FOURWALLS FOCUS: THE COTSWOLDS
When Lady Bamford opened her farm shop on the Daylesford estate in 2002, who could have predicted the sensation it would cause? Now, properties in this part of the Cotswolds command a high price tag, such is their location near to one of the area’s best food retailers. In this way, pockets of extreme affluence have popped up all over the Cotswolds: around Soho Farmhouse, Nick Jones’ ‘creatives only’ members’ club; amongst the lakes of the Cotswold Water Park, such as Lakes By Yoo or Lower Mill Estate; in the Stroud Valley, where the more bohemian way of life still costs a pretty penny. Not all of The Cotswolds is prohibitively pricey, however, and many families find fixer uppers, new developments or lesser-known villages which offer the lifestyle without the price tag. The region is one of our most popular, so let us (and our local staff) share the best places to live in the Cotswolds, in 2025.
WHY THE COTSWOLDS?
The Cotswolds need no introduction: appearing almost annually on ‘top places to live’ supplements in the papers, there’s no town or village in this area of outstanding natural beauty that hasn’t been featured in one glossy magazine or another. The main appeal is, almost certainly, the chance to live amongst the rolling landscapes, honeyed Cotswold stone cottages and beautiful estates of this part of the world; whatever the season or the weather, this is a place that offers a relaxing, outdoor-orientated lifestyle, with stunning countryside right on the doorstep. But it’s also very liveable, with plenty of amenities and attractions to explore and fantastic road and rail communications with the wider area. Of course, because of the setting, house prices are considerably higher than other rural regions of the UK: the average house price in July 2025 was £443,000. The UK average is around £270,000.
With the continued popularity of flexible working, more rural areas are increasingly popular, as we saw with the exodus to the countryside during the Covid pandemic. Now workers have returned to office-based on a hybrid or part-time schedule – some even lucky to have remained fully remote – the proximity to a station is key. The fringes of the Cotswolds are well equipped for this, with the west having access to Kemble or Stroud, the east via Charlbury and the satellite stations above Oxford, the north via Moreton-in-Marsh and the south via Swindon, though those in the centre, within the triangle between Cirencester, Bourton-on-the-Water and Burford, have a longer drive to a station. Thankfully road links are excellent: once you’ve wound your way along a country lane (if you’re lucky to be very rural), much of the area has good access to a motorway. The A417/A419 has seen massive regeneration via the Missing Link project, improving the dual carriageway between the M4 and M5 motorways, and cutting commute times between the north and south of the region.
Whilst the transport links facilitate a straightforward commute, there are plenty of employment opportunities in the Cotswolds. Leading employers include GE Aviation based near Cheltenham, the National Health Service and the defence sector, with both BAE Systems and GCHQ located here. The area is a well-known tourism destination and there are countless hotels, inns and restaurants to support the influx of people throughout the season. The high average income has seen an increase in financial services firms to the area, and wealth and asset management firms such as St James’ Place are situated here. It’s a testament to the liveability of the area that many founders of global brands have chose to stay headquartered in the Cotswolds, such as Superdry and Holland Cooper.
Spotlight on: Broadway
In the far north of the AONB, Broadway is in Worcestershire, and although it misses out on the coveted GL postcode, it’s highly sought after – it’s often referred to as the ‘jewel of the Cotswolds’. The village is named after its wide high street, lined on either side with stunning Cotswold stone buildings the colour of summer wheat. Visitors and residents alike relish the well-stocked delicatessen, antique shops, interiors stores and tea shops. It’s a delightful place to live.
Enjoy a closer look at Broadway in our Local Area Spotlight video to the left.
BEST PLACES TO LIVE IN THE COTSWOLDS
There are no bad places to live in this beautiful corner of the UK, but some towns and villages have a special blend of charm that draws people in like nowhere else.
North Cotswolds
The North Cotswolds area is more traditionally and recognisably ‘Cotswolds’, and because of this, prices are usually higher. Moreton-in-Marsh is set in the Evenlode Valley and is popular for its chocolate box houses and proximity to co-ed prep school, Kitebrook. Other sought-after towns and villages include Chipping Campden (with its gorgeous high street), Stow-on-the-Wold (a historic wool town) and beautiful Broadway, known for its antiques shops and pretty cafes.
Stroud Valley
Clean air, rolling hills, a great market: just a few reasons why Stroud was named ‘best place to live’ by The Sunday Times in 2021. The appeal hasn’t waned in the intervening years, though residents will still say that the only downside to the town is that everywhere is, somehow, an uphill walk. Stroud High School (for girls) is one of the top schools in Gloucestershire the highest performing state girls’ school in the South West.
