Loved by celebrities for its quaint limestone cottages along idyllic streets – the Cotswolds are home to some of the most sought-after postcodes in the country.
Stars including Kate Moss, the Beckhams and Jeremy Clarkson all have sprawling properties in the Cotswolds with American A-listers also moving in.
Americans have been flocking to the region too – Ellen DeGeneres, 67, bought a $26 million home in Cheltenham with her partner Portia de Rossie, 52, after they became disillusioned with life in the US.
Vice President JD Vance even came to town, staying in Dean, Oxfordshire, with a huge accompanying motorcade that annoyed locals when it shut down narrow country lanes.
Simon Cowell owns an £8 million farmhouse in Chipping Norton, Calvin Harris and wife Vick Hope have a £3.9 million bolt hole in Moreton-in-Marsh, and Richard Hammond even owns a Grade II listed mock castle in Weston-under-Penyard.
But for normal people looking for a rural escape, where can you pick up a bargain?
The town of Stroud has an average house price of around £325,000 – up to £600,000 cheaper than its neighbours.
Ellen DeGeneres has put her Cotswolds farmhouse on the market for £22.5million – a staggering £7.5million more than she paid for it just 12 months ago. Pictured: The former talk show host (left) and her wife Portia de Rossi (right)
David Beckham relaxed at his Cotswolds estate in Great Tew
Over the years, and more frequently in recent times, David has shared snippets of what he gets up to at his rural home with his family, including caring for chickens
The lovely Wallsbridge canal, where you can stroll past traditional limestone houses en route to Stroud town centre
Situated deep in the valleys of the western Cotswolds and commutable to London by train in 80 minutes, Stroud is becoming increasingly popular as the affordable Cotswolds option.
Locals who grew up there however say that it is still too expensive – and wealthy outsiders buying second homes aren’t helping.
Oliver Melsome, 41, has lived in the Cotswolds all his life and runs a family building business.
He lives in the south of Stroud and said that whilst the town does offer the ‘Cotswolds experience without the same prices as other places’ he had seen more and more young families being priced out’.
‘People are always buying second, third homes here. It’s crazy. It’s driving prices up around here too’, Oliver told the Daily Mail.
‘Those moving in from the cities are kicking out families who’ve grown up here and owned farms for generations.
‘They’re being outpriced. It’s very sad to see.’
According to Rightmove figures, Stroud is on average over half the price of its some of its Cotswolds counterparts.
In Bibury for example, a neighbouring village in Cirencester, homes are on average a cool £915,000.
And in Chipping Campden, a market town in the north of the Cotswolds, houses sell for an average of £769,735.
One couple, Bob and Beryl Preedy, 79 & 78, moved to Stroud 52 years ago from Essex.
They said Stroud is getting increasingly popular because it is ‘pretty and affordable’: ‘It’s affordable and good for young families.
‘It’s much nicer than Ilford or London – which are becoming more dangerous – and that explains why it’s getting more popular.
Rachel Hall, 34, was born in the Cotswolds and thinks Stroud is being ‘gentrified’ by Londoners and Airbnbs
A church with scenic rolling green valleys as its backdrop in the heart of Stroud’s town centre
Hanna Rostokiah, 42, who moved to Stroud after leaving Ukraine with her daughter three years ago
Stroud’s winding canals and waterways are a key attraction for many people looking to buy a property there
Slad Road in Stroud, a more expensive area of the town where house prices are an average of £473,100
‘There are lots of new housing developments cropping up, however, which our roads aren’t made for. We do also worry that will bring more people and it will become more crowded.’
Rachel Hall, 34, was born in Stroud and moved back after living in London briefly.
Rachel said that she loves her rural life but Cotswold outsiders moving in are driving prices up and ‘gentrifying’ the village.
‘All the little villages are being stuffed full of Airbnbs and people are moving into the village from outside who haven’t lived rural life before.
‘Just like in Clapham or Brixton, Stroud is being gentrified. It’s lovely for an organic market with sustainable produce at the weekend, but it’s got a high cost of living.’
Rachel added that: ‘During the pandemic lots of Londoners bought houses here and then ended up relisting them a few years later or keeping them as an investment property, which screwed the housing market.
‘House prices are going up which is a big concern for locals.’
Reese and his wife, both retired and native to Stroud, said that Stroud is only affordable to retired people and wealthy Londoners moving in.
‘We love it here – my daughter would say it’s too expensive, but because we’re retired, life is easier for us.
‘It’s the more affluent society from London coming in – when they say ‘we’re going to the Cotswolds’, it’s the big manor houses they’re talking about.
