The ‘futuristic’ theme park just two hours from the UK with award-winning rollercoasters and new waterpark

THEME park fans who want to step into the future can head to an unusual attraction just a few hours from the uK.

Futuroscope, which calls itself the "future-themed amusement park" is just outside of Poitiers in France.

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Having opened in 1987 - five years before Disneyland Paris - the park has a number of award-winning rides.

This includes Destination Mars, a rollercoaster where passengers 'travel to the planet' and was named the best new rollercoaster in 2020.

VR ride The Extraordinary Journey was named the top European attraction" in 2017 while Tornado Chasers, the world's first Dynamic Motion Theater, was given an Outstanding Achievement in 2022.

Other bizarre rides include Dances with Robots where guests wear giant robot arms on a huge dance floor, as well as 4D cinemas and live shows.

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But new this year will be the park's first waterpark, as part of the resort's huge investment plan set to increase the park's 650,000 annual visitors to 2.5million.

In 2022, the park's first hotel Station Cosmos opened, which lets guests sleep in a space station".

Following this, last summer the new Hotel Ecolodgee opened, with 120 wooden lodges overlooking the woodland and river, as well as a new indoor show set to open in February 2024, reports.

In April 2024, Futuropolis, a mini town which kids run while acting out adult jobs, will be expanded.

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And launching in summer 2024 is Aquascope, an 80,000sqft indoor water park with eight slides, wave pool and "immersive water projects".

There will also be an outdoor swimming pool and beach.

Futuroscope’s CEO Rodolphe Bouin said back in 2023 the waterpark would be "unlike anything that's been done before in France or Europe".

Until it opens, there are other water rides to take advantage of including Rescue Academy, where passengers drive rescue boats, Splash Adventure which has water cannons and Fun Boats with miniature boats to steer.

Also onsite is the Aerobar, where you can buy drinks 115ft in the air, and 11 eating establishments including the Spaceloop restaurant, where dishes are served by mini rollercoaster.

People have raved about the park on TripAdvisor, with one guest saying it was the "best theme park in the world".

They added: "I love this theme park because you can visit most of its attractions without long queues."

Another mum said: "We loved it...and we do NOT normally like theme parks."

To get to Futuroscope, flights with Ryanair from London Stansted to Poitiers take just 1hr30, and start from £14.99.

The theme park is then just 20 minutes drive from the city.

Sun Travel visited the park earlier this year - here's what you can expect.

Also in France is a "botanical theme park" which people say is even better than Disneyland.

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And in Bordeaux there is a "wine theme park" - with free booze.

Other popular theme parks in France include Parc Asterix, with a new ride this year, and Puy du Fou - which has no rides.

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