Bicester facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bicester
Market Square, Bicester
Bicester
Area	8.58 km2 (3.31 sq mi)
Population	37,020 (2021 census)
• Density	4,315/km2 (11,180/sq mi)
OS grid reference	SP5822
Civil parish	Bicester
District	Cherwell
Shire county	Oxfordshire
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BICESTER
Postcode district	OX25–27
Dialling code	01869
Police	Thames Valley
Fire	Oxfordshire
Ambulance	South Central
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Bicester and Woodstock
List of places UK England Oxfordshire 51°54′N 1°09′W / 51.90°N 1.15°W / 51.90; -1.15

Bicester (pronounced BIST-ər) is a lively market town in Oxfordshire, England. It's known for its historic town centre, green spaces, and a mix of local and well-known shops and restaurants. Bicester is also home to Bicester Village, a popular shopping spot.

The town has grown a lot recently. People like living here because of its good rail links to major cities like London, Birmingham, and Oxford. Soon, it will also connect to Milton Keynes and possibly Cambridge via the East West Rail line. Bicester is also easy to reach by road from nearby towns like Brackley and Aylesbury.

Bicester is becoming a "garden town," meaning it's planned to have lots of green spaces and well-designed homes. Many new, eco-friendly houses have been built, especially in areas like Elmsbrook and Graven Hill. The town is quite flat, which makes it great for walking and cycling. There's even a big project to improve paths for walkers and cyclists.

Bicester has its own local government, called a town council. In 2014, the government decided Bicester should become a garden city. This means up to 13,000 new homes will be built here. In 2024, Bicester elected its first mayor from the Green Party.

What's in a Name? The Origin of Bicester

The name Bicester has a few possible origins. It might come from an old personal name, Beorna, meaning "Fort of the Warriors." Another idea is that it comes from the Latin Bi-cester, meaning "two forts." This makes sense because a Roman fort called Alchester is only about 2 miles (3 km) away. The town's name has changed many times over the centuries, with 45 different spellings found in old documents!

A Look Back: Bicester's History

Early Days

Bicester is located near where two old Roman roads met. One went east to west, and the other went north to south. A Roman fort was also nearby. Around the 6th century, a group called the West Saxons settled here, right where these important routes crossed.

Churches and Priories

St Edburg’s Church, Bicester

St. Edburg’s Church in Bicester was likely founded around the mid-7th century. It was an important church for the area, possibly serving as a mission centre. The earliest church was probably made of wood. Later, it was rebuilt with stone.

The town is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, an old survey of England. It was called Berencestra then. Bicester grew as two separate settlements on opposite sides of the River Bure, which flows into the River Thames.

By the end of the 1200s, Bicester was a central point for 33 churches. An Augustinian priory (a type of monastery) was built here between 1182 and 1185. Parts of this old priory still exist in the town centre. The priory owned a lot of land, but it seems they didn't manage it very well.

The church itself was made bigger over time. In the 14th century, a north aisle was added. Later, in the 15th century, the upper walls of the main part of the church were raised to add more windows. The tall west tower was also built in stages, taking several years to finish.

Dovecote in Old Place Yard, Bicester

The priory church was built around 1200 and later expanded. The priory had a walled area south of the church. The old gatehouse was where the 'Chapter and Verse' Guesthouse is today. The dovecote (a building for doves) and some houses in Old Place Yard are within the old priory grounds.

Bicester became an important trading centre with a market and fair by the mid-1200s.

Military Connections

Bicester has a long history with the military. The Roman fort nearby was like an ancient army base. During the English Civil War (1642–1649), Bicester was used as a base for the Parliament's army.

Later, during the wars with France in the late 1700s, local people formed groups to protect the area. These groups, like the Bicester Independent Company of Infantry, trained to be ready for any invasion. They even performed a special gun salute for a local celebration!

