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Original poster

Moving To The Cotswolds

55 replies

AbbeyRoadNW8 · 27/05/2020 17:10

Hello my wife and I are planning to move to the Cotswolds from the Kent coast. We are thinking of living around Broadway within about 5 -10 miles. Does anyone have any recommendations for nice villages or small towns to live? We just want somewhere quiet to live. Our budget is up to about 500K.

My son, daughter and grandchildren are moving to Shipston On Stour. Does anyone know what its like to live there? It won best place to live last year I think.

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BubblesBuddy · 27/05/2020 18:01

Around Broadway you might like Chipping Camden, or Moreton in Marsh or Stow on the Wold for a bit more going on. Lovely villages are everywhere. We like Paxford and The Slaughters. Naunton is also very special. Stanton, Stanway and Snowshill are wonderful. So many to choose from.

I have relatives in Bourton on the Water and they love it. It also has the best Co-op ever! Your budget isn’t enormous and you will find some areas are better value than others.

BubblesBuddy · 27/05/2020 18:16

I cannot imagine there is anything wrong with Shipston either! I should have said my relatives in Bourton have grandchildren and they are still very active but retired.

Elephantonascooter · 27/05/2020 18:37

Bourton is beautiful but very tourist heavy. Broadway is lovely, as is stow on the wold and morton on Marsh.

BubblesBuddy · 27/05/2020 19:30

Broadway is heaving too. Bouton is ok away from the river. I prefer Broadway but it’s expensive. It has an OKA so that tells you everything!

GemmeFatale · 29/05/2020 22:27

Oh I live more or less in your search area. What do you want for you budget?

Original poster
AbbeyRoadNW8 · 30/05/2020 09:29

What would be ideal is detached house or bungalow with a minimum of 3 bedrooms and a garage. A garden is a must have too but does not have to be massive but obviously a large garden would be nice.

It is more important that the property is in a nice area, preferably in a small town or village.

I do realise that our budget is not huge and we may need to compromise though.

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DaphneduM · 30/05/2020 09:55

You say your budget isn't huge and you may need to compromise. Obviously I don't know of your reasons for moving and it may be that there is a reason why you absolutely need to be in the Cotswolds. But, as you know, it is a very expensive area. Have you considered other areas of Gloucestershire? Have a look at the Forest of Dean area - so beautiful, and there are some lovely small towns and villages. Not 'set in aspic' picture perfect like Broadway, etc. but each with their own character and personality.

BubblesBuddy · 30/05/2020 10:05

The op has relatives in Shipston in Stour. I think the Cotswolds is doable.

BubblesBuddy · 30/05/2020 10:06

£500,000 easily gets what you want in Bourton on the Water.

Original poster
AbbeyRoadNW8 · 30/05/2020 10:11

We have always liked the Cotswolds. My Son, Daughter In Law and Grandchildren are moving to Shipston On Stour. He is a teacher and she is a Staff Nurse and both had found jobs very easily there.

We think that the area is more prosperous and will be a better area for the children to grow up.

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BubblesBuddy · 30/05/2020 10:12

And in Moreton in Marsh but not so easy in Chipping Camden or Stow on the Wold. Therefore around Moreton (has a status on with trains to London) would be my pick. We visit this area a lot. You couldn’t go wrong!

BubblesBuddy · 30/05/2020 10:14

??? Has a station!

Mumtothelittlefella · 30/05/2020 10:20

We lived in the Slaughters for years and loved it. Miss it so much. Bouton is great and has lots of useful shops but it does get very busy. Morton in Marsh is lovely and usefully has a hospital (always worth considering how far away you’ll be from hospitals etc especially if this is your forever home).

Another little village we lived in was Bledington, near Kingham. Great local pup and wonderful walks. You’ll find lots of community activities taking place all over these villages so I don’t think you can go wrong with any of them. It’ll be a case of finding the right house for your budget and going from there.

Original poster
AbbeyRoadNW8 · 30/05/2020 10:34

Thanks everyone. We live in Broadstairs Kent which is a nice Victorian seaside town. Unfortunately the area generally (Thanet) is a bit of a depressed area. It has one of the worst hospitals and schools in the country. There is very little work in the area since Pfizer and Cummings decided to make 90% of their staff redundant.

It is also getting very busy as there are literally thousands of new houses being built around here in the next few years. They are mostly being bought by London boroughs.

Unfortunately no new jobs are being created in this area either.

