Bicester is Oxfordshire’s home of exciting motorsports and fantastic shopping! Located just half an hour’s drive away from Witney – the home of Hardwick Parks – Bicester has plenty to offer, whether you’re into fast cars or great designer bargains.
Featuring 160 fashion and lifestyle outlets across half a kilometre of purpose-built shopping village, Bicester Village is one of the largest outlet shopping centres in Europe. With designer stores including Gucci, Calvin Klein, Vivienne Westwood and more, Bicester Village is a haven for bargain hunters all over the world, indeed, Bicester Village is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country! It’s not just about clothes and deals however, as the mall features a range of quality restaurants, cafes and kiosks for when you need that all-important post-shop cup of coffee and bite to eat!
Bicester also lies deep in the heart of what is known as “Motorsport Valley” and is an ideal spot for petrol heads. With a wide range of car shows running throughout the year, as well as opportunities for some adrenaline pumping action behind a steering wheel, Bicester is a playground for motoring fans of all varieties.
Just a mile from the town centre, Bicester Heritage – once RAF Bicester – is the UK’s first business campus dedicated entirely to classic motoring. This one-of-a-kind location is home to specialist mechanics and traders who specialise in the restoration and sale of classic vehicles. Bicester Heritage hosts a range of motoring events throughout the year, including their regular Sunday Scramble rally of classics and modern-classics and yearly motoring, aircraft and military Flywheel Festival. If you’re looking to have some restoration work done, or just want to marvel at historical vehicles, Bicester Heritage is a must-visit for classic motoring fans.
If you fancy getting behind the wheel yourself, then Bicester offers you plenty of opportunities to get stuck in. Race around Oxfordshire’s only gravel special stage in a Subaru Impreza WRX at the London Rally School, or push the pedal to the metal in a 1969 Camaro SS or Formula Ford Turbo racer through speedy straights and twisting turns. No matter your poison, there’s a racing experience for you in Bicester.
It’s not just high-speed four-wheelers on offer however. You can also strap in for a different kind of thrill with one of the many military vehicle experiences available in the area. Take command of a 1960s armoured personnel carrier or an Alvis Spartan – known as the “sports tank” due to its use of a Jaguar E-Type engine – and learn just what it feels like to pilot a vehicle weighing in at a whopping 9-tonnes. If you’re not a fan of wheels at all, then take to the skies with one of the gliding and powered-gliding accompanied trial sessions offered by the Bicester Gliding Centre at Bicester Airfield.
So, whether you’re looking for high speeds or low prices, Bicester, only 20 miles from Hardwick Parks in Witney, has both in spades. Why not book your next great escape at Hardwick Parks and take advantage of these great activities along with so many more. To learn more about Hardwick Parks, and to book for the 2019 season, visit our website today. We look forward to welcoming you to Oxfordshire.
