With idyllic villages, swathes of glorious countryside, fantastic schools and plenty of employment opportunities, living in the Cotswolds is a dream for many house hunters.
For anyone considering their own escape to the country — or pretty market town, for that matter — SoGlos has rounded up seven fantastic reasons why you should consider moving to the Cotswolds.
Impressive schools in the Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is a prime location for families looking to put down roots — and there's no shortage of incredible schools within this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, from outstanding OFSTED-rated nurseries and primary schools to prestigious independent schools.
Rendcomb College, just outside Cirencester, boasts an incredible location surrounded by Cotswold countryside with its very own Forest School. The independent day and boarding school welcomes pupils aged three to 18, encouraging them to be thoughtful, adventurous and ambitious, providing exceptional pastoral care as well as an impressive range of co-curricular activities including creative arts, coding, dance, drama, music and sport. It was awarded 'Excellent' status by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, too.
Beautiful homes in the Cotswolds
From traditional honey-coloured Cotswold cottages to impressive new build developments, whether you’re looking for a detached family home with spacious gardens or a contemporary barn conversion with period features, the Cotswolds has a wide variety of options for house hunters. According to Rightmove, the average house price in the area is £406,564 and has risen six per cent in the last 12 months — so it's a potentially good investment opportunity, too.
Breathtaking Cotswolds countryside
City dwellers seeking a move to the countryside will love being close to rolling hills and acres of green spaces wherever they move to in the Cotswolds. From admiring the views at Cleeve Hill or Broadway Tower, to being surrounded by trees and flowers at Batsford Arboretum or the colourful Painswick Rococo Garden, nature lovers are spoilt for choice.
Picturesque villages in the Cotswolds
Brimming with chocolate-box villages, like beautiful Bibury, prime antique shopping destination, Tetbury, bustling Stow-on-the-Wold and the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’, Bourton-on-the-Water, there are so many picturesque places to explore that are full of Cotswold charm. The perfect antidote to city stresses.
Employment opportunities in the Cotswolds
With impressive names including St. James’s Place Wealth Management and Renishaw headquartered in the Cotswolds, as well as GCHQ, GE Aviation, Superdry, Spirax-Sarco and Kohler Mira in Cheltenham, Mears in Gloucester and Ecotricity in Stroud, there are plenty of well-respected companies to start or advance your career.
Cultural hotspots in the Cotswolds
The Cotswolds is bursting with attractions and events for history, culture, literature and heritage fans. Walk in the footsteps of royalty at Sudeley Castle and Queen Katherine Parr's grave, travel back to Roman times at Cirencester’s Corinium Museum, discover the real-life Doors of Durin from The Lord of The Rings at St Edward's Church in Stow-on-the-Wold, or immerse yourself in beautiful music at Longborough Festival Opera and Guiting Music Festival.
Fantastic transport links in the Cotswolds
While the Cotswolds offers a rural idyll characterised by country lanes and pretty villages, it has good road connections all around, with the M5 providing direct commuter links to both Bristol and Birmingham, while the A40 connects the Cotswolds with Oxfordshire. There are direct trains to London Paddington from nearby Cheltenham Spa, Gloucester, Kemble and Stroud, while an extensive bus network provides public transport to local towns and villages across the area.