South Cotswolds
The southern end of the Cotswold Hills AONB is lesser visited and therefore has a more relaxed vibe. The village of Castle Combe is one of England’s prettiest and is the kind of postcard-perfect idyll that most prospective homebuyers have in mind when relocating here. While not in the Cotswolds proper, Bath is at the far south of the region and is a cosmopolitan city with stunning Palladian architecture which has made it worthy of UNESCO listing.
Cirencester & Tetbury
Cirencester and Tetbury are just 10 miles apart: the two market towns are quite similar, with plenty of independent shops, charming pubs, useful amenities apiece, making them fantastically liveable. Cirencester has a good buzz about the place and a great market square, plus excellent access to green spaces. Tetbury is smaller with a more concentrated centre but has everything a resident might need; it’s particularly popular with families who flock to the many new build developments on the fringes.
Cheltenham
The Cotswolds borders Cheltenham to the east and means the town has easy access to green spaces, like Cleeve Hill. The vibrant town, with its elegant Regency architecture, is popular with young professionals, retirees and families alike; the town’s festival calendar is a huge draw, including jazz, food, literature and horseracing, with something happening seemingly every other week. Many of the beautiful Regency townhouses have been converted into stunning apartment buildings, though some remain as vast (and very expensive) single-family homes.
The Oxfordshire Cotswolds
Chipping Norton isn’t technically in the Cotswolds, but it may as well be. The far east of the region is home to Jeremy Clarkson and his famous farm shop and pub, Soho Farmhouse and Daylesford Organic, a veritable empire of locally grown and sourced produce. Charlbury is a bustling little town with a station linking it to Oxford and onwards to London. Burford is particularly highly sought after.
Coln Valley
One of the most beautiful parts of the Cotswolds, the Coln Valley encompasses a clutch of charming villages that line the river Coln. Pretty Bibury is often overrun by tourists in the summer months, though neighbouring Coln St Aldwyns is a delightful alternative and has its own community-run village store. Winson is tiny and virtually unheard of, but houses here are snapped up quickly. Development is limited so most properties are older; it’s rare to find a new build in this area, so it keeps much of its charm.
EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE COTSWOLDS
While development in the Cotswold Hills AONB is more restricted, due to conservation of the area’s natural beauty, there are a range of stunning new developments which are sensitive to the landscape. Many are on the fringes of the AONB, but there are select developments approved by planners in the region itself. Most are small, boutique developments well suited to families, but barn conversions are also popular – giving the opportunity to enjoy the many delights of the rural space – as are urban apartments in places like Cirencester, Cheltenham and further south in Bath.
Set over an 850-acre estate on the south-eastern edge of the Cotswolds, The Lakes by Yoo is one of the most exciting developments in recent years. The beautifully imagined estate is set around a series of picturesque lakes between Fairford and Lechlade. Offering holiday homes and apartments with the use of a spa, events and a contemporary bar and kitchen, homes here sell like hot cakes when they become available.
Situated within the quintessential Cotswold village of Down Ampney, Ampney Meadows by Beech Grove is a collection of attractive family homes from two to five bedrooms, with something to suit all. The high specification design is complemented by the setting, with excellent transport links to Swindon, Cheltenham and Cirencester. Homes are built in Cotswold stone and blend with the existing properties within the village.
Boutique housebuilder Sobry Beak is a small, exclusive developer constructing stunning Cotswold stone houses in highly desirable locations around the AONB, such as Stow-on-the-Wold and Ascott-under-Wychwood. The finish is very high, including all the modern conveniences plus sustainable renewable energy sources, and positions are chosen with views and the natural surroundings in mind.
At the heart of Cheltenham, Wavensmere Homes has built a stunning new neighbourhood of 150 premium apartments and terraced houses. In a nod to the town’s racing heritage, Arkle Court offers a modern finish inspired by the surrounding Regency architecture. The development is set to regenerate the brownfield site create by the North Place car park and will add a fresh look to the area.
On the south-western edge of Cirencester, The Steadings is a brand-new semi-rural neighbourhood for this most sought-after market town. The 300-acre development is set to include 100 acres of open green space for recreation, sports facilities, a new primary school and neighbourhood amenities, though it is well connected to the town which is easily accessible. The first phase of new homes has sold out, and later phases are set to do the same.
Green Walk in Standish, just west of Stroud, is a stunning development of energy-efficient
homes one mile outside of Stonehouse. The town’s station has a direct link to London
Paddington and the M5 motorway is just five minutes’ drive away, so it’s a
great spot for commuters, though the development has been popular for its beautifully
converted listed buildings, existing mature landscaping and far-reaching views
over the Severn Valley.
