One of France's most celebrated theme parks, Puy du Fou, is preparing to open a spectacular new theme park in the UK for the very first time. Often hailed as the "best theme park in the world" after winning the prestigious Thea Classic Award a few years ago, Puy du Fou is known for its immersive, large-scale live shows that bring history to life. The location they have chosen is near Junction 10 of the M40 in Oxfordshire, about 1.9 miles north of Bicester.

The theme park company submitted an outline £600 million planning application in August to Cherwell District Council following a public consultation, which took over a year and included six in-person events and over 250 individual meetings. Puy du Fou aims to start construction in 2026 and open its doors to the public by 2029.

It will feature three themed hotels, each inspired by a different era of British history, as well as landscaped gardens, wooded parkland, restaurants, and a conference centre.

Once fully completed, the theme is also expected to create around 2,000 jobs.

The project is expected to support an additional 6,000 jobs across hotels, restaurants, suppliers, and other local businesses once opened, delivering an estimated £500 million annual boost to the local and regional economy.

Olivier Strebelle, CEO of Puy du Fou, said: "We have only submitted these plans after an extensive consultation, which took over a year and included six in-person events and over 250 individual meetings, all of which have helped to shape our final proposals.

"We did not rush our consultation because we wanted to get our proposals right. We have wanted to come to the UK for many years.

"This will be a £600 million investment in the local economy over the next ten years and will create thousands of jobs, but it will also have the environment and sustainability at its heart."

The company estimates that the attraction will eventually welcome around 1.47 million visitors annually. The plan also includes adding more than 3.1 miles of new hedgerows, 40 acres of wildflower meadows, and 20,000 new trees.

The first park located in western France is visited by over two million people every year , making it one of the top three most visited in the country and offers many award-winning performances that vividly depict key moments in French history from the Vendée Wars and ancient Rome to the Middle Ages and the legendary story of Joan of Arc.

Since its first opening in Les Epesses, France, in 1978, the Association du Puy du Fou has also set up another site near Toledo in Spain in 2021 where it transports visitors through 1,500 years of Spanish history.

Now, the company is setting its sights on the UK, with plans to "celebrate the UK's own rich and colourful heritage" through similarly grand theatrical experiences.