Moving to the Cotswolds

[CTN74]

Hi all
We're looking to move from London to the Cotswolds.
Has anyone any experience of living in Bibury or Northleach? Thinking specifically around things for 7 year old to do etc. I've done the usual Google searches etc so looking for real experiences.
Many thanks

The best way to find things to do in those areas is local noticeboards in pubs, bus stops, town centres, or the local village circular/newsletters. There’s heaps to do but hardly any of it can be found online IME.

Bibury is awful, complete tourist attraction. Over rated.

Not sure about northleach. Less touristy but still touristy.

Malmesbury has an outstanding secondary school. Quite a nice town.

Try stow or surrounding villages. Def avoid Bibury as pp said. Northleach is OK but quiet.

Best drive around

Otswold villages are not noted for having lots to do. However there are busier towns that are better. For example, Chipping Norton, Stow on the Wold, Cheltenham, Burford, Cirencester, etc.

Obviously this area gets lots of tourists but there are great restaurants, fetes, craft fairs, art festivals, good schools, fantastic gardens and village open days, Daylesford Organic, Giffords Circus and loads more to do. I’ve just listed my favourites, but each area has its own character and activities nearby.

It would be a good idea to visit the small towns and decide on which you would like to be near and then look for property in the surrounding villages.

Bear in mind that any interests your child has at this stage eg: ballet football music gymnastics etc can probably be catered for reasonably locally. However as they grow older and progress you may spend many hours driving to larger cities Banbury, Oxford, Cheltenham.

Happy house hunting!

Thanks all for your responses.

Hello,

I lived in Northleach for a year whilst waiting to buy a house. It's a lovely town!!

We're a 30 year old couple (him from Watford and me from Churchill - a tiny village on the outskirts of Chipping Norton).

It's close to Cheltenham (25 mind) and Witney (20mins), so whilst quiet, there's plenty to do around it. Great for walks, etc if you're outdoorsy folk and the primary school gets great reviews. There are buses, but I'd say that it's essential to drive. There's a big green, park and tennis club too.

One great pub, and one to be avoided. A shop, tea room, post office, butchers and weekly market.

Highly recommended.

Other 'cotswold' options like Morton in marsh, Bourton on the water and stow on the wold are bigger, but also tourist traps and are horrifically crowded in summer.

Good luck!

There are a lot of Cotswold towns and villages that are overrun with tourists, like Bibury (Oh, the coaches!), Stow and Bourton on the Water (even more coaches), principally because they are part of the tourist coach trail, and of course, they are lovely to look at. However, if you get out and about there are places that are just as beautiful, but seem to avoid this massive inrush of people. My parents used to live near Chipping Norton (at Churchill, like a pp), and it is a lovely town. Further south, places like Minchinhampton and all the surrounding villages are pretty quiet tourist wise, even though they are stunning to look at, but there is still loads to do, especially with Stroud not being far away. I don't know Northleach well, so can't comment, but it is probably best to come and have a good scout around the entire Cotswold area to see what floats your boat.
The other thing is that some places are much better served by buses than others, so you may want to check that out as well. Where I live has virtually no public transport (there is one bus A WEEK to Stroud), but in a village 3 miles away there are regular buses to Stroud, Cheltenham and Gloucester. If your dc wants an element of independence when older, it's just something to bear in mind.

PS, thinking about Northleach, op, have you watched This Country?

lucisky and summeryet it's always so funny to read on MN that people are from home. I'm from the next village along :) but have been up north since uni.

Sorry for the derail OP

Hi, we are looking also to move to the Cotswolds from London. But my children are 13,18,20. We are quite torn between north and south Cotswolds. What do teens do in and around North Cotswolds for fun and entertainment ??

Anyone familiar with Toddington area ?