Bond Street in the country

When I moved to the wilds of Oxfordshire I was amazed to discover we had the out-of-town equivalent of Bond Street right on the doorstep. Bicester Village looks like a quaint New England street, all white clapboard shop-fronts and tasteful landscaping, but in reality it’s a shoppers’ paradise just two miles off the M40.

The 130 or so shops include all the names fashionistas worth their salt dream about, from Vivienne Westwood and Anya Hindmarch to Dolce & Gabbana and Versace. They stock clothes, bags, shoes, you name it, from last season at knock-down prices - perfect for these credit crunch times. Reductions range between 33 and 60 per cent but eagle-eyed shoppers make a point of watching out for “further reduction” periods, when some prices drop by a staggering 70 or 80 per cent.

The place attracts more than four million bargain-hunters a year from all over the world and is virtually always packed. With Christmas round the corner, Bicester Village has even organised late night shopping evenings till 8pm on Thursdays, complete with carol singers and mince pies. Armani, Gucci, Superdry and Phaidon Books have recently opened but my favourite shops are Mulberry, where last year I bought a gorgeous Bayswater bag at half price, Jack Wills (my stylish 18-year-old daughter says it’s too preppy for her but the staff are delightful), All Saints and L’Occitane for lavender bath oil that reminds me of Provence.

You can shop till you drop and then dive into Villandry, Pret A Manger or Starbucks for lunch. I’m a fan of the vast Carluccio’s, with its long, stylish tables and speedy service. The manager once told me it’s the busiest branch in the country and I’m not surprised.

Twenty-five miles west of Bicester Village is my other favourite haunt - the ultra-chic Daylesford Organic Farmshop. Daylesford owner Carole Bamford has opened other branches in Notting Hill and Pimlico and the shops have been garlanded with praise. Deservedly so. Some critics reckon the Gloucestershire shop is like stumbling across Harvey Nichols in the middle of the Cotswolds, but I love it. Apparently Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Moss and Kate Winslet are fans, but along with the superstars in dark glasses you’re just as likely to see locals like me picking up delicious freshly-made soda bread and a modest wedge of Daylesford organic cheddar. It’s absolute heaven.