Day trip to Bicester Village. Shopping, orchards, gastronomy

A mecca of brands at outlet prices, some nice restaurants and hordes of tourists and professional buyers, ocasionally babies and kids various ages. London to Bicester Village makes a perfect shopping experience but may not be a kiddies favourite, given that playground is rather small and running around opportunities will be rather limited by the hordes of shoppers. So here’s our take on how to make day trip to Bicester Village more fun for all parties.

Prioritize shops and brands, depending on what you’re after. My favourites most of the time are Armani, Burberry, CK, Cocinelle, Ralph Lauren,  Alexander Mcqueen, Chloe, Dkny, Dior, Karen Millen, Kate Spade, Kooples, Ferragamo, Missoni, Paul Smith, Ted Baker, Tory Burch. Not hard to guess, no Chanel in here. Don’t try to see and try them all on a day, make a list or even better budget.

Grab some lunch or a bite, hungry kids or parents are not that fun afterall. Our preferred restaurants Bicester village are Villandry or the casual Busaba Eathai.

As soon as you’re done, change the busy shopping scene to zen gardens, where kiddies can run around and grown ups can recharge.

Day trip to Bicester Village. Waterperry orchards nearby

Day trip to Bicester Village with kids

Waterperry gardens – 25min by car from Bicester village & on the way back to London.

Beautiful English gardens, pond, apple and pear orchard, rural landscapes, Thames close by. Enchanting afternoon or mid morning,  a cafe and a Georgian manor. 

Le Manoir aux quat’s saisons with toddler

If the bank account still allows it, go for a proper culinary treat at Le Manoir aux Quatres Saisons – also 25min by car from Bicester village & on the way back to London.  An institution and the best of restaurants near Bicester village where we love to wine & dine, but one should book way in advance.  We can confirm it’s also child friendly, whilst visiting with a weaned baby, Raymond Blanc team even enchanted the toddler’s palate with mango puree and our eyes with these sorbets.

Confessing in here,  mum and dad finished up whatever baby didn’t.  Afternoon tea  is another treat and so are Le Manoir gardens.

For the explorers, there’s also a herb garden, mushroom valley, waterpond, cloche tunnels, Japanese tea garden, apple and plum orchard. In case the dy trip to Bicester village requires a celebration, Le Manoir ticks all the right boxes.