Bicester (pronounced Bistur) is a market town located in the north-east of the English county of Oxfordshire, some miles north of the university town of Oxford. It has become a popular destination on account of its being the location of Bicester Village, a large factory and designer outlet shopping village (see below, Buy).
Bicester has a traceable history of over a thousand years and was recorded in the Domesday Book. Like Banbury further north, it is experiencing growth and prosperity from its proximity to the M40 motorway linking London with Birmingham via Oxford.
The English writer Flora Thompson based her popular Lark Rise to Candleford trilogy on the area north-east of Bicester, encompassing the nearby villages of Juniper Hill, Cottisford, Fringford and Hethe.
- Bicester Heritage, Buckingham Road, Launton (A4421, +44 1869 327928. Business park for the restoration, storage and enjoyment of vintage and classic cars, motorcycles and aeroplanes.
Bicester Heritage, Buckingham Road, Launton (A4421, +44 1869 327928. Business park for the restoration, storage and enjoyment of vintage and classic cars, motorcycles and aeroplanes.
- Vue Cinema, Pioneer Centre, Bure Place, OX26 6FA, +44 8712 240 240.
Vue Cinema, Pioneer Centre, Bure Place, OX26 6FA, +44 8712 240 240.
- Bicester Avenue, Oxford Road, OX25 2NY (Take the A41 south out of Bicester towards Oxford. Bicester Avenue is off the A41 approximately half a mile outside Bicester.. M-Sa 9AM-6PM; Th 9AM-8PM; Su 10:30AM-4:30PM. A home, garden and leisure shopping centre built around one of the biggest garden centres in the UK. Wyevale, Antler, Cotswold outdoor, Laura Ashley, Moshulu, Pets Corner, Cotton Trader, Craft Central, World Of Water, Lakeland, Marshalls, Hobbycraft, Greeen & Pleasant and Newitts butchers.
- Bicester Village, 50 Pingle Drive, OX26 6WD (located on the south side of Bicester. Su-F 10AM–6PM, Sa 9:30AM-7PM; Bank Holidays 10AM-7PM; closed Christmas Day. Large outdoor outlet shopping centre.
Bicester Avenue, Oxford Road, OX25 2NY (Take the A41 south out of Bicester towards Oxford. Bicester Avenue is off the A41 approximately half a mile outside Bicester.. M-Sa 9AM-6PM; Th 9AM-8PM; Su 10:30AM-4:30PM. A home, garden and leisure shopping centre built around one of the biggest garden centres in the UK. Wyevale, Antler, Cotswold outdoor, Laura Ashley, Moshulu, Pets Corner, Cotton Trader, Craft Central, World Of Water, Lakeland, Marshalls, Hobbycraft, Greeen & Pleasant and Newitts butchers.
Bicester Village, 50 Pingle Drive, OX26 6WD (located on the south side of Bicester. Su-F 10AM–6PM, Sa 9:30AM-7PM; Bank Holidays 10AM-7PM; closed Christmas Day. Large outdoor outlet shopping centre.
- Denis, 92 Sheep St, Bicester OX26 6LP (From the town centre go north along Sheep Street. Denis is just beyond the end of the pedestrianised area on the right hand side, +44 1869 324632. Tu-Th 5PM-10PM; F Sa noon-3PM, 5PM-11PM; Su noon-10PM. Mains: £10-15.
- Jenny's Restaurant, 13 Market Square, Bicester OX26 6AD, +44 1869 604605.
- Pizza Express, 29 Market Square, Bicester OX26 6AG, +44 1869 324941. M-Sa 11:30AM-11PM; Su 11:30AM-10:30PM.
- Shakil's, 94 Sheep St, Bicester OX26 6LP (From the town centre go north along Sheep Street. Shakil's is just beyond the end of the pedestrianised area on the right hand side, +44 1869 328808. M-Th noon-2:30PM, 5:30PM-11:30PM; F Sa noon-2:30PM, 5:30PM-midnight; Su noon-2:30PM, 5:30PM-11:30PM. Mains: £7-14, excluding sides.
Those looking for a night out, the top venues are Yates in Sheep Street and G's Wine Lodge (which has a stripper in the week). There are a variety of pubs both on the estates and in the town centre.
Denis, 92 Sheep St, Bicester OX26 6LP (From the town centre go north along Sheep Street. Denis is just beyond the end of the pedestrianised area on the right hand side, +44 1869 324632. Tu-Th 5PM-10PM; F Sa noon-3PM, 5PM-11PM; Su noon-10PM. Mains: £10-15.
Jenny's Restaurant, 13 Market Square, Bicester OX26 6AD, +44 1869 604605.
Pizza Express, 29 Market Square, Bicester OX26 6AG, +44 1869 324941. M-Sa 11:30AM-11PM; Su 11:30AM-10:30PM.
Shakil's, 94 Sheep St, Bicester OX26 6LP (From the town centre go north along Sheep Street. Shakil's is just beyond the end of the pedestrianised area on the right hand side, +44 1869 328808. M-Th noon-2:30PM, 5:30PM-11:30PM; F Sa noon-2:30PM, 5:30PM-midnight; Su noon-2:30PM, 5:30PM-11:30PM. Mains: £7-14, excluding sides.
- The Acorn, Pingle Drive, Bicester OX26 6WB (The Acorn is on the large roundabout as you enter Bicester from the south on the A41. Entrance is on Pingle Drive., +44 1869 246562. Daily 9AM-10PM.
- The Bure Farm, Barberry Place, Bicester OX26 3HA, +44 1869 327578. Daily 11:30AM-11PM.
- The Penny Black, 58 Sheep St, Bicester OX26 7JW, +44 1869 321535. M-Th 8AM-midnight; F Sa 8AM-1AM; Su 8AM-midnight.
The Acorn, Pingle Drive, Bicester OX26 6WB (The Acorn is on the large roundabout as you enter Bicester from the south on the A41. Entrance is on Pingle Drive., +44 1869 246562. Daily 9AM-10PM.
The Bure Farm, Barberry Place, Bicester OX26 3HA, +44 1869 327578. Daily 11:30AM-11PM.
The Penny Black, 58 Sheep St, Bicester OX26 7JW, +44 1869 321535. M-Th 8AM-midnight; F Sa 8AM-1AM; Su 8AM-midnight.
- Woodstock (Oxfordshire)
- Buckingham
- Banbury
- Oxford