| Bicester | |
|---|---|
 Market Square, Bicester | |
  Bicester Location within Oxfordshire | |
| Area | 8.58 km2 (3.31 sq mi) |
| Population | 37,020 (2021 census)[1] |
| • Density | 4,315/km2 (11,180/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | SP5822 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BICESTER |
| Postcode district | OX25–27 |
| Dialling code | 01869 |
| Police | Thames Valley |
| Fire | Oxfordshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | www |
Bicester (/ˈbɪstər/ BIST-ər) is an historical market town, garden town, and civil parish in the Cherwell district of northeastern Oxfordshire in south-central England. The town also comprises an eco-town development at North West Bicester and a self-build village at Graven Hill. Its local market continues to thrive and is now located on Sheep Street, a pedestrian zone in the conservation area of the town. Bicester is also known for Bicester Village, a nearby shopping centre.
Bicester has expanded rapidly in recent generations[2] due to the town's picturesque historical town centre, garden town layout,[3] independent and high-street shops, restaurants, as well as a rail connection to Oxford. It also boasts imminent connection to Cambridge, as well as rail links to Birmingham and London. It is similarly proximate to Brackley, Buckingham, Banbury, Milton Keynes, and Aylesbury by road. A considerable volume of high quality and environmentally friendly housing stock has been constructed recently, in particular at the Elmsbrook eco-town and the self-built homes at Graven Hill. Its flat topography and compact size is suited to walking and cycling, which, together with an active cycle campaign,[4] has attracted a significant focus on developing improved active travel infrastructure. This includes the majority of a recent £14 million central government award to Oxfordshire County Council for the purpose of developing safer walking and cycling schemes.[5]
Bicester has its own town council. In 2014, the government, in concert with the local planning authority, planned for Bicester to become a garden city on the basis of the size of its buffers, and distance from the Metropolitan Green Belt as well as to accommodate the demand of commuters to London and Oxford. Up to 13,000 new homes will be built.[6] In 2024 Bicester elected its first Green Party mayor.[7]
- ^ "Bicester". City population. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ United Kingdom Censuses 1951–2001
- ^ Council, Cherwell District. "Bicester Garden Town | Cherwell District Council". www.cherwell.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Bicester Bike Users Group". Bicester Bike Users Group. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Active travel fund: final allocations". GOV.UK. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ Bicester Garden City BBC News.
- ^ "Bicester Town Mayor". www.bicester.gov.uk. Retrieved 17 June 2024.