‘Stroud does seem more affordable – but only really to the posh people coming here!’
Estate agents in the area said that Stroud is amongst the cheapest of the Cotswolds areas because of its location in the south of the region – which is further from London for city commuters.
Samantha Scott-White, director of the Cotswolds Buying Agent, said: ‘Anywhere north of the A40 is going to be more expensive – even by as much as 30 per cent more pricey.
‘All the villages between Burford and around Soho Farmhouse are more expensive, and then south of the A40, towards Cirencester, you start to get more value for money.’
A landscape view of the rolling green fields scattered with limestone houses that the Cotswolds are so well known for
Ann Savage, 85, moved to Stroud from Swansea about 40 years ago and said the area is ‘beautiful but still quite pricey’
Frankie Kibble, 31, recently moved to Stroud with his partner, having worked as an account manager in London before
A large redbrick detached property along Slad Road in Stroud
Samantha explained that: ‘The lowest prices in the Cotswolds are going towards Stroud, Nailsworth, and Wotton-under-Edge.
‘These villages are further away from London, so for people who commute in a few days a week or for second homeowners, it’s a bit far out. It’s more than 1 hour 45 minutes from London so it’s a little bit more affordable.
‘In these areas you could afford a modern house for about £300,000-400,000, say a two-bed or a smaller cottage.
‘But that wouldn’t be your traditional stone houses you would associate as being a Cotswolds house. Those are generally more than £1 million, even £1.5 million plus.’
Frankie Kibble, 31, is a Londoner who worked as an account manager and recently moved to Stroud a few months ago with his partner.
‘I’d say it is affordable, yeah. I think people are moving out because London is so expensive.
‘The cost of living here is cheaper – rent is definitely cheaper. Council tax, it’s mainly bills that are lower.’
Frankie added: ‘I haven’t noticed any locals being annoyed at Londoners coming in, like they would in Margate etc. But I probably don’t associate with too many Strouders.’
Another ex-Londoner, Joe Saunders, 32, thought that Stroud had a lot going on compared to other places in Gloucestershire.
‘It’s got a lot going on here for people my age unlike other places in the Cotswolds – Stroud fits the bill.
‘I don’t think it’s exactly the most affordable place – to rent it’s not that easy to find a good place. Places like Gloucester are more affordable – but then why would you want to move to Gloucester?
‘But for affordability and stuff like that, it’s a fun place to live, and it’s not too bad. It’s cheaper than London.
‘It’s interesting to see where Stroud is going…Maybe it will become the new Brighton.’
During the pandemic, many Londoners and city dwellers moved out in favour of a more rural life and bought properties or second homes in greener areas.
Local estate agents said Stroud is popular because of its commutability to London and traditional Cotswolds experience for less
Eddie Andrew, 41, a former postman who moved to Stroud after previously living in Coventry
The Cotswolds has recently become the location of choice for those looking to relocate, with pictures of stone houses on sloping valleys and little brooks going viral.
But the Cotswolds dream is an expensive reality for many residents.
Hanna Rostokiah, 42, moved to Stroud from Ukraine with her daughter three years ago.
She said: ‘I was drawn here because it’s a peaceful life. But it’s very expensive to rent an apartment or house here.
‘I know many families who lived in London but moved out to the countryside and now they live in Stroud.
‘It’s cheaper than London, and it’s very quiet and good for families. That’s why people are coming here and like it I think.’
Former postman, Eddie Andrew, 41, said that Stroud was a ‘tale of two cities.’
‘It depends where you’re living – places like Forest Green are cheaper and more affordable.’
Even teenagers Arrwinn Kirrbakr, 16, and Evan Walke, 16, thought Stroud was relatively affordable.
‘I’d say in this area it is cheap, housing prices are pretty decent, it’s not too bad.
‘We’ve lived and grown up here all our lives.
‘We don’t have many complaints – there are lots of areas that get more expensive which is where Londoners will come for second homes, but it’s alright here.’
Clive, the Sales Manager at Sawyers Estate Agents in Stroud, said that the town was on the lower end of the Cotswolds price range.
‘The average house price is around £300,000-400,000.
‘In terms of renting, it’s about £1,000 a month for a two bed house, a whole apartment is probably around £750, and you can get a room in a shared apartment for £500.’
‘Stroud is the perfect middle ground in the Cotswolds – you can get more expensive parts of it but on the whole it’s very affordable.
‘Areas like Bisley, your stereotypical Cotswolds village, can be more expensive and are dominated by second homes.’
