please empty your brain below
Sounds ghastly,DG. But that's from one who avoids all West End shops. 😱

Jo W | 03.01.15 - 8:10 a.m. | #

Ha! Try the Galleria over the A1 in Hatfield next!

Andrew | 03.01.15 - 9:01 a.m. | #

On second thoughts, have you done a series on retail locations? How many shopping centres are there in or near London?

Andrew | 03.01.15 - 9:02 a.m. | #

As a local its a place to avoid, full of shallow people with more money than sense. They think buying 'labels' make them better people.

Nick | 03.01.15 - 9:05 a.m. | #

if only the dangleway went there

dave | 03.01.15 - 9:12 a.m. | #

I'm all for trying new things and getting out and exploring - but would love to know what drew you there?!

| 03.01.15 - 9:14 a.m. | #

I thought Bicester might be an interesting town to visit. Alas not.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 03.01.15 - 9:17 a.m. | #

If you had gone north from the town instead of south, there is the fascinating heritage centre at the ex RAF Bicester - when its open the buildings and the workshops using them now are well worth the visit.

Nick | 03.01.15 - 9:40 a.m. | #

Well,that's one place knocked off my 'Must visit' list. But good luck for Chiltern Trains.

petras409 | 03.01.15 - 10:01 a.m. | #

Once again, DG fulfils his public service remit, by going to the events we're too lazy or unimaginative to get to, and the places we would never want to go anyway, thereby saving us the trouble...

Harry | 03.01.15 - 10:21 a.m. | #

Watched a program that featured this place. During undercover filming some store assistants admitted some or the merchandise was made just for discount places and had never been on sale at full price in their main stores. No doubt some bargins to be had but it us not my cup of tea.

Rick | 03.01.15 - 11:33 a.m. | #

Urgh, I really can't stick this place. On New Year's Day we drove from Southampton to Leighton Buzzard to see friends and had to pick up a gift on the way. I thought the Tesco in Bicester would be open but it wasn't, luckily (or unluckily) Bicester Shopping Village was open and not terribly busy.

I've never felt so out of place walking around in a t-shirt and hoodie (sensible clothes for a long drive). Thank goodness for Cath Kidston, one of the only normal shops in the whole place, otherwise I would have really struggled to find anything to buy at all.

Horrid, horrid, horrid. Full of people with more money than sense and a rabid, consumerist bent to them.

Adam S | Homepage | 03.01.15 - 11:35 a.m. | #

Ah, Bicester!



(I'll get my coat)

Suse | 03.01.15 - 11:43 a.m. | #

You missed the full experience DG. Boxing Day has for several years been Bicester Village's busiest day (though the bizarre Black Friday may have overshadowed it this year), with traffic queueing back onto the M40 two miles away, and the only reason Chiltern Railways can be bothered to run that day. Bicester Village used to be quite a pleasant experience when it first opened, with just a couple of dozen shops, selling genuine ends of line and the like at bargain prices, and a peaceful (yes!) almost village-like atmosphere. I used to go every couple of years to buy new walking gear. I don't think I'll be going again.

Andrew S | 03.01.15 - 11:43 a.m. | #

My brother lives near there.
Before Christmas there were apparently times when the entire area for miles was bunged up with 4x4s and the like.
Avoid like the plague.

Chris | 03.01.15 - 11:45 a.m. | #

As Andrew said, Bicester Village used to be quite good for shopping 10years ago, better selection of shops (less super high end), more real bargains and less packed.

For outlet shopping now I prefer Ashford outlet or Freeport at Braintree. Freeport is tiny but a much nicer selection of shops.

Last time I popped into Bicester Village, to break a long car journey and check for Xmas gifts I (like Adam) came away with some Cath Kidston stuff for my Mum, nothing else appealed.

Jon | 03.01.15 - 11:54 a.m. | #

Ugh! Not my cup of tea! Shopping is purely a functional necessity - like when you've run out of underwear, or can't darn your socks any longer!

Unless they sell multi-packs of Fruit of the Loom/Hanes, I shall give it a miss!

Cornish Cockney | 03.01.15 - 11:57 a.m. | #

Unfortunately you went about this too late and the wrong way.

The little Chiltern Railways shuttle from Oxford to Bicester Town used to be a delight. A slow chug along the countryside where you may well spot more deer than people. The people on the train (generally Chinese) were clearly doing this as a bit of time out from their Oxford tour. Why visit an ancient seat of learning when there is serious shopping to be done? If in the area I would make the journey just for the sake of it.

Pedantic of Purley | 03.01.15 - 12:26 p.m. | #

I may be a bit of a twit here...but am I the only one to be thinking that alot of the items sold there are made in China? So those Chinese vistors have perhaps brought goods that made almost the same long journey. thye have...

E | 03.01.15 - 3:04 p.m. | #

@PoP

The train service from Oxford will return. There should be a service between Marylebone, Bicester Town (which, unlike Bicester North, is next door to the Village)and the new Oxford Parkway station later this year, and extended to the station in Oxford city centre some time next year.

timbo | 03.01.15 - 4:52 p.m. | #

If you have to visit an outlet village then the one in Swindon is at least made bearable by being in interesting old railway buildings and having a railway museum next door.

whiff | 03.01.15 - 5:32 p.m. | #

Timbo,

But not in the same form. It will race through the countryside and be mainly composed of regular travellers speeding to London. The nature of the line will be totally changed. No more will you be brushing along vegetation as the train ambles over multiple occupation crossings.

Pedantic of Purley | 03.01.15 - 6:13 p.m. | #

It's a dead ringer for the "outlet mall" here in the States.

Once upon a time, actual "factory outlet" shops existed, selling actual factory seconds -- pulled thread in a towel, missing shirt button, etc. -- at actual discount prices.

Then, some corporate type morphed the concept into instant shopping mall selling the same stuff every other shop sells, with "discounted" prices marked down from inflated "full retail".

joncr | 03.01.15 - 10:45 p.m. | #

Yes, living about halfway between the two, I have to agree that the "designer outlet" in Swindon is vastly preferable to that at Bicester in every way: interesting buildings, real industrial (railway) heritage all around, it's under cover, and does often offer (even last week) genuine bargains. Can't really sell Swindon itself as a tourist destination overall though....

Dominic H | 04.01.15 - 8:55 a.m. | #

Dominic - Unless you happen to be a tourist who has a special interest in roundabouts....

Chris | 04.01.15 - 8:29 p.m. | #

And the roundabout isn't even that exciting. In fact the only good thing about Swindon is it's location with Avebury and the Ridgeway to the south and the Thames and the Cotswolds to the north.

whiff | 05.01.15 - 4:34 a.m. | #

I would echo Nick's comment - of all the things to see in Bicester, the Village probably isn't one of them. Either the RAF Bicester site or the half-built railway line being put in for the new Marylebone-Oxford service would probably be more to your liking. Or St Edburg's church. Or almost anywhere else, really.

You can't knock a town that's managed to keep two bakeries and a proper butcher's though, even if that probably doesn't justify a 100 mile round trip.

BD | 05.01.15 - 1:14 p.m. | #

Odd you should say "you don't get cut-price brand outlets in Shanghai".

Apparently the owners of Bicester Village do now have an outlet village in Shanghai: http://www.chicoutletshopping.com/en/home/home?_ga=1.242861698.1821834501.1420543571

Arctic Troll | 06.01.15 - 11:29 a.m. | #











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