cafe
Bicester Heritage
A former RAF bomber station transformed into the UK's hub for historic motoring excellence with specialist workshops and regular Scramble events.
2 km · about 5 min drive
EuropeUnited KingdomEngland
Bicester
England, United Kingdom · Europe
About Bicester
Bicester works well as a base: 5 minutes from Ambrosden, 21km from The Silverstone Experience.
Bicester is in England, United Kingdom, with about 34,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Ambrosden, about 4 km away.
Bicester ( BIST-ər) is a market town and civil parish in the Cherwell district of Oxfordshire, England, 11 miles (18 km) north-east of Oxford. The town is a notable tourist attraction due to the Bicester Village shopping centre. The historical town centre – designated as a conservation area – has a local market andRead more
numerous independent shops and restaurants. Bicester also has a town council and a mayor.
The town has long had good transport links, being at the intersection of two Roman roads (Akeman Street and a north–south route between Dorchester and Towcester). It has direct rail connections to Oxford, London and Birmingham, and is on the route of under-construction East West Rail which will link it directly to Milton Keynes and Cambridge. The A41 primary road runs through the town, connecting it to Aylesbury, the M40 and the A34.
Bicester experienced significant growth in the 20th century due to its strategic military role, with RAF Bicester established in 1917 and a major ordnance depot built in 1942 to support World War II operations. These installations spurred post-war urban development. RAF Bicester closed and has since been repurposed for civilian use as a heritage centre.
Bicester is one of the fastest-growing towns in Oxfordshire. It lies within the Oxford-Cambridge Arc, a nationally designated area for growth and development, and has expanded rapidly in recent generations, and more residential development is planned to bring the population up to around 50,000. The town was awarded Garden Town status by the government in 2014, although the designation has been criticised for not having a substantive effect on the way development is carried out in the town. Nonetheless, high-quality and environmentally friendly housing stock has been constructed. Examples of new development include Elmsbrook the North West Bicester eco-town and the self-built homes at Graven Hill.
Where to Stay in Bicester
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Bicester?
Within an hour or so of Bicester: Bicester Heritage (2 km), Bodleian Library Divinity School (Hogwarts infirmary) (18 km), Christ Church Oxford (Great Hall inspiration and staircase) (18 km), New College Cloister, Oxford (Moody's ferret scene) (18 km).
Are there any good drives near Bicester?
The nearest famous roads are Crystal Palace Circuit, A466 Wye Valley (Chepstow to Monmouth) and Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Where is Bicester?
Bicester is in England, United Kingdom, about 4 km from Ambrosden.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 33,846
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Region
- England
- Timezone
- Europe/London
- Coordinates
- 51.9000, -1.1536
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in United Kingdom
112 also works. NHS non-emergency medical advice: 111. National Highways breakdown assistance on motorways: 0300 123 5000.
Full driving guide for United KingdomTags
Worth the detour from Bicester
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
film location
Bodleian Library Divinity School (Hogwarts infirmary)
Oxford's 15th-century Divinity School was the Hogwarts hospital wing, and Duke Humfrey's Library above it the Hogwarts library.
18 km · about 20 min drive
film location
Christ Church Oxford (Great Hall inspiration and staircase)
The college's hall inspired the Hogwarts Great Hall set, and its 16th-century fan-vaulted Bodley staircase appears as the entry where McGonagall greets first-years.
18 km · about 20 min drive
film location
New College Cloister, Oxford (Moody's ferret scene)
The cloister and its ancient holm oak are where Mad-Eye Moody transfigures Draco Malfoy into a ferret in Goblet of Fire.
18 km · about 20 min drive
museum
The Silverstone Experience
Immersive museum at the home of British motorsport telling the story of the past, present, and future of racing.
21 km · about 25 min drive
racetrack
Silverstone Circuit
The home of British motorsport, hosting the first ever F1 World Championship race in 1950
22 km · about 25 min drive
cafe
Super Sausage Cafe
Legendary transport cafe on the A5 Watling Street near Potterspury, a favourite fry-up stop for bikers and classic car runs heading between London and the Midlands since the 1960s.
27 km · about 30 min drive
museum
Bletchley Park
Victorian estate where Alan Turing and thousands of codebreakers cracked the German Enigma cipher, arguably shortening WWII by years. Restored huts, working Bombe machine, and the National Museum of Computing next door.
30 km · about 35 min drive
Driving roads near Bicester
7 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 150km.
- 59 kmCleeve HillThe highest point of the Cotswolds at 330 m, an open common above Cheltenham with views to the Malverns and Wales.
Driving in United Kingdom
- Drives on
- the left
- Petrol
- ~€1.73/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
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