Military buildings at the Graven Hill supply depot, Bicester

During the First World War, an airfield was built north of the town for the Royal Flying Corps. This later became a Royal Air Force (RAF) station, now called Bicester Airfield. It's considered one of the best-preserved old RAF bomber airfields in the UK.

The MoD's largest supply depot is also just outside Bicester. It even has its own internal railway system!

More Recent Times

Bicester Manor House, now owned by a housing association

In the late 1500s, the manor (land and buildings) of Market End in Bicester was given to Sir Thomas Stanley, a powerful lord. Later, in 1597, the manor's rights were sold to 31 main tenants. This meant the local people had more control over the market.

A big fire in 1724 destroyed many buildings on Water Lane. In the 18th century, a bell-foundry (where church bells were made) operated in Bicester. Many of its bells still exist in churches today.

The town's two main parts, King's End and Market End, grew differently. Market End became the busy commercial centre with shops and inns around the market square. King's End was quieter, with the manor house and its large park.

As the town grew, people started building houses closer together. The small streams running through town were used for drainage, which caused pollution problems.

During the First World War, an airfield was built north of the town for the Royal Flying Corps. This became a Royal Air Force (RAF) station, and is now Bicester Airfield. It is home to a gliding club and there's a campaign to turn the RAF centre into a museum.

Where is Bicester?

Bicester is in the northern part of Oxfordshire. It's about 11 miles (18 km) east-northeast of Oxford. It's also close to the borders of Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.

Neighbouring areas

	Banbury, Royal Leamington Spa	Brackley, Northampton	Buckingham, Milton Keynes, Bletchley
	Chipping Norton, Cheltenham		Aylesbury, Leighton Buzzard
		Bicester
	Woodstock	Kidlington, Oxford	Thame

Parts of Bicester

Bicester is divided into five main areas for local elections: North, East, South, West, and Town. Some of the well-known parts of Bicester include:

• Highfield
• Woodfield
• King's End
• Bure Park
• Glory Farm
• Southwold
• Langford Village
• Kingsmere (a new housing area)
• Elmsbrook (a new eco-town)
• Graven Hill (a new housing area with self-built homes)
• New Langford

Bicester's Weather

Bicester has a typical oceanic climate like most of the United Kingdom. This means it has mild temperatures and rain throughout the year.

Buildings and Style: Bicester's Architecture

Vernacular buildings on the Causeway, Bicester

The older buildings in Bicester show a mix of styles from nearby areas. The oldest surviving buildings are the medieval St Edburg church and some houses from after the monasteries were closed. These buildings are mostly made of grey oolitic limestone from a quarry about 5 miles (8 km) away. Some buildings also use reddish-brown ironstone or white and bluish-grey limestone from local quarries.

Early homes were often made with timber frames, filled in with plaster and painted. Others were built with brick or local stone. Clay from the river valleys was used to make bricks and tiles. Older roofs were often made of thatch or heavy limestone slabs. Later, in the 1800s, blue slate from North Wales became popular for roofs, thanks to canals and railways making transport easier.

Thatched Building in King's End, Bicester

Even with new building styles, Bicester continued to use local materials for a long time. Many new buildings were built next to older ones, sometimes with new fronts or upper floors added to make them look more modern.

Bicester Library

Getting Around: Transport in Bicester

Roads

The closest major motorway to Bicester is the M40 motorway. This road connects to the A34 towards Oxford and the A41 for Bicester and Aylesbury. Bicester also has a ring road that helps traffic flow around the town.

Trains

Bicester North Railway Station, opened 1905, on the Birmingham - London line

Bicester got its first railway line in 1851, connecting it to Bletchley and Oxford. A station called Bicester London Road (later Bicester Town) opened then. Sadly, Bicester's first fatal train accident happened at this station in 1851.

In 1910, the Great Western Railway opened a new, faster line through the north of Bicester, connecting London Paddington to Birmingham. This line had a larger station called Bicester North.

