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The Bicester Collection warms up for summer

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As the Middle East region gets into the peak of summer, travel agencies and websites are seeing a rise in outbound bookings over the coming months. Vacationers prefer escaping the weather and travelling toward cooler temperature countries that are well connected, have great food and shopping options.

 

THE LONDON EXPERIENCE

The Bicester Collection is preparing themselves for the summer surge. UK being a popular destination for the Middle Eastern tourist, the flagship Bicester Village, located on the edge of the Cotswolds at the heart of rural Oxfordshire enjoys a prime central location in England with exceptional transport links to London and more. The village and its more than 160 boutiques are within striking distance of renowned tourist destinations such as UNESCO World Heritage Site Blenheim Palace and Oxford with its world-famous university and celebrated Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology.

The Village has evolved into a destination that welcomes the travelling luxury consumer from all cover the world. The brands are featured on landscaped streets in a charming open-air and spacious setting that evokes the ambiance of the villages of south-east England. New Shopping Protocols ensure a curated and relaxing day-out experience, with plenty of complimentary parking and Bicester Village Station providing a regular direct 46-minute train service from London Marylebone.

Travellers visiting London in June will experience an exclusive collaboration between Bicester Village and the British Fashion Council. The Creative Spot x British Fashion Council pop-up boutique promotes innovative and sustainable British design. Curated by Richard Quinn, recipient of the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, the pop-up is showcasing 18 of the country’s most exciting designers. These include Alighieri, Christopher Kane, Completedworks, Preen by Thornton Bregazzi and more. In addition, the boutique introduces the designs of Rejina Pyo and Tata Naka to Bicester Village and will feature Ivana Nohel’s silk scarves (a favourite of Her Majesty The Queen), exclusively available in the Village.

 

THE IRISH ESCAPE

For those looking for a quainter village experience can head over to the neighbouring country – Ireland to The Bicester Collection’s Kildare Village located in County Kildare, the ‘beating heart’ of horse-racing country. Home to 100 boutiques of international fashion and lifestyle brands, the village is inspired by beautiful landscaping of County Kildare’s lush countryside featuring in-Village floral displays curated by world renowned florist Nikki Tibbles. The village is located just an hour south-west of central Dublin and perfectly situated for routes to important tourist destinations in the region including Cork, Limerick, and Galway. A bastion of Irish talent, Kildare Village strikes an astute balance between gentle regional charm and an artful spread of homegrown and international brands. Kildare Village is not only the perfect shopping destination this season, it is an ideal place to spend the day enjoying the best food and drinks from around the world, all set in the beautiful open-air skies of Kildare.

Tourists can also visit Ireland’s most populated region which also is famed for its tradition of thoroughbred horse breeding and racing. Kildare Village is located five minutes from the Irish national stud and Curragh Racecourse, home to the Irish Derby every Summer. Race days at the Curragh are very popular all year around. Take a 120-minute tour behind the scenes at the Curragh Racecourse, available from May to October, to locations that are strictly off-limits to the public on race days and gain an insight into what it is like to experience a race day as a jockey, a racehorse trainer and a racehorse owner. 

While travellers can enjoy a plethora of fashion brands, offering year-round savings of up to 60 per cent on the recommended retail price on leading local and international fashion and lifestyle brands, the villages also offer access to the VIP apartment, private shopping suites, hands-free shopping, Arabic signages, valet parking, a children’s playground, while F&B offerings include halal options.

This year, the villages anticipate much higher footfall from across the Middle East and are ready to share unique experiences perfect for the summer.   

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