Bicester

Bicester is fundamentally a place people base themselves in rather than a destination in its own right. The town has nearly thirty hotels and guest houses, from the Lion—which has accumulated over 1,200 reviews at 4.4 rating—down through the Lancaster Close and Premier Inn properties, the latter two sitting just above 4.2. For those wanting more space, Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa offers both leisure facilities and accommodation. There are two campsites here as well: Francis Fields, rated exceptionally highly at 4.9 from 31 reviews, and Glebe Leisure, which has built a following of over 400 reviewers at 4.3.

The activities on offer are modest but genuine. Vue Bicester is the largest, a cinema with more than 1,700 reviews and a 4.3 rating. AirHop Adventure & Trampoline Park provides somewhere energetic for families or groups, rated 4.1 from 777 reviews. The Leisure Centre & Bowling serves the same instinct for activity—bowling specifically, plus other leisure amenities—and has accumulated nearly 600 reviews at 3.9. For eating out, The Barley Mow is listed here, rated 4.4 from 37 reviews.

What emerges is a practical town: somewhere to sleep while visiting the region, with a cinema for an evening and somewhere to eat, and facilities to occupy an afternoon. The volume of mid-range hotel stock suggests this is familiar territory for business travel and family holidays. Two decent campsites add another layer of choice.