Summary
A few short miles north of Oxford, Bicester is a market town featuring a charming center.
The area has been a trading hub for nearly 800 years; however, present-day Bicester is recognized for a different style of commerce.
Located on the outskirts, Bicester Village is a premier designer outlet that attracts an astonishing number of visitors, particularly from outside the EU. Following a successful shopping experience, consider making a visit to the town center, which is adorned with monuments dating back 500 years.
Moreover, Bicester serves as an excellent base for excursions to some of England’s most opulent country estates, such as UNESCO-listed Blenheim Palace and Waddesdon Manor, owned by the Rothschild family.
Let us examine the top activities to experience in Bicester:
1. Historic Town Trail
The optimal approach to familiarize yourself with Bicester’s town center is to download the Historic Town Trail, created by the Bicester Local Historical Society.
This 18-stop walking route directs you to numerous points of interest.
Among the highlights is Bicester’s oldest residence, a vicarage dating back to 1500, alongside a 17th-century dovecote, a 16th-century farmhouse, a reconstructed structure from the former Bicester priory, and the town lockup, a diminutive prison from the 17th century where detainees were held overnight before their court appearances.
Conclude your exploration with a coffee on the pedestrianized Sheep Street, which served as an overflow cattle market when the primary Market Square became too congested in the 18th century.
2. Market Square
As Bicester’s commercial core and the site of a market established in 1239, the Market Square is more accurately described as a triangle than a square. What adds to the Market Square’s aesthetic appeal is the row of island buildings situated on the western side.
These structures, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, were constructed by affluent residents, and each, from numbers 44 to 47, displays its distinct character.
The most striking is the 17th-century Baroque residence featuring a quoined tower.
The longstanding market tradition is maintained on Fridays, with increased activity in the Market Square; additionally, every second Thursday of the month hosts the Farmers’ Market, showcasing the finest local produce.
3. Garth Park
Bicester’s award-winning town park was private property until the final landowner passed away in 1946, after which the park was acquired by the local council.
Garth House, an old hunting lodge built in 1840, now serves as the headquarters of Bicester Town Council.
The park features meticulously maintained formal gardens, a bandstand for summer concerts, a playground for children, and a café housed in a new pavilion.
At the entrance, take a moment to appreciate the park’s exquisite wrought iron gates.
You will also find a bell cast at the old Bicester Foundry in 1732, which once served as the call bell at the Town Hall and Shambles until their demolition in 1826.
4. Bicester Village
Interestingly, the second most frequented location by Chinese tourists in the UK is this designer outlet mall located on the southern outskirts of Bicester.
Bicester Village enjoys immense popularity among Chinese visitors, as evidenced by the announcements made in Mandarin at the Bicester Village train station.
A significant factor is that non-EU visitors are permitted to shop tax-free, resulting in additional discounts atop the already reduced prices.
In 2017, approximately 6.6 million people visited, a figure comparable to that of the British Museum.
Bicester Village is designed to resemble a Scandinavian town center along a long thoroughfare.
Alongside this route, one can find top-tier designer brands such as Gucci, Boss, Prada, Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, and DKNY, to name a few.
5. St Edburg’s Church
Located in Bicester’s medieval center, St Edburg’s Church originated as a Saxon minster and is dedicated to the local 7th-century saint, Eadburh of Bicester.
The existing structure was built by the Normans in the early 12th century and underwent extensions over the subsequent 300 years.
The earliest stonework can be observed in the crossing, featuring early 12th-century Romanesque arches that may have originally supported a central tower.
Perceptive visitors will notice a subtle yet intriguing distinction between the arches on the south and north sides of the nave.
This difference arises because the south side is older, showcasing Early English clustered columns from the mid-13th century, while the north aisle was extended approximately a century later, distinguished by more robust octagonal columns.
Numerous memorials commemorate significant local figures, including the Cokers, Lords of the Manor of Kings End, and the Page-Turners, influential landowners and benefactors of the church.
6. Blenheim Palace
Ranked among the essential excursions near Bicester, Blenheim Palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located ten miles west, at the edge of the Cotswolds.
Accompanied by grounds designed by Capability Brown, this Baroque mansion is regarded as a quintessential representation of 18th-century English stately architecture.
Brown’s sprawling park is likened to a “naturalistic Versailles,” while the structure, designed by Sir John Vanbrugh, epitomizes the fleeting English Baroque style.
Blenheim Palace serves as the residence of the Dukes of Marlborough, a gift from Queen Anne to the first duke in recognition of the pivotal victory at the Battle of Blenheim (1704) during the War of the Spanish Succession.
As a descendant of the dukes, Winston Churchill was born at Blenheim Palace.
Visitors can partake in an immersive audio tour, enjoy tea at the orangery, and view exhibitions.
In the summer of 2018, the site featured over 80 works by the French Nouveau Réaliste painter Yves Klein.
7. Island Pond Wood
Without venturing far from Bicester, visitors can enjoy nature walks at this Woodland Trust reserve located on Bicester’s eastern fringe.
In a low-lying wetland area, Island Pond Wood is a relatively new addition, having been planted in 1999 with species that thrive in periodic flooding.
The woodland is home to alders, willows, ash trees, and black poplars, alongside a pond frequented by local anglers.
8. Waddesdon Manor
Situated approximately midway between Bicester and Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, Waddesdon Manor offers a culturally enriching experience well worth the trip.
