Featured

Retail, Reimagined

Across Europe and beyond, The Bicester Collection blends luxury, local flavour and culture for a shopping experience that’s anything but ordinary

01 Aug 2025

Team ELLE DECOR India

Eat, drink, shop and repeat with a side of design and culture. Because shopping in concrete buildings with glass facades on the outside and fitted with chandeliers on the inside is mainstream, painfully predictable and as passe as elevator music. Divided by geography yet united by their pursuit of good taste and a desire to reimagine retail therapy, The Bicester Collection brings together destinations that champion cultural nuance, regional character and design-led discovery.

THE ART OF THE RETAIL RETREAT

With its villages in some of the most stylish cities in the world — London, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Munich, Madrid, Brussels, Frankfurt, Dublin, Shanghai and Suzhou, The Bicester Collection’s retail experience is anything but generic. Bespoke services like personal styling, exclusive collections, private sale invitations, and hands-free shopping — where your finds are packed and ready for you at the end of the day. The pinnacle, however, is in the Apartments — intimate and design-forward spaces that capture the cultural and artistic essence of each locale. Whether unwinding after a day of glorious (or gruelling shopping) or for a midday break, you can let down your hair, kick off your heels and sip on something sparkling, maybe a chilled coupe of champagne.

Ode to Craftsmanship at La Rozas Village, Madrid; Photograph courtesy The Bicester Collection

BUBBLY DETOUR: STOP HERE BEFORE CHAMPAGNE

And speaking of Champagne, the La Vallée Village in France is en route to the namesake town of bubbly from Paris. This shopping getaway hosts 120 internationally renowned brands alongside cafes and restaurants dotting the village, serving regional cuisine. Among them, is the standout Menu Palais, now helmed by three-star Michelin chef Christian Le Squer. Renowned for elevating ingredients from sea and land, he infuses each dish with flavour and emotion, inviting diners to savour the region’s culinary heritage.

And because The Bicester Collection is anything but conventional, earlier this year, summer was welcomed at La Vallée Village with sporting events featuring golf, tennis and kickboxing. Highlights included the Clarins Trophy tennis tournament, support for kickboxing champion Cyril Benzaquen, and preparations for the prestigious Pro-Am LVV Golf Cup.

Menu Palais, La Vallée Village, Paris; Photograph courtesy The Bicester Collection

La Roca Village, Barcelona; Photograph courtesy The Bicester Collection

A LEISURELY STROLL THROUGH BARCELONA

In Spain, where design is part of everyday life and Barcelona’s architecture speaks in tile, iron and curve, La Roca Village extends that cultural conversation into a space built for commerce and community.

Home to over 150 boutiques, from established Spanish and international names to emerging local designers, the Village integrates shopping into a setting shaped by early 20th-century Catalan modernism. Located in the Vallès Oriental region just outside Barcelona and part of The Bicester Collection, La Roca Village opened in 1998 as a pedestrian-only, open-air destination. It includes restaurants and cafés that sit naturally within this landscape, including Atmósferas Mordisco, which serves regional fare.

This summer, La Roca Village unveils a fresh wave of fashion and beauty arrivals, reimagining the guest experience with globally loved names and bold new voices. Among the highlights is Marc Jacobs, the epitome of contemporary design, now joined by playful beachwear from MC2 Saint Barth and the effortlessly cool sneakers of Superga. Lacoste brings its timeless sporty aesthetic, while the arrival of Japanese beauty powerhouse Shiseido adds a luxe skincare touch.
The Village is also home to a series of exclusive pop-ups this season. EME Studios introduces its next-generation Spanish streetwear, while two iconic Catalan brands—Custo Barcelona and SIMORRA—bring local design flair to the global stage.
Recent openings continue to elevate the Village’s style quotient: Isabel Marant channels a boho-meets-rock sensibility, Dr. Martens delivers punk-rooted edge with its cult-favourite footwear, and Cold Culture offers a minimalist, urban fashion statement for the creatively inclined.

Bicester village, London; Photograph courtesy The Bicester Collection

HOT OFF THE PRESS

For 30 years, Bicester Village, London has been perfecting the experience of luxury shopping and it shows. Built with profound respect for the English countryside, this Oxfordshire destination has evolved into a carefully curated ecosystem with 150 boutiques from renowned British and international fashion and lifestyle brands. The village emerged victorious in creating an experience that feels both quintessentially English yet global.

To mark this milestone, Bicester Village has launched two thoughtful initiatives that extend its influence beyond commerce. The Villager, the destination’s inaugural in-house publication, curates the finest local offerings, from hidden dining gems to exceptional accommodations. Alongside this, the Beyond Village Venturing travel itineraries invite visitors to explore the broader region with the same discerning eye that has made the village itself so compelling.

The publications are available at The Village News, a dedicated news kiosk that opened on May 1st as part of the anniversary celebrations. The timing feels deliberate — a physical space for print media in an increasingly digital world, reinforcing its commitment to tangible, considered experiences.

Plan your visit now www.thebicestercollection.com