At its heart, Cirencester, the Roman capital of the Cotswolds, offers a vibrant blend of history and modern living. Its Georgian streets and bustling marketplace are home to independent boutiques, smart cafés, and one of the country’s best farmers’ markets. Defined by Cotswold-stone cottages and leafy lanes, are prized for their sense of permanence and their proximity to Cirencester Park and some of Gloucestershire’s finest country estates.

Further north, Cheltenham stands as the region’s cultural heart, famed for its Regency architecture and internationally acclaimed festivals celebrating literature, music, food, and, of course, the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It attracts buyers who seek sophistication within easy reach of open countryside. Close by, Bibury, with its gently flowing River Coln and the famous Arlington Row, remains one of the most photographed villages in England, its timeless beauty encapsulating everything people love about the Cotswolds.

Heading deeper into the hills, Stow-on-the-Wold sits proudly on one of the Cotswolds’ highest points, its grand market square surrounded by historic coaching inns and antique shops. The sense of age and character here is unmistakable. A few miles away, The Slaughters—Upper and Lower—represent Cotswold perfection: graceful stone cottages, trickling streams, old mills, and the sound of church bells across meadows. Both villages have become highly desirable for their tranquillity and preservation, yet remain within easy reach of lively hubs such as Bourton-on-the-Water and Kingham.

Northleach retains the atmosphere of an undiscovered market town, with its medieval wool church and collection of beautifully preserved merchants’ houses. By contrast, Moreton-in-Marsh offers practicality alongside charm, boasting excellent train links to London Paddington and a weekly market that dates back over 800 years. Burford, with its steep High Street descending to the River Windrush, is the archetypal Cotswold town — handsome, historic, and full of independent shops and cosy inns. Nearby, Batsford is set amid scenic parkland and woodland walks, best known for its arboretum and peaceful countryside feel. To the south, Lechlade, at the head of the navigable Thames, offers riverside beauty and an artistic, bohemian character, attracting those drawn to life by the water. Tetbury, meanwhile, brings a sense of refinement and royal connection, its Georgian façades housing antique shops, galleries, and stylish interiors boutiques, while Highgrove House and its famous gardens sit just beyond the town edge.