to wonder why the bloody hell people go on holiday to the Cotswolds?

[GatOwfMarLaaaandInnitBabe]

Or dream of moving there from London.

There is nothing special about it.

I can think of loads of places of the top of my head which have far more stunning scenery - vast majority of nothern Devon, the Quantocks, Peak district, north wales, yorkshire dales, dorset coast.

What's so good about the Cotswolds? Yes the houses are a lovely golden stone colour, and look at the lovely walls , but the towns are nondescript and TWEE and it costs a fortune for not very much.

It's just really mediocre imo. And I live here. Was driving round the Cotswolds today feeling like Victor Meldrew in my muttering complaints.

And home to the amazing Giffords Circus! Shows like nothing on earth!

Didn't Thistledown get a mention in the top Times camping sites? Great views and cute animals. What a wowo sorry.

TooTrue at 'Stroudies' in Dubai.

Royalcucumberchopper I lost my virginity in Horsley, that's near enough to Nailsworth eh? If you ever see it, i'd like it back - TA

Wow - where are all these 'friendly' villages in the Cotswolds then? Not my experience at all obviously chose the wrong one

GatOwf - I feel your pain. But you think that the Costwolds are bad - come to bloody Norfolk. (see other thread about Moving to Norfolk.)
We are out of this place faster than Katie Price out of a marriage.
Casual racism seems to be a defining feature of so many of our "lovely counties" doesn't it?

Am gobsmacked at all the people who think Cheltenham is dull. Given, it's not London but with two small children my London days are truely over (would only be depressed that I couldn't behave in the way that I did while young, free and single). Perhaps I'm just lucky where I live but I think there are great shops, lots of places to eat, fabulous schools, friendly neighbours (people actually TALK to each other) and loads going on. I haven't noticed any racism, casual or otherwise - although I have met a few very bad tempered granny's in Bath Road who were none to friendly.

Icooksocks - no hope for me then. I grew up in Gloucestershire and couldn't wait to escape. Now live in Kent and hoping to move to Lincs later this year. Good job I like cabbage :)

Royalcucumberchopper - have PM'd you about the 'modern WI'. Would love to know more.
Thanks

If it has lovely countryside, good walking, good pubs, interesting historically, with a few nature reserves thrown in then that would do for me.

I live in the Cotswolds (my home has been mentioned on this thread a couple of times) and I love it. Thankfully, we are on the edge and so not in a hugely touristy area.

But I love it. Yes, there is a fair bit of affluence here, and yes the tourists can be really quite annoying, but I do find the village lovely, I love the fact I have a nature reserve almost at the back of my house (backs on to my road), I love the village school and all the country things my DC get to do there. I think it is a great place to live... couldn't spend a whole day as a tourist here though .

I have heard from a lot of people that Burford is indeed quite odd.

dont know about cotswolds as have never been there but dont know why any one would choose tolive in london house prices are ridiculous for nothing very much and everywhere very overcrowded i live in a lovely part of greater manchester house prices a very reasonable and lovely scenary nearbyand only twenty mins or so from a very cosmoplitan city centre

sorry but Manchester isn't great for shopping, sadly lacking and the surrounding area competing with Coventry and thats why its cheap. Newcastle though is probably what you describe or even leeds has a good city center though the night time was an eye opener