The UK’s larger locales may be more famous as luxury shopping destinations, but a change of scenery away from the hustle and bustle of big city life is never a bad idea.
Bicester Village—opened in 1995 on the outskirts of the historical market town Bicester, Oxfordshire—is a designer retail outlet with over 150 luxury-goods shops, including British favorites Mulberry, Burberry, Vivienne Westwood, and Stella McCartney.
The shopping center covers ladieswear, menswear, kids clothing, beauty, homeware, and much more. Also, you are not stuck shopping indoors—the plant-filled outdoor areas with cobbled walkways are just as classy as the high-end boutiques.
Up to seven million visitors, on average, flock to Bicester Village every year to grab the latest fashions at competitive prices. After huge success, the company that owns Bicester Village—Value Retail—expanded The Bicester Collection shopping villages to 10 other countries, including Spain, Italy, Germany, and China.
Image Credit: Bicester Village.
Bicester Village: your A-to-Z shopping guide
How long should you spend at Bicester Village?
Since Bicester Village includes over 150 boutiques and more than 10 cafés across the 350,000-sq-ft site (it even boasts a children’s playground), we’d say it would take about 4 hours to visit the village and to check out an ample number of shops.
When is the best time to visit Bicester Village?
It’s best to arrive in the morning when it’s the least likely to be very busy. If you're on vacation and have the freedom to go whenever you like, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays are quieter times to shop and will make for a more relaxing shopping experience. Expect it to be busier during the Christmas holidays and sales.
When is Bicester Village open?
Bicester Village is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Sundays opening hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
How many shops are there in Bicester Village?
There are more than 150 outlets at Bicester Village to check out.
Looking for the best of British? Burberry, a luxury British fashion brand established in 1856, is a popular choice with visitors. In 1879, founder Thomas Burberry invented gabardine, the lightweight, weatherproof fabric that revolutionized rainwear. Many tourists look to purchase the brand’s signature trench coats at Bicester Village.
Another luxury-goods shop worth a visit is Jil Sander. The German brand features lightweight jackets, autumn-ready dresses, and colorful accessories, as well as skincare and make-up products, all of which are available at a discounted price year-round.
There is also Soho Home, the esteemed members’ club Soho House’s interiors brand, which reflects the club’s decor.
How do you get 10% off at Bicester Village?
Customers who stay at hotels local to the Bicester and North Oxfordshire area may be given a VIP invitation by the hotel concierge to exchange for a VIP card at the Bicester Visitor Center.
If you’ve already signed up for membership, you’ll receive communication announcing promotions and can follow the instructions on how to redeem savings. A VIP reward card entitles the holder to receive a 10% discount on products within participating boutiques and is available to shoppers when they become members of the Bicester Collection.
Members of motoring association The AA, and students, can also receive a 10% discount on their shopping.
How to get to Bicester Village from London
To get to Bicester Village station, visitors can take a direct train from Marylebone station in central London, which will get you to the outlet in as little as 53m on the fastest services. From Bicester Village station, it takes a mere one-minute walk to the shopping center.
You can also take the train from Paddington station in London and make a quick change at Oxford station for direct links to Bicester Village.
Read also: how to get from London or Oxford to Bicester Village by train
Header Image Credit: Bicester Village.