If you like your designer brands then you will love a half day or more at Bicester Village.
Imagine all your big brand designer shops in one convenient place, with excellent transport links (not too far from Heathrow) and hotel options. This was the idea for the creation of Bicester Village. Bucester is pronounced 'bister'.
You will encounter plenty of people with suitcases here, but why? Well it's also an outlet so this means you can save on genuine brand clothing at a discount vs boutique stores such as in London's Covent Garden or Knighsbridge, Bondstreet. If you are travelling around the UK and flying out of London you could stock up on premium brand clothing and also get tax (VAT) back. If you are full up on luggage then you can use shipping services and still get the VAT back and pay shipping. So that's why it's a popular place and people also see adverts for Bicester Village in places like Sanghai Airport! Instafamous.
Myself I had never visited so with my fabulous partner we paid a visit this weekend. We had the luxury of having friends who live nearby and so this trip we finally took up the offer of a lift into the village! Thank's to Lou and Richard for another relaxing weekend away, more on that later.
Bicester Village
Getting there
The village is served by train from Oxford or London Marleybone stations to the same named 'Bicester Village' station. Bicester has it's own train station so don't get confused and book the wrong one.
You can drive to it and park, it's located in Oxfordshire and buses also run from there to the village as another option. Towns of Milton Keynes and Beford are going to be linked by a new rail line in the future.
The village is laid out quite simply in a straight line and it features architecture like wooded huts such as an alpine style. If I had one critique it is that it's so popular that it is always nearly busy and you may have to queue up to get into stores.
At some point I should replace my Aston Martin Hackett Jacket I love so much, and didn't find anything like it in hackett. But I saw other styles of lighter jackets.
I also loved these two trainer loafer style shoes from Jimmy Choo. But $$$$ too much. I'd have to keep them in a glass case and not wear them as they would soon look rough.
All international brands are here such as UGG.
There is some Inca influence in some of the UGG styles currently.
Of course you have places to eat and drink, with stands for snacks. Luckily we were 'local' and were going into Oxford after to do that.
Into Oxford
We took the bus in and the rest of the day and evening was soent at the following places:
Summertown a suburb in Oxford pub called Dewdrop Inn
Kibou Japanse restaurant Oxford
We dined in lovely spot with fragrant delicious sushi and katsu curry with some of the best cauliflower side dishes I have ever tasted, They made it seem like meat.
Seriously good fish
Excellent decor and vybe
The bar just close by can't rmember which now dissapointed in service by one member saved by the other, the cocktails were nice. I had a mojito and the ladies an espresso martini. Richard has Guiness a s a rule and stuck with one here. This ended a thoroughly interesting day by all accounts. Have good company and you really don't need much entertainment!