A THEME park in France, often dubbed as a ‘Disney-alternative’ is set to undergo a huge makeover.
At a cost of £218million, it will get new thrilling attractions, restaurants, and a four-star hotel, and it’s all in the works to open by 2030.
Parc Astérix is the second largest theme park in France and yet it’s barely visited by Brits.
Instead, visitors from the UK tend to head to Disneyland Paris, but there Parc Astérix is worth the visit, and is about to get bigger.
The theme park is based on a comic book series that has over 50 attractions across six themed worlds like the Roman Empire, Greece, and the Vikings.
And there’s a new land being added to the portfolio which will make Brits feel like they’re right at home.
In 2028, Parc Astérix is opening a new British-themed land called Londinium.
It will feature a major immersive roller coaster, an interactive family dark ride, a vertical playground, a pub and shops.
Some concept art has even revealed it to have a Helter Skelter and a queue themed to the UK’s own Camden Market.
Another themed area which will change is the Egypt area, its Oxygénarium attraction, which will become The Descent of the Nile.
The park will open its fourth hotel called The Odyssée Hotel, a new 300-room hotel that is set to open in 2027.
The addition will mean that the total number of hotels at Parc Astérix will reach 750.
The park’s Les Chaises Volantes attraction will become the Flight of Ibis, and the Le Cirque Restaurant will be redesigned as Le Comptoir d’Epidemaïs.
In 2027, Parc Astérix will open a renovated Greek zone with a two new family attractions, a playground and a restaurant.
The park also revealed that the new development will create 20 per cent more capacity, and two thirds of it will be indoors so it won’t have to rely on good weather.
The theme park is 21 miles north of Paris, and in fact is just an hour’s drive away from Disneyland Paris.
Parc Astérix is significantly smaller than Disneyland Paris. Disneyland Paris is approximately 140 acres, while Parc Astérix is about 83 acres.
In terms of numbers, Parc Astérix welcomed a record 2.9million visitors in 2024, whereas Disneyland Paris averages 12million – so the French theme park will be much quieter.
It’s award-winning too, earlier this year, it’s attraction Cétautomatix won the ‘Top European New Attraction’ prize at the Parksmania Awards 2025.
Cétautomatix is Europe’s first spinning family roller coaster.
Tickets to Parc Astérix cost €49 (£42.89) per person.
Plus, here’s more on the massive European theme park less than three hours from the UK named the best in the world – beating Disney and Universal.
And here are the top six UK theme parks you can easily reach by train – and how to find the cheapest family fares.
One Sun Writer visited the theme park with her family, and here’s what she thought…
When EuroDisney — now Disneyland — arrived to take on France’s beloved Asterix theme park back in 1992, they had a huge battle on their hands. And, in all honesty, I couldn’t see how the French would win.
But unlike in many other countries, Parc Asterix might just have pipped Mickey Mouse to the post in France.
Disney certainly has the monopoly on world-renowned characters and a blow-out budget to create that real wow factor, all of which seems impossible to compete with — yet somehow Parc Asterix does.
he tickets are cheaper, the food is better, the shows are spectacular and the rides are a total revelation.
Add in a sprawling protected countryside backdrop just 30km outside Paris, with three separate hotels within the grounds at very reasonable prices, and you’ve got yourself a winner.
It’s pure escapism, based all around the cherished world of Asterix — the man who, in famous French comics, protected France from the Romans.
And what better way to embrace your inner Gaul than by screaming your head off on a super-fast ride?
At the last count, there were nine hardcore rides, as well as all the more child-friendly ones.
And with a guarantee that they will launch something new pretty much every year, you can return in the knowledge you will never be bored.
Our favourite rollercoaster here, reaching speeds of 110km per hour, is the fastest in France and apparently holds the record for the most “air time” — the amount of time your bum leaves the seat (a whopping 23 times apparently!).