Bicester Village railway station, previously called Bicester Town railway station, re-opened on 26 October 2015 as part of the Oxford - Bicester - London Marylebone line.

The line to Oxford was closed in 1968 but partly reopened in 1987. Now, the East West Rail project is working to restore passenger services between Oxford and Bletchley via Bicester by 2025.

Bicester has also benefited from the Chiltern Evergreen 3 project. This created a new main line allowing trains to run from London Marylebone to Oxford through Bicester. The old Bicester Town station was completely rebuilt and renamed Bicester Village railway station, after the nearby shopping centre. It opened in 2015.

Buses

Several bus companies serve Bicester. Stagecoach East connects Bicester with Bedford, Milton Keynes, and Oxford. Stagecoach in Oxfordshire buses link Bicester with Oxford, Banbury, and other local villages. Other companies provide local services too.

Air Travel

Bicester is conveniently located near several major airports. Luton Airport is the closest major airport, about an hour's drive away. Heathrow Airport and Birmingham Airport are also within an hour's drive. Bicester Airfield, which is for private flights, is right next to the town.

How Bicester is Run: Governance

The Garth, a former hunting lodge, now offices of Bicester Town Council. The surrounding Garth Park is now a public park, playground, skate park, and café

Bicester has three levels of local government:

• Bicester Town Council: This is the local council for the town itself. Their offices are at The Garth on Launton Road.
• Cherwell District Council: This council covers a wider area, including Bicester.
• Oxfordshire County Council: This is the largest local government body, covering the whole county of Oxfordshire.

Historically, Bicester was divided into two areas, King's End and Market End, each with its own local board to manage services like water and roads. In 1875, these two areas merged into one Bicester district. In 1946, the Bicester Urban District Council bought The Garth, a large house, and turned it into their headquarters. The grounds became Garth Park, a public park. In 1974, the urban district council was replaced by the current Bicester Town Council.

Learning in Bicester: Schools

Bicester has three secondary schools for older students: The Bicester School, the Cooper School, and Whitelands Academy.

There are also many primary schools for younger children, including: Langford Village Primary, Glory Farm Primary School, Southwold, Brookside Primary School, St Edburg's, Five Acres, Longfields, St Mary's Primary School, King's Meadow, Bure Park Primary, and Gaglebrook Primary School. A new primary school is also planned for the Kingsmere development.

News and Sounds: Media

For local news and TV, Bicester residents can watch BBC South and ITV Meridian.

Bicester has several local radio stations: BBC Radio Oxford (95.2 FM), Heart South (102.6 FM), Capital Mid-Counties (107.6 FM), Greatest Hits Radio South (106.4 FM), Hits Radio Oxfordshire (107.9 FM), and a community radio station called 3Bs Radio.

The Bicester Advertiser is the town's weekly local newspaper.

Fun and Games: Sport and Leisure

Bicester has many sports clubs and leisure activities.

• Cricket: Bicester and North Oxford Cricket Club plays at Akeman Street.
• Rugby: Bicester Rugby Club was founded in 1947 and plays at the Akeman Street Ground.
• Football: Bicester Town Football Club was founded in 1896. Bicester Colts F.C. organizes teams for younger players.
• Swimming: Bicester Blue Fins Amateur Swimming Club has been at Bicester Leisure Centre since 1971.

The Bicester Leisure Centre, opened in 1970, has a swimming pool, gym, and sports pitches. Other popular activities include tennis at the Bicester Tennis Club and lawn bowls at the Bicester Bowls Club, which started in 1862. There are also two 18-hole golf courses. A traditional game called Aunt Sally is also popular in the town.

Bicester Town Council provides many sports and leisure facilities at Pingle Field and Sunderland Drive.

Shopping in Bicester

The Market Square, Bicester

Bicester's historic shopping streets, like Sheep Street and Market Square, have a variety of independent shops, well-known brands, cafés, pubs, and restaurants. Sheep Street is now a pedestrian area, making it nice for walking around. There are weekly markets on Fridays, plus farmers' markets and sometimes a French market.

