 acres of land north of Bicester and will submit a formal planning application this summer. It has also held public consultations and spoken to local theatre groups. Strebelle says Puy du Fou has “very broad support” from locals and could employ up to 700 people at the park when it opens.