What’s on in Bicester
Bicester is a town in the Cherwell district of Oxfordshire. The name comes from the Saxon for ‘the fort of the warriors’.
So whats on in Bicester? It is a lively town with lots of shops – the most popular probably being the ones in the designer outlet shopping village. If you like garden centre’s you are also in luck as Bicester has one of the largest in the UK.
Sheep Street, in the town centre, is pedestrianised and within easy access from the car parks. There are weekly Friday markets there and a visiting French market which sets up a few times a year.
Events happen throughout the year which bring the community together. In June, there is the Proms in the Park, put on by the Council and held in Garth Park. There’s also a Sunday band concert at the same venue later in the month. August brings the annual jazz concert – a popular event that is great for everyone.
Garth House and grounds were given to the town of Bicester in 1946 by Lord Bicester and three others. The Town Council retains the buildings and grounds that cover around 20 acres.
The grounds are something that the residents of the town are extremely proud of. The park today is used by families, teenagers (often for the skate park or a game of football on the grass), and those wishing to go for a pleasant walk. The park is home to beautiful flowers and trees and is a nice place to relax. The park even won a regional gold award in the ‘best large town’ category at the Thames and Chilterns ‘in bloom’ awards. Added to that, it picked up a gold award by the royal horticultural society and it will be part of the entry for the 2010 Britain in Bloom competition.
If you visit in July you may be lucky and catch the carnival that starts in Oxford road sports Field. It is a colourful event that brings the town alive come rain or shine.
The nearby villages of Juniper Hill, Fringford, Cottisford, and Hethe also worth exploring if you have time.
To find out more about Cherwell online, try www.cherwell-local.org.uk where you will find information about local events and clubs in Bicester, Banbury and Kidlington.