Bicester Village - Not as good as it was?

[Marmiteandjamislush]

Hi all,

We normal visit once a year to buy kitchen stuff, accessories and kids clothes for teenage family members (not our kids) Christmas etc. Just been on the web to plan the next visit and loads of things have closed down! Also, rang the Ugg store and asked them if they had some trainers in my size (dead comfy and last for years), they said yes, I asked how much and they gave me a price which is £20 over the regular shop price!

Anyhoo, anyone been recently, is it still worth the 1.5hr drive?

[CointreauVersial]

Too high-end nowadays. I prefer Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth.

[Marmiteandjamislush]

Thanks, I'll take a look!

[bonzo77]

I found it a bit crap. Either very poor reductions or rubbish that you couldn't pay me to take home. Ugh. I think if you know exactly what you want you're better of scouring t'interweb.

[PigeonPie]

A lot of the shops which used to be there have been 'asked to leave' or made very clear that they're not wanted. It's a shame, as they are loosing many of the useful shops which the people who live in the town actually liked and needed. It seems that they want the high end shops and the people of Bicester to staff the place, but not to actually clutter up the shops buying things!

[bonzo77]

*off

[Marmiteandjamislush]

Sounds pretty dire, and treating locals like that is appalling! Thinking we shall go elsewhere this year. Thanks all.

[DiscoDancer]

Oh, a bit gutted to read these posts as was planning to go for my birthday in September to get some autumn/winter stuff. Has been a couple of years since I've been though.

[DoristheCamel]

I used to live nearby and pop in from time to time for the few shops I liked but last time I visited it was rammed with coach loads of foreign tourists and the "its expensive so must look good brigade"(who frankly looked ridiculous ).

I personally wont travel the distance to go there again.

[dexter73]

It is only a 30 minute drive for me so I go sometimes just to have a drool over the handbags! I agree with people above that it is very designer now. It does make me laugh bit though as they still have Clarks which seems to draw huge crowds! I always get there at opening time as it gets absolutely packed by lunchtime.

[PigeonPie]

Apparently they are trying to manage out Clarks too. Clarks used to be in one of the bigger shops, but a while ago they were moved to a much smaller one. The mad thing is they are very popular with the overseas visitors, who will often bring card cutouts of their family's feet to get shoes for them all.

Clarks is one of the only shops that many Bicester people use because the 'proper' shop in town was closed a few years ago so this is pretty much the only place you can get school shoes in the area.

[aylesburyduck]

It's just down the road from me, and I do go from time to time, but I rarely buy anything.

I used to go a lot when it first opened and it was great, now its full of overpriced blingy stuff I'd look stupid in.

I do love the white company and l'occitane shops and carluccios for lunch am dead posh me

[Itscurtainsforyou]

I went a couple of weeks ago for the first time in years and was really disappointed. Lots of overpriced designer shops, nothing worth buying (or that would fit me!). I bought a face cream from the cosmetics store and left in disgust.

[MummyCoolski]

Last time I went I was disappointed that may of the higher-end High St. shops had gone. Depending upon where you are, Gloucester Quays might be worth a look? More of the brands that Bicester used to have 5-10 years ago.

[madammecholet]

All designer bargains reduced from £1000 to £998. Not the good value it was once...

[dexter73]

Blimey Madammecholet, you must have gone crazy with those kind of reductions!

[Cereal0ffender]

Dh needed some swimming trunks so we went into the swimming trunk shop and openly laughed when the shop assistant told us the prices. It is a pile of cack these days

[Cereal0ffender]

lolz who buys this shit?

[msrisotto]

It is very hit and miss but I think there is still the odd bargain to be had.

[AnnoyingOrange]

MacArthur glen at Swindon is more high st

www.mcarthurglen.com/uk/swindon-designer-outlet/en/the-brands/

[maybemyrtle]

I popped in recently when I was up that way for work and only set foot in a handful of shops. The only thing I bought was a sandwich from Tesco (techincally offsite) and a perfume from Penhaligons, which was a planned purchase.

Does anyone know if the Adidas and Nike shops at Gunwharf Quays Portsmouth usually have good discounts? I'm not too far from there and wondering if they'll be worth the trip.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

It's a shame it's not what it was, no real bargains to be had

[tak1ngchances]

Ill go against the grain here and say that i love bicester.
went about 4 weeks ago and filled the car boot.
DH got 2 suits fir work, 3 shirts in Thomas pink, and shoes.
i got 3 pairs of shoes in lk Bennett, a Michael kors handbag, a Ralph Lauren outfit for my niece, some molton brown goodies and a crystal decanter.

every single thing i bought was at least 30% cheaper than in normal shops and some things were 70%.

[Marmiteandjamislush]

Sorry I've not been back for a bit. Busy day. I will certainly look at Gloucester Quays Cereal, they are pretty horrible for the price, pretty sure that KM bought some for PW when they were dating!