This spring, the market is positively teeming with beautiful examples of its much-vaunted vernacular, from cosy stone cottages to elegant manor houses, with buyers continuing to be drawn by the region’s beauty, community feel and access to nature.
Francesca Sharvell of boutique Cotswolds-specialist estate agency Sharvell Property says, ‘Spring tends to be a time of year we see many houses come to the market in all shapes and sizes – though buyers do tend to be drawn more to properties requiring little renovation since general building costs have increased over the last few years.’
She adds, ‘Period Properties are generally the ones that attract buyers to the Cotswolds. Historically, the honeydew-coloured stone and the quintessential Cotswold charm have always been – and remain – a strong pull, especially since there is a wide range of properties available, from pretty country cottages to village houses, farmhouses, manor houses and even country estates across a range of vibrant towns such as Cheltenham, Stroud and Cirencester to name a few.’
Here, we round up five that we are currently stalking on Rightmove.
7-Bedroom Country Home, Winstone Glebe, near Cirencester
Sharvell Property, £3.25m
The quintessential Cotswold retreat, Winstone Glebe is set within five exquisite acres of landscaped gardens. Were we to take up residence, with its hefty stone walls and sizeable seven bedrooms, we would spend our summers flinging open every window to drink in its panoramic countryside views, which are nothing short of glorious. When the seasons turn once more, we’d repair to the kitchen to warm up by the Aga or retreat to one of the elegant drawing rooms to collapse on a sofa by the open fire or log burner. For now, though, it’s all about the sunlit terraces and G&T hour after a game on the property’s own tennis court.
Located in the tranquil village of Winstone, the house combines rural serenity with proximity to Cirencester and Cheltenham. As its current owner eulogises, ‘Quite simply, Winstone Glebe is the perfect family home. With our beautiful wide-open door policy, people freely come and go, bringing the house to life with laughter and fun. Everyone who walks through the doors says what a friendly house it is. The garden is a highlight, with long lunches on the terrace and one of the best views in the Cotswolds.’ Find the details here.
Barn Cottages, 5-Bedroom House, West Kington, Wiltshire
Inigo, £1.595m
If you’ve ever imagined a picture-perfect country home, Barn Cottages, set within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and just three miles from Castle Combe, may well be the manifestation of that dream. Framed by woodland and an actual babbling brook (how’s that for the full fairy tale?), it is approached by a winding country road, at the end of which the house appears from beneath a canopy of trees as if by magic.
With a lean-to conservatory that stands on the edge of the aforementioned brook, it is almost absurdly idyllic; long days spent idly chatting on the lawn while children play in the garden spring instantly to mind unbidden. Inside, meanwhile, all is flag-stoned country resplendence and textural beauty. First constructed as an agricultural building in the 15th-century, the legacy of those days is evident in its exposed timber framework – but despite the cottagey features, the proportions are somewhat grander; to our minds, is the ideal confluence of things. Beautifully designed spaces and light-filled rooms characterise the sensibility here, with walls white-washed to really make the stone and timber sing. The Smithy, a stone outbuilding that was once a blacksmith, is available by separate negotiation. Find the details here.
Two Bedroom Cottage, Castle Combe
James Pyle & Co, £850,000
Castle Combe is like the treasure at the end of the rainbow for the quaint-seeking Cotswolds lover. Just 10 miles from Bath and within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is much-used as a filming location on account of its idyllic chocolate box cottages and its situation on the Bybrook River (credits including Downton Abbey – but of course – War Horse, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and even the spy thriller, Slow Horses). Not bad for a parish of just 356 people. And right in the middle of it all stands this lovely 16th-century Grade II-listed two-bedroom cottage, which has a good-sized west-facing garden, private parking and a garage – but, more importantly, charm in abundance. If that cambered- arched fireplace was ours, we would never do anything but loll by it with a pot of tea and a stack of books. Find the details here.
Six-Bedroom Town House, Woodstock, Oxfordshire
Knight Frank, £1.7m
Anyone who knows Woodstock well will instantly recognise this elegant Georgian townhouse. For not only is it just steps away from the Park Street entrance to the resplendent Blenheim Palace and its Capability Brown-designed grounds, but it is distinguished by the two little pups that often sit in its window, inviting passers-by to pause awhile and gawp in.
Now on the market, they need gawp no longer, for this six-bed former chocolate shop is up for grabs. Every touch throughout is immaculate, from the double-aspect sitting room with an open fireplace to the original stone floors in the basement to the bathrooms with views of the palace. A courtyard garden, meanwhile, is the perfect spot for a sundowner – and requires minimal upkeep. After all, who needs a big garden when Blenheim’s grounds are literally on the doorstep? Find the details here.
Three-Bed House, Painswick, Stroud
Butler Sherborn, £895,000
And so to the achingly pretty town of Painswick, which stands on a hill overlooking the Five Valleys. This 16th-century three-bed cottage is the exemplar of the cosy Cotswolds nest: think mullion windows, window seats, wood-burning stoves, a beautifully landscaped garden, original beams, and a stone outbuilding – perfect for home workers or committed crafters. The sweetest country dream – and yet in the heart of the town. Find the details here.
