Posted by Hi everyone! It’s been a while since I posted on my blog. In that time, I’ve been on three very different but wonderful trips – to England, Kashmir and Bihar. If you want to stay updated on my trips, don’t forget to follow me on Instagram. Today, I’m here to share my experience of Bicester Village, an outlet shopping centre located about an hour away from London. It is considered the discount shopping haven of England, and if you are keen to visit it, prepare for it in advance so that you can make the most of your trip! So, here are my tips to make the most of your trip to Bicester Village, England.
WHAT IS BICESTER VILLAGE, ENGLAND?
Located in Oxfordshire, near Oxford University, this unique village is a mecca for shopaholics. It is the first village that was opened under the Bicester Collection, which now includes 11 similar outlets across the globe. Bicester Village, England is no ordinary shopping destination. It houses the world’s leading fashion and lifestyle brands and everything sold here is discounted. This doesn’t mean, however, that you’ll get a Gucci bag for Rs 500 (it’s not Sarojini Nagar market!). All the merchandise sold here is 100% original and brand new, though it may be from a previous fashion season. So, the merchandise is still very expensive but it’s cheaper than its original price.
Though the shopping is definitely the highlight of this village, its pretty and pedestrian open-air setting is lovely just for a visit, even if you are not keen to spend too much money. There are restaurants, kiosks and picturesque corners to rest at along with the stores.
One can also get a membership of Bicester Village and avail extra offers. The village is open every day, and offers exclusive services like a multilingual concierge, personal shopping assistance, virtual shopping and more.
THE LOCATION OF BICESTER VILLAGE, ENGLAND:
Bicester Village is located very close to London. You can either drive there or take a direct train from London Marylebone station to Bicester Village Station.
TIPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TRIP TO BICESTER VILLAGE, ENGLAND AND GET THE BEST DISCOUNTS:
🛍️ Plan your trip in advance. Trains ply every 30 minutes from Marylebone Station in London starting at 9 am on most days (and 10 am on Sundays). Try to catch the earliest train so you can make the most of your time at Bicester Village.
🛍️There are over 150 outlets in this village! To save time, you should identify the brands you want to merely browse through and distinguish them from those that you want to actually buy products from. This selection will obviously depend on your budget and your personal preferences but I’m highlighting this point because, if you waste all your time browsing through the most expensive brands, you may miss out on some good deals that may be within your budget.
🛍️ I highly recommend that you put aside a fixed amount you are willing to spend beforehand. This little bit of preparedness will help you to avoid #shopaholic guilt!
🛍️ Another little tip is to visit the Bicester Village website before you visit, to see if there are any special deals on at any of the brands. To save time, you could even add the items you are keen to buy, into your shopping cart. On the day of your visit, you can just try on the items you have already selected or simply pick them up from the counter. I didn’t do this though, because half the fun is browsing through the collections!
🛍️ Don’t start shopping the minute you reach Bicester Village! You may regret your early purchases later. It’s best to see all the stores and then decide which pieces you would like to invest in.
🛍️ Something I noticed was that when you start browsing from the most expensive of your preferred brands and work your way down, it helps put things in perspective and stops you from overspending.
🛍️ Whichever store you visit, always ask for the ‘deal of the day’ at the counter. These change frequently and sometimes you can score unbelievable deals.
🛍️ Some of the bigger brands like Gucci and Prada have a waiting list for entry, so put your name down for those as soon as you arrive in the village, and then browse the other stores while you wait for your number to come.
🛍️ Carry a wheelie suitcase along with you to Bicester Village so you can stow your purchases away and don’t have to carry them around (bags and shoes can be quite heavy).
🛍️ Take frequent breaks from shopping – food and champagne are easily available!
🛍️ Don’t be disheartened if you don’t score good deals – there’s always next time!
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Have you been to #bicestervillage ? Tell me about your experience at this lovely brand outlet shopping centre in the comments below!
Here’s a mini vlog of my experience at Bicester Village:
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This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla.
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*This is not a sponsored post.
**Copyright in pictures and content belongs to nooranandchawla.com and cannot be republished or repurposed without express permission of the author. As I am a copyright lawyer by profession, infringement of any kind will invite strict legal action.
I have never visited Bicester village but after reading your post I so wish to visit the place. Especially the idea of having a trolley bag to carry your purchases sounds endearing to me. This is a paradise for shopaholics
Bicester Village has been long on my list and am waiting for my trip to London. I didn’t know the last season aspect. It’s been quite some time that I have started saving for luxury shopping.
