Bicester is a town in the Cherwell district of north-eastern Oxfordshire in England, and at the 2001 UK census had a population of 28,672 (parish), 31,113 (urban area). It is currently one of the fastest growing towns in Oxfordshire[citation needed]. This growth has been favoured by its proximity to junction 9 of the M40 motorway linking it to Birmingham and London. It is close to Banbury, Kidlington, Brackley, Buckingham, Oxford, and Witney.