People who search “london to bicester village” are mostly comparing the train, the coach and a car. Here is how they stack up, and when a private driver is the better choice.
London to Bicester Village: train, coach, bus or car?
By train. Chiltern Railways runs from London Marylebone to Bicester Village station, which sits beside the outlet. If you are starting from King’s Cross or St Pancras, you will need to get across to Marylebone first. Fares and times are on National Rail. An advance ticket booked ahead is usually much cheaper than turning up on the day.
By coach or bus. Coaches from central London are the lowest-priced option, though the journey depends on traffic on the M40 and A40.
By car. Bicester Village is 63 miles from central London, about 1 hour 30 minutes without traffic. The route is the A40 and M40.
For one shopper, the train is the cheapest. For a group, or anyone who expects to come home with several bags, a chauffeur changes the day completely.
Why a private driver for a Bicester Village shopping trip
- Bags stay in the car. Your driver waits, so you can drop purchases in the boot and keep shopping. There is no carrying shopping bags back through the station.
- Door to door both ways. We collect you from your hotel or home in London and return you there at the end of the day.
- Leave when you choose. No timetable and no queue at the platform on a busy Saturday.
- One price for the car. Four friends in a Range Rover or eight in a V-Class split a single fixed fare.
- Comfort for a long day. An S-Class or E-Class is a quiet, calm way to start and end a day on your feet.
If you are a larger party, we can quote a Sprinter minibus for up to 16 people. See minibus and coach hire.
What a Bicester Village day costs by private car
Because Bicester is outside the M25, we charge the hourly rate with a 4-hour minimum, VAT included. A normal shopping day is 1 h 30 min each way plus around four hours at the village, so 7 hours in total.
That is £490 in an E-Class (up to 3 passengers), £595 in an S-Class (up to 3) or V-Class (up to 8), and £735 in a Range Rover (up to 4). The price is fixed before you book. For all the vehicles, see the price table.
What is at Bicester Village
Bicester Village is a designer outlet village in Oxfordshire with a large number of fashion and lifestyle boutiques selling previous-season stock at reduced prices. It is one of the most visited shopping destinations in the UK, and it is popular with international visitors, so weekends and sale periods can be busy.
Plan the day
Opening hours and any special events change through the year, so check the official Bicester Village website before you set off. Many visitors arrive at opening to avoid the crowds and queues for the fitting rooms.
Combine it with Oxford or the Cotswolds
Bicester is a short drive from Oxford, and the Cotswolds are not far beyond it. If you want to turn the day into something longer, ask for a stop in Oxford or a drive through the Cotswolds. Extra hours are charged at the same hourly rate, so you know the cost before you agree to it.
London to Bicester Village distance and route
The distance from central London is 63 miles. From west London the usual route is the A40 onto the M40, leaving at the Bicester junction and following the signs for the village, which is a few minutes from the motorway. From east or south London the first part of the journey is slower, because you have to cross the city before reaching the A40.
That is why the pick-up time matters. Leaving before the morning peak, or after it has eased, can take a good half hour or more off the journey. We will suggest a time when we quote. On weekdays, an arrival close to opening gives you the quietest hours in the shops.
Taxi or private driver to Bicester Village?
Searches for a London to Bicester Village taxi usually come from people who want the convenience of a car without a long train journey. A private driver is the same idea with the price fixed in advance and the vehicle chosen for your group. A black cab on the meter for a 63-mile run is hard to predict, and a normal taxi will not usually wait for four hours. With us the waiting time is part of the agreed price, so there is nothing to renegotiate when you come out of the last shop.
For a couple the train will still be cheaper. For a group of friends, a family, or someone with a long list and a lot of bags, the car is the more comfortable day.
Best time to go
Weekday mornings are calmer than weekends. The weeks around Black Friday, Christmas and the January and summer sales draw the biggest crowds. If you have flexibility, a Tuesday or Wednesday is usually the easiest. On very busy days the roads near the village can also slow down, which is another reason to let a driver handle the final approach.
Pick-up points in London
We pick up anywhere in London: Mayfair and Knightsbridge hotels, Kensington, the City, Canary Wharf, the airports or a private address. If you are arriving at Heathrow and want to go straight to the village, tell us and we will route the car accordingly.
How to book your Bicester Village transfer
- Send us your pick-up address, date, number of passengers and approximate luggage using the form below or our contact page.
- Tell us your preferred arrival time and how long you would like at the village.
- We reply with a fixed quote, VAT included.
- Confirm, and your driver meets you at the agreed time and place.
Our wider chauffeur service in London is available if you want a car for the rest of your stay.
Last updated 20 October 2026.
