Bicester is a market town in Oxfordshire, filled with historical significance and known for being an amazing shopping destination but, is Bicester a nice place to live? 

Within this article we are going to explore the various facets of living in Bicester to help you answer this question for yourself. So, is Bicester a nice place to live? Let’s find out. 

The History and Charm of Bicester

Bicester’s history is believed to date back to Roman times as it lies close to the junction of two Roman roads. A Roman fortress can also be found at Alchester which is just two miles from Bicester. After the Romans, the West Saxons established a settlement in the area in the 6th Century. 

Bicester was officially founded in 643 under the name Berencester and it is later referred to in the Domesday Book in 1086. 

St Edburg’s Church was founded in the 7th Century and remains the church that the parishioners of Bicester attend. It is the oldest and only Grade 1 listed building in Bicester, it is a major part of the town’s history and a significant landmark in the countryside.

Bicester is a town with a great deal of history and charm so would be a wonderful place to live for history buffs. 

Transportation & Connectivity

Bicester is well connected to the rest of the UK via its excellent transport links. 

It is connected via the road by being just a short distance from the M40 and within easy reach of Oxford via the A34. 

When it comes to travelling by train, Bicester is connected to places such as Oxford, Birmingham and London. It is served by the Chiltern Railway service from London Marylebone with services for Oxford stopping at Bicester Village station and to Birmingham at Bicester North station. Both stations are within easy walking distance of the town centre and are also served by local bus services.

It is also well served by buses, regionally, by the X5 service which runs a frequent service between Oxford and Cambridge calling at major towns Buckingham, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge. Stagecoach Buses also operate the S5 between Bicester and Oxford serving many parts of the town. Bicester Park and Ride on the A41 at the western edge of the town is served by the S5.

Shopping & Leisure in Bicester

Bicester is well known as a shopping destination thanks to it being the home of Bicester Village. Bicester Village is an open air shopping destination in the heart of Bicester and it is one of the UK’s premier luxury shopping spots. It has more than 150 boutiques, including Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood, and it offers these designer items at prices you will love. 

There is also Bicester Shopping Park which has well-known high street brands on offer such as Marks & Spencers, Next and Boots. It also has a Pure Gym within it so if you are more into fitness than shopping, you will still enjoy a visit to the shopping park. 

Bicester also has a cinema, an indoor trampoline park and a climbing centre. Whatever you enjoy doing, you will find something fun to do in Bicester. 

Education & Schools

If you have or want children, there are many excellent schools within Bicester. 

There is the Dr. Radcliffe Church of England Primary School which has an Ofsted rating of Good. The values of the school are respect, truthfulness, friendship, compassion, forgiveness and trust which reflect the Christian moral principles which are a very important part of the school. 

Fringford C of E School also has an Ofsted rating of Good and, again, Christian values underpin life within the school. They provide a positive, secure and happy environment in which children are accepted as individuals, encouraged to assume responsibility and given a life-long love of learning. 

The Bicester School is a secondary school that wants its pupils to ‘Aspire and Achieve’. Students within this school perform very well, with many going on to study at the University of Oxford. 

Housing & Real Estate

Bicester has a variety of property types on offer, with the majority of sales in the last year being terraced properties which sell at an average price of £313.038. Detached properties sell for an average of £514,620 and semi-detached properties fetch around £360,536. This all makes the average sale price for a home in Bicester of £366,419.

Employment Opportunities

There are many employment opportunities within Bicester, in particular in the logistics sector as there are a number of important logistics organisations located in Bicester. These include Bibby Distribution, 4 Kings Logistics, Exel, Clayton DA Transport, Davies International, Interlink Express and DHL. 

With its excellent transport links, you would also be able to look further afield for employment, in places such as Oxford and London. 

Pros and Cons of Living in Bicester

As with any place, there are advantages and disadvantages to living in Bicester. 

The advantages are that you will be living in a beautiful part of Oxfordshire that has a rich history, excellent transport links and some very good schools. 

The disadvantages are that places like Bicester Village are extremely popular with tourists so the town can get very busy at times. Also, the houses are not the cheapest so you would have to think about what you can afford.

Is Bicester Right a Nice Place To Live?

So, is Bicester a nice place to live?

This is a question you have to answer yourself but, for us, it is definitely a nice place to live. It is a town with so much history, whilst having many modern day conveniences. It has excellent schools and amazing transport links. 

If you are considering moving to Bicester, we encourage you to come for a visit and to do some further research based on your own lifestyle needs and what you enjoy doing. 

Once the research is done, if you decide that Bicester is the place for you, our self storage in Bicester will really come in handy. You will be able to store your belongings in one of your units whilst you get your new home ready and you will be able to unpack at your own pace. All your belongings will be safe as each of our units is fitted with high-quality security and there is 24/7 CCTV around the entire facility. Give us a call on: 01869 254 245 or click here to find out more.