Part of Bicester Village

A big redevelopment project called Pioneer Square opened in 2013. It includes a Sainsbury's supermarket, a 7-screen Vue Cinemas, and many smaller shops and restaurants like Nando's and Prezzo. There are also plans to make the Market Square even more pedestrian-friendly, like a European plaza.

South of Bicester, you'll find the famous discount brand outlet, Bicester Village. Beyond that is Bicester Avenue Home & Garden Centre, one of the largest garden centres in the UK.

Places of Worship: Churches

Tower of St Edburg's Parish Church

Most churches in Bicester work together as an informal group called "Churches in Bicester." This helps them share responsibilities and support local projects like the Bicester Food Bank and the Bicester Refugee Support Group.

Member churches include:

• Journey Communities
• St Edburg's Parish Church (Church of England)
• Emmanuel Church (Church of England)
• Bicester Community Church
• Bicester Methodist Church
• The Church of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic)
• Elim Lighthouse Church (Pentecostal)
• Orchard Baptist Church
• The Salvation Army

Some churches that are not part of this group are Bicester Baptist Church and Hebron Gospel Hall.

What's Next for Bicester? Future Development

Elmsbrook Eco Town, Bicester

Bicester is currently undergoing several construction projects. A new Tesco superstore has recently been completed. The old Tesco site will be used to expand the Bicester Village shopping centre.

In 2014, Bicester was chosen to be the UK government's second new garden city. This means up to 13,000 new homes could be built here to help with the housing shortage. The former Bicester Town railway station was reopened as Bicester Village Station to serve the growing population. This station will also be part of the planned East West Rail Project, connecting Oxford to Cambridge.

As part of its garden town status, the Elmsbrook Eco-Town has been built to the northwest of Bicester. These homes are built with high environmental standards, using features like solar panels, rainwater collection, and shared heating systems. The first residents moved into the Eco-Town in 2016.

Self-Build Homes, at Graven Hill, Bicester

Another large development called Kingsmere has been built to the southwest. Also, a special neighbourhood for self-built homes has been created at Graven Hill, on a former Ministry of Defence site. The idea was to offer an alternative to mass-produced houses. About 1,900 homes are planned here, mostly for people to build themselves. Some of the first self-builders were even featured on the TV show Grand Designs: The Street.

Friends Around the World: Twin Towns

Bicester is twinned with several towns in other countries. This means they have special friendly relationships and often exchange visits.

• Neunkirchen-Seelscheid, Germany
• Czernichów, Poland
• Canton des Essarts, France

Famous Faces: Notable Residents

Many interesting people have lived in or come from Bicester:

• Albert Freeman Africanus King: A doctor who cared for Abraham Lincoln when he was shot.
• John Dunkin: A local historian who wrote detailed books about Bicester's history.
• Tim Harvey: A racing car driver and TV commentator.
• Jenson Button: A famous racing car driver.
• Isla St Clair: A singer and broadcaster.
• Andy Gomarsall: Played Rugby Union for Bicester and for England.
• Freddie Jones: An actor who died in Bicester in 2019.
• Ian Paice: The drummer for the rock band Deep Purple, who grew up in King's End.
• Alun Howkins: A history professor who presented the BBC TV series Fruitful Earth.
• Sam Long: A professional footballer for Oxford United.

Bicester's Symbol: Arms

Arms of Bicester

Notes Granted to Bicester Urban District Council, 30 October 1959 Crest On a wreath of the colours in front of a fox's mask two stalks of wheat in saltire leaved Proper. Escutcheon Barry nebuly Or and Gules a hurt charged with a fleur de lys Gold. Motto Ut Tibi Sic Aliis (Unto Thyself So To Others)

Images for kids

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  Row of colourful town houses on Queen's Avenue, Bicester

See also

In Spanish: Bicester para niños