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I assumed that it’s just a cute village but your post was such an eye-opener. Great tips too to snag the best of fashion and global brands while saving time and money. From the expression on your face and the number of shopping bags visible, you got some great deals, Girl!
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Thanks for the tips. Liked the tip especially with not jumping into shopping spree as soon as you touch the market which is true as we might regret buying things too quickly and missing on the amazing deals, we would get with bit more of digging through shops.
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As someone who’s never been to England before, I’ve been eagerly looking forward to exploring the beautiful landscapes and soaking in the rich culture some day. Reading through these tips got me even more excited about planning a trip to Bicester Village. Many thanks for this, and I can’t wait to put these tips into action!
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The prehand prep to Bicester Village is definitely very help. I like the fact that there is a website where one can actually go tru the deal and finalize on their stuff to buy.
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The prehand prep to Bicester Village is definitely very helpful. I like the fact that there is a website where one can actually go tru the deal and finalize on their stuff to buy. I enjoy such before hand tips they save you from alot of waste of time and trouble.
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I think one thing about buying original brands is that at least there will not be any quality compromise for the money we pay. Getting the products from the original brand at a comparatively feasible price seems to be a real advantage to me.
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Wowwww! lucky you Noor! that’s quite a handfull😀. And what a lovely place to shop… So quaint n beautiful. Also, shopping while sipping on champagne… amazing! I like the tip about not indulging early on n waiting to checkout everything first…👍
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I can’t imagine a full village dedicated to shopping! That would really a good walk, window shopping and enjoying the ambience. And to think, this village has more branches. Certainly a village that goes on my bucket list.
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Noor I am not a shopaholic person if you ask me to shop from the top slot malls in India as I know almost everything remains the same. But yes I am shopaholic person when you take me to the local markets of the places which I visit while travelling. That gives me a different level of charm and satisfaction and I also love shopping for my near and dear ones even if it is something small as I love to gift. Now coming to the Bicester Village I wish to know if there is any outlet which offers local products which can be fashion accessories to something which symbolizes the culture and heritage of the place. Please do let me know so that I can plan my budget well in advance before I land there. Such travel blogs are really helpful for people like me who are choosy shopaholic. Loved the post and glad to know about Bicester Village.
Hi Samata, Bicester Village is a designer brand shopping outlet space. It’s not a place to buy local handicrafts! Only discounted branded goods. Hope this helps!
I don’t know if I’ll ever visit this place, but it does seem very exciting. And your tips will be very useful for forst timers, I’m sure.
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Wow…looks like someone was lucky… Although I haven’t had the chance to experience Bicester Village personally, your post has ignited a strong desire within me to explore the place. Planning the trip in advance, setting a budget, and prioritizing brands wisely are excellent strategies. I totally agree that the anticipation of browsing through collections is part of the excitement. It’s undoubtedly a haven for shopholic.
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The village is cute, tbh Noor I haven’t visited the village but your post got me interested. This year end I am travelling to England, will try and visit here.
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I have never been to Bicester Village but I have been to a similar one on the outskirts of Chicago. Your tips are really useful and apply everywhere. Thank you for sharing them.
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Being a shopaholic I am sure Bicester village would be a heaven for me. I am planning for London and definately would love to give it a visit here. Thanks for all the tips as these tips are very helpful. I didnot know about to register name for waiting que to visit expensive brands. Thanks for the guide.
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Wow, what a beautiful place for Shopping. Lucky Noor, I can feel the virtual tour of the village. Never been such place. Thank you for posting valuable tips which is really important to know.
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As always, I have been following your content on Instagram. Bicester Village seems quite similar to Woodbury Commons in New York. Excellent tips, Noor. Planning ahead is always best when it comes to shopping at such outlets, or it can get overwhelming too.
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I have never been to England and your blog post has now made the urge to take a trip (for someone who hasn’t been on any vacation since the pandemic)
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This place is indeed a paradise for shopaholics and look at the pretty location
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Thats a lot of useful information,Noor. I have only been to London and would love to shop at Bicester Village. Seems like a quaint place with lots of memorabilia to collect.
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Whoa! That was something. Didn’t know there existed a village for shopping! Thank you for these tips
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Wow! That’s one great haul you’ve got! When it comes to shopping, I always appreciate discounted items. If there’s one thing I could advice someone about buying things, it would be DO NOT buy full priced items especially if those are non-perishable ones. You could always buy them at a discounted price eventually. Love this blog as it helps consumers know how to maximise their $$$.
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