Constructed by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, this estate emulates a piece of the Loire Valley, featuring a château reminiscent of Chambord or Chenonceau.
Construction took place from 1874 to 1889, and the last Rothschild resident, James de Rothschild, bequeathed the house and its remarkable collections to the National Trust in 1957. Waddesdon Manor is considered one of the trust’s most cherished buildings, celebrated for its opulent Renaissance designs and stunning Victorian parterre, boasting 19,000 plants and a magnificent bedding display.
Inside the mansion, visitors will marvel at the Gobelins and Beauvais tapestries, Sèvres porcelain, Limoges enamel, as well as works by Gainsborough and Reynolds.
Be sure to locate the Louis XVI-style writing table commissioned for Marie-Antoinette, crafted by Jean-Henri Riesener.
9. Rousham House
If you have visited Horse Guards in London or Hampton Court Palace, you may have encountered the work of the 18th-century architect, William Kent.
Rousham House was remodeled by Kent in an early Gothic Revival style during the 1730s and remains largely unchanged since.
Visitation to the house is by appointment, while the formal gardens remain accessible daily and have retained many of their original features dating back around 300 years.
Numerous historic elements remain intact, including statues, Venus’s Vale with its ponds and cascades, the seven-arched Praeneste, a faux ruin, and the Temple of the Mill.
The walled garden features a charming parterre and herbaceous borders.
One reason for the estate’s excellent preservation is its continued ownership by the same family, the Cottrell-Dormers, since 1635.
10. Boarstall Tower
Visitors can explore this National Trust property on Wednesdays, situated on the grounds of a former manor house.
Boarstall Tower carries a poignant history.
Constructed in the 14th century, the estate came under the stewardship of the Aubrey family after the English Civil War.
The house fell into disrepair and was ultimately demolished following the tragic death of Sir John Aubrey’s six-year-old son in 1777. Only the magnificent 14th-century gatehouse remains, which lay vacant for decades before being repurposed as a residence in the early 1900s.
With its picturesque setting, Boarstall became a venue for extravagant parties attended by notable figures such as Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier.
In the surrounding parkland, you will find a genuine 17th-century duck decoy—a tunnel designed to ensnare large groups of waterfowl by utilizing a decoy duck, currently one of only four remaining.
11. Bicester Golf Club
On a sunny day, one can experience a leisurely afternoon in the gentle Oxfordshire countryside at Bicester Golf Club.
The course, encompassing 134 acres and par 71, presents an enjoyable challenge, featuring 11 lakes, challenging bunkers, and sloping greens that can test even the most skilled players.
The club boasts a 10-bay driving range, practice bunkers, chipping area, and putting green.
Bicester Golf Club is associated with a hotel; however, visitors are not required to be members or guests to enjoy a round or dine at the 19th Hole Restaurant.
To save costs, take advantage of “Monday Madness” when the green fees are just £20.
12. RSPB Otmoor
This collection of marshland located slightly south of Bicester was acquired in 1997 and rejuvenated by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
Year after year, the nature reserve has witnessed an increase in populations of migratory and breeding birds.
In winter, consider visiting on a sunny day to observe the numerous waterfowl, such as teals and widgeons inhabiting the wetlands.
A variety of wading birds visit during their migrations in spring, while charming passerines like whinchats and common redstarts can be spotted in autumn.
The stunning marsh harrier is also present in spring, and an increasing number of lapwings and common redshanks breed at Otmoor between May and July.
13. Bicester Heritage
The former RAF Bicester, located a short distance from the town center, was sold in 2013 to a company with intentions to develop the UK’s inaugural business park dedicated to heritage aviation and motoring.
The airfield’s impressive brick structures from the 1920s and 30s, along with its hangars and tree-lined paths, have been restored, and a complete roster of specialized restorers, component manufacturers, upholsterers, metalworkers, and dealers have established their presence there.
Visitors can experience flight in a Tiger Moth with Finest Hour Experiences or perhaps drive a race car, a subject we will address next.
Bicester Heritage has also evolved into a venue for events, such as the Sunday Scramble in October, where one can explore the various workshops at the park, or the Flywheel Festival in June, featuring rare planes and cars in action.
14. SWB Motorsport
Based farther away in Daventry, Northamptonshire, SWB Motorsport is a racing team engaging in numerous series across the UK, including the FIA British Formula 4. Their presence here is significant because they have started offering race and military vehicle experiences at Bicester Heritage since 2014.
This initiative commenced when changes to racing regulations necessitated the team to find alternative uses for its Formula Fords.
Visitors can experience the thrill of driving a cutting-edge racing car.
If that seems intimidating, there is also the option to ride as a passenger in a two-seater Typhoon.
Since 2016, a variety of additional vehicles have joined the company’s fleet, including a high-speed Alvis CVR(T) Spartan tank and a GKN Sankey FV432 armored personnel carrier.
15. Bicester Avenue
Inaugurated in 2007, Bicester Avenue serves as a practical extension to Bicester Village, even though it is operated by a different company.
This center focuses less on fashion and more on home and garden products.
Among the 18 shops and services in this modern and meticulously landscaped setting are Lakeland, Hobbycraft, Laura Ashley, and the Bicester Avenue Garden Centre.
During autumn, children particularly enjoy the Halloween Spectacular, featuring games, competitions, and a fireworks display.
Additionally, a playground is available, designed with distinct areas catering to different age groups.
