• Culture & Travel

How The Bicester Collection Quietly Became the Fashion Insider’s Best-Kept Shopping Secret

  • ByTeam The Word.

Celebrating 30 years of fashion, food, and the art of luxury shopping!

The Bicester Collection is home to over 150 boutiques of leading fashion and lifestyle brands.

 

Fashion insiders already know: if you want to shop the best in luxury, at exceptional prices, you have to visit Bicester Village. But what once began as an experiential shopping destination has since grown into something far grander—a (beloved) global collection of curated luxury destinations known as The Bicester Collection.

 

From Paris to Shanghai, Milan to Madrid, this 12-Village network is reimagining what it means to shop and travel in 2025: Think open-air boulevards lined with heritage fashion boutiques and contemporary cult labels, thoughtful hospitality, VIP styling services, and year-round savings of up to 60%. Add to that gourmet dining, art installations, and members-only lounges—and suddenly, you’re not just shopping; you’re lingering, relaxing, and living an unforgettable experience.

THE FASHION INSIDER’S GOLD MINE

It all began in 1995 with Bicester Village in the UK, located just an hour from London. Cut to today, and the iconic destination is celebrating its milestone 30th anniversary.

Over the past three decades, this destination has become a go-to for fashion editors, stylists, and visiting celebrities—not only for the incredible prices, but also for the exceptional experience. 

Each of The Bicester Collection’s Villages around the world pays special emphasis on ambience: no harsh mall lights allowed here. Instead, visitors are treated to quaint cobbled lanes, townhouse-style boutiques, curated store windows, and the simple joy of discovering great designer finds.

 

Each destination within The Bicester Village Collection is deliberately placed just outside iconic cities—Milan, Paris, Barcelona, and Frankfurt—making it an easy detour for the stylish traveller. And the vibe is slower, softer, and somehow more luxurious.

 

There are cafés and restaurants for when you need a break from all that shopping (or a glass of bubbly!). For instance, at Bicester Village near London, you might enjoy a meal at ‘Brilliant Punjabi’, a vibrant street food kiosk by ‘Chef Dipna Anand’, serving up modern Indian flavours with flair. It’s a nod to the Village’s growing global palate. You might also enjoy the excellent selection at Cecconi’s, Le Menu Palais, or Mordisco.

 

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Brilliant Punjabi by chef Dipna Anand
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Ottolenghi at Bicester Village, London

The perks continue with the Village’s exclusive members-only salon, The Apartment. This invitation-only space allows you to relax and rejuvenate after a day of shopping. Additionally, the Bicester Collection membership offers services such as hands-free shopping, personal styling, and access to curated events.

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The Apartment at Bicester Village, London
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The Apartment at Fidenza Village, Milan.

12 VILLAGES, 3 CONTINENTS, ONE EXTRAORDINARY COLLECTION

Whether you’re in Paris, Milan, Madrid or Suzhou, there’s a Village waiting to be experienced.

The Bicester Collection isn’t just about fashion—it’s a travelogue in retail form, with each Village offering a distinctly local experience anchored in luxury, culture, and dining.

In France, La Vallée Village, situated just outside Paris, is known for its mix of heritage maisons and new-generation brands. Fidenza Village in Milan combines couture with cuisine in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, while Kildare Village brings Irish charm and craftsmanship to the fore. If you happen to be in Spain, head over to Las Rozas Village near Madrid for a sun-drenched haven or La Roca Village near Barcelona. Once your shopping bags are full, watch the sun set behind the Sierra Norte mountains for the kind of memory Instagram Reels are made of.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BICESTER!

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Bicester Village celebrates 30 iconic years this year.

This year, The Bicester Collection celebrates 30 Years of Extraordinary Experiences.

In 1995, the very first Bicester Village (near London) opened its doors with a simple but powerful idea: luxury shopping, made beautifully accessible. Thirty years later, that vision has evolved into a global phenomenon. The numbers look good. The Bicester Collection draws millions of visitors annually.

To mark its 30th anniversary in 2025, Bicester Village is pulling out all the stops. From exciting new store openings—think Byredo, Augustinus Bader, and Charlotte Tilbury, Zimmerman—to the launch of The Villager, its own in-house newspaper, the Village continues to reinvent the luxury retail experience. A standout highlight: Beyond Village Venturing, a travel initiative that unlocks secret pockets of Oxfordshire, curated by insiders with an eye for magic and meaning.

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DO GOOD with The Bicester Collection addresses the challenges faced by women and children globally.

FASHION WITH IMPACT

Beyond luxury, The Bicester Collection continues to invest in making a positive impact. This year, their philanthropic DO GOOD programme launches the third edition of Unlock Her Future™ Prize: South Asia Edition, in partnership with Ashoka South Asia and Oxford University’s Saïd Business School.

With over 2,000 applicants, the initiative celebrates women-led social ventures that tackle education, healthcare, climate change, and tech equity. 

The finalists were recently announced, with four Indians making the cut. Out of these, three winners will receive up to $100,000 each, along with mentorship and ongoing education.

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This year, The Bicester Collection launched its own newspaper called The Villager.

SEE YOU AT THE BICESTER COLLECTION

The Bicester Collection’s Villages remain one of the most visited luxury shopping spots in the world—and still, many first-time visitors are utterly impressed by what they find: a curated mix of over 100 of the world’s most revered brands, all with up to 60% off year-round.

Their success might be owed to the fact that what lies at the heart of each village is the same philosophy that started it all: luxury made personal, moments made memorable, and retail that is experience-led.

As any seasoned fashion insider will confirm, The Bicester Collection isn’t a pit stop. It’s a pilgrimage.

 

All images: Courtesy Bicester Collection.