So my family decided it was time to move to hopefully find a better life,

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BubblesBuddy · 30/05/2020 10:35

Love the Slaughters! Not sure £500k would be enough there so didn’t mention it! They are also quite small. I love Naunton too.

Kingham is pretty upmarket with The Wild Rabbit and The Kingham Plough and the Chipping Norton set inflating prices. However worth a look around the Wychwoods or Chipping Norton.

BubblesBuddy · 30/05/2020 10:39

Broadstairs is lovely. However many Cotswold towns are seeing some development. They are not completely chocolate box on the outskirts! However most have remained intact in terms of their charm and beauty! Moreton is definitely thriving.

Is this property for you or DS? Is it not DS who will want schools?

borntobequiet · 30/05/2020 10:42

Blockley, Paxford, Longborough, other villages convenient for Moreton and station.

Original poster
AbbeyRoadNW8 · 30/05/2020 10:44

My DS are buying a new build in Shipston, it looks like a nice place to live and ideal for them with young children (1 & 3 years).

We are also looking but we wanted to be more in the Cotswolds in a village or small town. But we don't want to be too far from them for childminding duties.

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HforHotel · 30/05/2020 21:26

I love looking at holiday cottages to buy in the Cotswolds. Can’t find anything that’s pretty, detached and 3 beds though for under £600k. Maybe I’m looking in the wrong villages!

hellymart · 30/05/2020 22:58

I live in Blockley, near to Shipston (12 mins drive away) which is a lovely village! I like Shipston - I go swimming there at the local pool (when it's open!) and as it's in Warwickshire rather than Gloucestershire, it's a bit cheaper (and I think, nicer) than somewhere like Moreton in Marsh (but it's only a short drive to Moreton, if you want to use the station). Shipston is a little market town, very friendly, everyone seems to know everyone, a lovely restaurant, The Bower House and pubs and cafes. Couple of nice hairdressers, 2 Co-ops, a library, societies and clubs - everything you need!

hellymart · 30/05/2020 23:02

Sorry, just read your original message again and see that your family are moving to Shipston but that you want to be in a village not too far away. I would say definitely have a look at Blockley and Whichford (5 miles from Shipston) and Ilmington are also worth a look. Lovely villages near to Shipston.

BubblesBuddy · 30/05/2020 23:25

We used to holiday in Blockley when dc were young. In a series of converted barns by the river. Fond memories.

R2519 · 31/05/2020 07:11

I have friends near stow and visit the wolds often. Love live love it there!
You will find something I've no doubt but, and I mesn no offense, 500k in the cotswolds for a 3 bed detached with a garage is asking quite a lot. Its a very expensive part of the country. I would think about the outskirts. You would get far more for your money.

Original poster
AbbeyRoadNW8 · 31/05/2020 08:39

@hellymart

I live in Blockley, near to Shipston (12 mins drive away) which is a lovely village! I like Shipston - I go swimming there at the local pool (when it's open!) and as it's in Warwickshire rather than Gloucestershire, it's a bit cheaper (and I think, nicer) than somewhere like Moreton in Marsh (but it's only a short drive to Moreton, if you want to use the station). Shipston is a little market town, very friendly, everyone seems to know everyone, a lovely restaurant, The Bower House and pubs and cafes. Couple of nice hairdressers, 2 Co-ops, a library, societies and clubs - everything you need!
Blockley is a lovely place, we have rented holiday houses there several times when the kids were small. If we had the money that is where we would love to live but I think it is outside our price range if we want three bed detached.

We have noticed from time to time something comes up for sale there which we can afford. For example there was a 3 bed bungalow for 475K last year which was on the market for months in Station Rd I think. I don't know why it did not sell quickly.

There is also at the moment a 3 Bed Detached character house, no garage for 550K in the High Street. Last year it was 475K and did not sell.

So it is possible and now we have exchanged and are renting we would be in a good position to move quickly. Fingers crossed something comes up.

The new builds at Willersey look good too so we will be coming up next week to take a look at them and the new builds in Moreton.

Blockley however is our ideal location I think. We loved sailing the kids little wooden yachts in the the stream with them when they were young. Hope to do it with the grandchildren too.

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Original poster
AbbeyRoadNW8 · 31/05/2020 08:44

@R2519

I have friends near stow and visit the wolds often. Love live love it there! You will find something I've no doubt but, and I mesn no offense, 500k in the cotswolds for a 3 bed detached with a garage is asking quite a lot. Its a very expensive part of the country. I would think about the outskirts. You would get far more for your money.
Yes, I know we really could do with a bigger budget but we can but dream.
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