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A cultural detour with The Bicester Collection

Open-air art, traditional craftsmanship and regional flavours bring each of The Bicester Collection’s Villages to life

29 Sep 2026

What if discovering Europe meant looking beyond its landmarks and into the hands that shape its culture? From contemporary artists and master craftsmen to designers reinterpreting age-old traditions, the continent’s culture is shaped by the people who keep its creative
practices moving forward. Across The Bicester Collection’s open-air Villages, shopping becomes a way to encounter these stories firsthand. Art spills into public spaces, traditional techniques find contemporary expression and regional flavours invite you to explore beyond the
expected.

At Bicester Village in London, British artist Beryl Cook’s joyful, cheeky take on everyday life comes to the forefront as she celebrates her 100th birthday with a mile- long open-air installation, launching on 10 September 2026. Created with Studio Voltaire, the exhibition scatters her larger-than-life characters across benches, signposts, balconies and iconic red phone boxes. It’s an invitation to encounter art in the most unexpected corners.

Café Laperouse at La Vallée Village in France; Photography courtesy of The Bicester Collection

That spirit of discovery continues with All Roads Lead to the Village, a season of food, fashion and music. Long lunches, live terrace music on Friday nights and a custom Land Rover Defender drinks bar set the scene, with a Formula 1 stream in the background. Culinary experiences such as Ottolenghi and Cecconi’s offer anchor the village flavour, while insider guides from tastemakers including Jessie Ware and Nick Grimshaw encourage visitors to explore the Oxfordshire countryside beyond the Village.

Across the Channel at La Vallée Village in France, craftsmanship is treated as a living language passed down through generations. The Art of the Gesture turns the Parisian destination into a year-long sensory celebration of French savoir-faire. Workshop-inspired spaces, couture benches and monumental installations transform the Village into a sensory exploration of making. In collaboration with the Institut pour les Savoir-Faire Français, the programme brings traditional techniques into a contemporary setting, giving visitors a closer look at the gestures, materials and expertise behind French craftsmanship. That celebration of French culture also comes alive at Café Lapérouse, a new café bringing a slice of Parisian café culture to La Vallée.

Photography courtesy of The Bicester Collection

Maasmechelen Village is currently marking 25 years of an incredible journey, transforming a former industrial coal-mining landscape into a hub of Belgian’s culture, hospitality, and design. Set at the crossroads of Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, the Village draws on regional character through heritage and lifestyle brands, artisanal chocolatiers, a traditional brasserie and a six-metre-high Manneken Pis.

At Ingolstadt Village, Nouveau Bavaria explores the relationship between tradition and reinvention through Art Nouveau, a concept that blends the region’s long-standing craft traditions and contemporary design. Inspired by Munich’s Art Nouveau heritage, the concept brings organic forms, ornamental details and decorative design into the Village’s industrial-inspired architecture. When Oktoberfest arrives, that story jumps from architecture to fashion as contemporary interpretations of traditional Tracht meet international luxury labels. Lodenfrey, Windsor x CocoVero and Lena Hoschek offer a modern take on Alpine style, showing how regional traditions can find new expression through design.

Discover the experiences across The Bicester Collection’s Villages