things to see and do

I have asked her but she has only been there 6 months and is now in the us for a month visiting.

Since you have a few months, might your sister-in-law who lives there have some time to scope out some things for you? She could get local recommendations, and might find some "hidden gems" that guidebooks might miss.

I googled Bicester tourist information and found a lot. Nice brochure to download from www.visitnorthoxfordshire.com

I was in Bicester today, buying a few things for the kitchen. Bicester has two stations so rail travel to and from London and the Midlands is quite easy. Bicester is a close neighbor to Oxford, linked by a fast dual carriageway A-Road. Anything which might attract you in Oxford can be easily done from Bicester. Visit a College or two, walk through the cobbled lanes all around Oxford University. Have a stroll or ride in the canal or river Cherwell. Visit Banbury ( that Banbury of the Cross and bun). Easy hop into the Cotswolds and all that has to offer. Stowe Garden is very close. Silverstone is too, for motorsport. You will be just down the road from Blenheim Palace. Visit the beautiful honey coloured town of Witney. I've just begun. What would you and your gang like to do?

thanks for the info, what about hands on activities. I've seen some tour groups offer distillery tours and what about any factory tours. Also how would you suggest traveling to Scotland? Train or rent a car or bus? I also love animals.

Pam, you will be in a great location. You will be close to Oxford, which rewards multiple visits. I'm not sure of the rail connections in Bicester, but Oxford is about an hour by rail from London. Easy to go in for a day. Or to see a show in the evening, if you watch the clock so you don't miss the last train home. You will be a few hours by car from the southwest: Dorset, Cornwall, etc. And about as close to Wales. You can get there by train but you may need to go from Oxford to Reading to catch the westbound trains. Scotland? If you drive, you might want to take your time and spend a night on the way. By rail, I'm not sure if there are routes from Oxford. You'd need to get into London. You'd arrive at Paddington Station, make your way across town to King's Cross Station, and board an East Coast Line train to Edinburgh or beyond. The Edinburgh run is about 4-1/2 hours from King's Cross. Up to Inverness comes close to 8 hours.

Bicester has two rail stations, Bicester North and Bicester Town. They are on different lines. For Oxford, Bicester Town has a service which only stops once and takes 26 minutes; tickets as low as £2.40 one way, 10 pence more for a return ticket. Or, for lots more scenery but a corresponding rise in price, you can go from Bicester North via Banbury including a change there. It is quickest and cheapest to go to London from Bicester North on Chiltern Trains into London Marylebone. Advance (no change, no refund, booked train only) tickets are as low as £9 each way but must be booked well in advance. Trains to London from Bicester Town on Chiltern Trains will require a change in Oxford onto First Great Western Trains into Paddington (easy from there onto the Heathrow Connect or Heathrow Express to Heathrow). Somewhat higher prices for the more round about journey and 2 train companies.