The best places to live in the Cotswolds

Thinking of moving to the Cotswolds? It can be challenging to know where to start looking and specifically, where are the best places to live in the Cotswolds. 

This region in midwest England is home to an abundance of picturesque villages, outstanding schools, and friendly supportive communities. 

As well as ready access to magnificent countryside, rural walks and activities, there are fantastic places to eat and drink. 

The Cotswolds attracts a wide variety of buyers, and is a popular place to live, being so close to London. 

Here we feature some of the best places to live in the Cotswolds to base your search.

1. Stroud 

Stroud is the creative hub of the Cotswolds. Nestled where the three valleys meet, it is surrounded by stunning countryside and has a vibrant community feel.

With excellent schools, convenient transport links and easy access to green spaces, Stroud has recently been named the best place to live in the UK. 

The town has been praised for its “unique independent spirit”, local food scene and is home to a famous farmers market that creates a focal point for the town and surrounding countryside. 

2. Minchinhampton

Just four miles south of Stroud, Minchinhampton is quieter than many of the Cotswold towns but still offers several good shops, pubs and an excellent prep school. 

Sat on top of Minchinhampton common, which is managed by the National Trust, the town attracts nature lovers, golfers, locals and visitors, as well as wildlife and cattle who roam free around the common (and the town centre!).

Minchinhampton offers all the attributes of a quaint Cotswold town with picturesque buildings, such as the Queen Anne old post office. 

It has top-notch food outlets and on Thursday mornings it hosts a weekly market featuring the best local farmers’ produce. 

3. Winchcombe

This beautiful, friendly Cotswold town sits at the edge of the Cotswold escarpment and is just a 20 minute drive to Cheltenham. 

Winchcombe’s high street is lined with traditional stone shops, pubs and cafes, and the rest of the town features long rambling residential streets lined with period properties. 

It has a selection of primary and secondary schools, marked ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ and a community feel. 

Wonderful countryside walks are just five minutes from the town centre. It is also home to the beautiful Sudeley Castle.

4. Cranham 

Cranham is a hidden gem, a quiet village 15 minutes away from vibrant Cheltenham. 

Situated on an escarpment overlooking Gloucester, it has breathtaking views. The village itself is surrounded by beech woods and has at its centre a large area of common land. 

It offers a wonderfully vibrant community with a primary school, pub and over 25 groups, clubs and societies. 

5. Chadlington 

This pretty Cotswold village spreads out towards the river Evenlode towards Wychwood Forest and offers great transport links from nearby Charlbury. 

Chadlington was recently put on the Map by Jeremy Clarkson’s Farm and has all the essential amenities. 

A central café (once Chadlington Post Office & Stores), a village shop, and a traditional country pub/restaurant. 

Regular events are held in the village, including a beer festival and the annual Great Brook run.

6. Charlbury

This attractive small town is near Chipping Norton, seven miles away, and has been named one of the best places to live in the country. 

Charlbury offers lots of facilities and a great community feel and has some beautiful period houses in the centre. 

The commute to Oxford is speedy and the town has a direct rail link to London, getting you there in 80 minutes. 

In terms of amenities, it has a community-owned deli and cafe, four welcoming pubs and holds events such as the Charlbury Street Fair and Charlbury Beer Festival. 

7. Kingham 

This is a very pretty, high-end village with lovely period properties. 

It’s a popular spot for Londoners to purchase and renovate classic Georgian stone manor houses to use as weekend homes. 

Surrounded by countryside, Kingham has a direct rail link to London Paddington, with a journey of around one hour and 25 minutes. 

Windrush Valley School is just a 15-minute drive from the town and has been named one of the top 50 prep schools in England.

Kingham has a village shop and an organic farm shop, as well as two outstanding pubs and restaurants. 

8. Guiting Power

This beautiful village had fallen into general disrepair until it was sympathetically restored from the 1930s onward. 

Primarily a trust village, it has a thriving, friendly community where people look after each other. 

The Old Post Office is the hub for the community of Guiting Power and its village hall offers everything from pilates to kickboxing. 

It has two great pubs, a café/shop, and a new farm shop opened this year by The Cotswold Guy.

9. The Wychwoods

The Wychwoods is the collective name given to the towns of Shipton-under-Wychwood, Milton-under-Wychwood and Ascott-under-Wychwood. 

Shipton-under-Wychwood (the largest village) and Milton-under-Wychwood are only a quarter of a mile apart and between them, they have lots of facilities, convenience shops, pubs/restaurants, and hotels. 

Shipton has a railway station but there is only one morning and one evening train to Oxford. 

Ascott-under-Wychwood is one mile to the east and has an excellent pub/restaurant/hotel called The Swan, a community shop, and a railway station with one morning train to Oxford.

10. Ebrington

Ebrington is a stereotypical Cotswold village nestled in beautiful countryside with narrow, windy lanes, stone and thatched cottages and old farmhouses.

It’s situated halfway between Charingworth Manor and just east of the market town of Chipping Camden. 

Train stations, Moreton in Marsh and Honeybourne are just a four-mile drive from the village. 

The award-winning pub/restaurant The Ebrington Arms is the centre of village life.

Best places to live in the Cotswolds

As property finders, we often assist clients in deciding the best places to live in the Cotswolds based on their requirements and preferences. 

Get in touch with one of Garrington’s team to discuss how we can best assist in your search for a dream home in this beautiful region.