New Oxfordshire theme park given backing from tourism chief

Experience Oxfordshire’s boss said Puy du Fou will “drive job creation, stimulate economic growth” and increase visitor spend” to Cherwell and the county.

Some 25 million visitors come to Oxfordshire annually, generating roughly £2.4bn in economic impact and supporting 40,000 jobs.

In the Cherwell district, where Puy du Fou is planned for close to Bicester, tourism spending is fast approaching £500 million.

Puy du Fou in France (Image: Puy du Fou)

“This sector is therefore crucial to ongoing economic development, prosperity and employment,” said Experience Oxfordshire chief executive Hayley Beer-Gamage.

“Puy du Fou will further strengthen this position across both the district and the wider county.”

Ms Beer-Gamage said Puy du Fou should also fill in a gap in the market for Oxfordshire, which so far it has been lacking on.

READ MORE: Oxford police given extra powers after multiple arrests made

The proposed development includes conference facilities for up to 500 delegates which would be a “significant opportunity” for Oxfordshire.

She said capacity for such a thing is “currently lacking” within the county and so having one would enable Oxfordshire to “attract more national and international business events, generating additional spend for accommodation and hospitality providers, and wider visitor economy businesses”.

Hayley Beer-Gammage of Experience Oxfordshire

Experience Oxfordshire’s boss added: “Oxfordshire is already home to globally recognised attractions such as Blenheim Palace, the University of Oxford, and Bicester Village.

“The addition of Puy du Fou would further strengthen the county’s position on the international tourism map, offering a compelling and diverse range of experiences.

“Furthermore, Puy du Fou’s commitment to job creation and local infrastructure investment reinforces the long-term value of this proposal.

“With an estimated £600 million investment and the creation of up to 8,000 jobs, this development represents a unique and significant opportunity.

“Experience Oxfordshire fully supports this application and strongly encourages the Council to approve it as a high-quality and transformative asset for the Cherwell area.”

It comes as VisitBritain recently said Puy du Fou’s operator “offers a truly distinctive visitor experience through its historic theme park concept” and said it “can see the potential for this project to generate significant interest and excitement among domestic and international visitors alike.”

The park would be open between April and October and would have four period villages and 13 live shows, eventually attracting an estimated 1.47 million visitors a year.

There will also be three hotels, each themed to different periods in British history, and a ‘state-of-the-art’ conference centre, which will be open on demand all year round.

The decision now lies with Cherwell council, and if approved, the new park will open in phases beginning in 2029.