Bicester Village: A Shopping Shangri-La just an hour away from London!

To an ordinary person, the name Bicester Village would be reminiscent of a quaint English hamlet. Except, it’s not. It’s quite the opposite. Situated mid-way between London and Birmingham, Bicester Village has fields of designer outlets offering unbeatable discounted prices that’ll make fashion meccas like Paris and New York green with envy.

This tiny town draws over six million shoppers; that’s as many as the UK’s most popular attraction, the British Museum! When brands like Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood are available at 60 percent discounts, it’s no wonder that millions of customers flock here! In fact, this branded paradise is so loved by the Chinese, that eight in ten Chinese travelers to UK make an excursion to Bicester Village. After the Chinese, it’s the Arabs who can’t resist the temptations of a good shopping binge. Marylebone train station in London from where trains depart for Bicester Village, has even installed signs in Mandarin and Arabic to welcome them!

While most patrons choose to take the train from London or drive down, there are many who arrive by their own chopper! You see, even those who think a $600 Louis Vuitton purse is a steal, can’t help but love big bargains!

What makes Bicester Villager such a hit among luxury shoppers is that it doesn’t feel like an outlet shopping center. Every store is thoughtfully designed with spacious changing rooms and the discount tags are discreet. Stretching as long as Champs-Elysee in Paris, there are over 130 shops here and 30 more boutiques were added in October 2017. Hot attractions include Alexander McQueen, Salvatore Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, Prada, Dior, and many more!

Everything about this village screams chic. The benches in public areas have blankets whereas the whole center has been landscaped by celebrity florist Nikki Tibbles. The waiting room at the local train station is unlike you’ve ever seen. It has cream, comfy sofas and offers complimentary tea. While there is one mandatory Starbucks, all other restaurants in Bicester Village are exclusive and upmarket.

Even for those who don’t want to splurge, Bicester Village makes an interesting day trip. Strolling around the shops and the surrounding Chinese and Arabic cacophony makes a fantastic people-watching experience.

Move over Paris, fashionistas. Bicester Village is calling you.