Welcome to the consultation website for a new Puy du Fou in the UK
Puy du Fou is a multiple award-winning world leader in creating spectacular historical shows and immersive experiences based upon the history and culture of a country and its people. Driven by our passion to retell the stories and legends of the past, we are excited by the opportunity to bring our unique experience to the UK – near Bicester in Cherwell.
This website provides an introduction to Puy du Fou and our early vision for this new destination. Following a public consultation during summer 2024, we are now reviewing the feedback we received and preparing updated proposals for a further round of public consultation in early 2025.
Who we are
We are storytellers, creating live shows depicting historical events inspired and rooted in local heritage, local culture and local heroes.
We are a creative and artistic powerhouse, winning 22 awards around the world in the last 5 years alone and voted the No 1 leisure attractions on Tripadvisor in both France and Spain.
We are completely independent. We are a not-for-profit organisation, with all profits reinvested back into artistic creation. This means that we can deliver a long-term vision for our destinations and shows.
At Puy du Fou, authenticity and nature are everything. Our parks are not fake stage sets built with plastic; there are no neon flashing lights and rollercoasters. Everything we do must be real, built using the crafts and materials of the time period they represent, within wooded areas and beautiful gardens, which become the setting for world-class shows and immersive cultural and historical experiences – bringing history to life.
We develop and train local ‘talents’ and invest in future generations. At each of our destinations we train local people in all the skills and trades that it takes to deliver the unique Puy du Fou experience. We also deliver educational programmes, working with local schools and educational institutions to to help students to better understand their history.
Our history
First established in Vendée, in the Loire region of western France in 1978, as a spectacular evening show during each summer season, Puy du Fou has grown exponentially over the years.
Over the years we have established and expanded our first park delivering an innovative destination focussed exclusively on the history of France, including building authentic historic villages to further showcase our growing number of artistic shows and provide immersive historical experiences for our guests in the heart of a natural landscape.
In 1998 we launched our Junior Academy to train Puy du Fou’s ‘talent’. Today it now teaches 25 artistic and theatre technology disciplines and trains 600 young people each year.
By 2007, with the park expanding and new shows being added, we launched our first themed hotel onsite, with more following in later years. In 2020, we opened our one of a kind convention centre onsite.
Then in 2021, we opened our second destination in Toledo, near Madrid, dedicated to the history of Spain. Three years later, it now employs 1,100 people locally and more than 2,000 indirect jobs have been created in the region.
Our original site is now one of the most famous family destinations in France, employing 3,000 people and delivering more than £400 million of positive impact on the local and regional economy.
Our track record has proven that for every £1 spent within one of our attractions, we generate an additional £3.20 spend in the local area.