London Day Trip: a guide to visiting Bicester Shopping Village from London Marylebone.
I have a confession: I have been to Bicester Village at least 12 times and never get tired of visiting the place!
Everytime I visit London, Bicester Village is a must visit and is also my 1st stop for shopping.
How to Get There
It is about 46 minutes by direct train from London Marylebone to Bicester Village Station, which is located right next to the Shopping Village.(After disembarking from the train, there are clear signs to guide visitors to the main shopping area.
Along the way, you pass the Guest Service Office where there are sofas for you to take rest whilst waiting for the train- you might want to pop in to ask about credit card promotions etc
There is a train departing from Marylebone Station to Bicester Village about every 30 minutes.
At Marylebone Railway Station, there is a dedicated Bicester Village kiosk with hosts (open daily from 8 am to 4 pm) to assist visitors. THere's also seating.
Note: Do not confuse the Bicester Shopping Village station with Bicester North (a totally different place.) If you do, you can then take the shuttle bus back to Bicester Village.
Note: if you pay for the Hands-free shopping service, you will collect your shopping from the Guest Service Office. The staff will take a while to get your goods, so don’t leave the collection too close to your train time! I've seen many an angry visitor complain about missing their train!
Services Available
At the dedicated guest service desk, visitors are able to make enquiries on promotions, For example, I found out that I can get my Singapore Airlines Krisflyer Miles points when I shop at Bicester. (The Guest Service office will do the accreditation for you on the same day IF you provide the physical receipt.)
Shops
At this design outlet, you can find everything from clothes, accessories, cosmetics, home ware and more, generally at cheaper prices compared to retail outlets, including brands such as:
- Burberry
- Carolina Herrera
- Prada
- Vivienne Westwood
- Ralph Lauren
- L'Occitane
- Milton Brown
- NEOM
- Penhaligon's
- Clarins
- Le Creuset
- The White Company
- Zwilling & more
The designer shops are still pretty expensive FYI so you may not always find something to buy in them. However, I almost always find something from the more "regular" shops such as L'Occitane & Clarins, where I can stock up on gifts and necessities.
Where to Eat
For the longest time, the food at Bicester was pretty bad. I even encountered a racist server at 1 of the restaurants (now closed) who mocked my Mom's English (to our faces.)
Luckily, it's MUCH better now- the food at La Tua Pasta and Ottolenghi are pretty good. Cecconi's isn't the best but the ambience is nice. (I've not tried Shan Shu.)
Expert Tips
Tip #1: Bicester Village is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm. (Closed on Christmas Day and May 1st). The best time to visit the outlet is in the morning so as to avoid the crowds.
Tip #2: If you're not a fan of crowds, avoid the weekends. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are less crowded. (Every time I visit on a Saturday or Sunday, I regret it because the outlet is PACKED!)
Tip #3: For sales and good deals, after Boxing Day and the period between March and April are good times to visit.
Tip #4: Sign up for the Bicester Village membership and they'll give you some free gifts every now and then. (I've gotten a few free Laudree macarons, for example.)
Any questions about visiting Bicester Village from London? Let me know in the comments.
