Costwolds move - Help!

[Welliesandaprettydress]

We are making the big move down south next year to the Cotswolds - north(ish) area best as have to travel to Manchester a couple of days per week. Already do 2.5/3 hour commute so we are fairly flexible on area. Have two young girls who will be 5 and 2 when we move so good primary schools close really important. Ideally a village with great community so we can make new friends for us and the girls - recommendations massively appreciated!

The area is probably bigger than you're looking for, but Bishops Cleeve village north of Cheltenham. Has a choice of good schools, and nurseries and playgroups, community halls with activities for children and adults and all facilities you'd want.

North Cotswolds is really around Banbury, Deddington, Moreton in Marsh and Chipping Norton. Loads of places to choose from. You want access to M40 and M6 toll.

However you can get from Milton Keynes Central in 1hr 40 mins. Are you wedded to the Cotswolds? Would Buckingham be a compromise? Trains from Rugby to Manchester are 1hr 21mins. So maybe look at Leamington Spa which gives you motorway or train from Rugby. Plenty of nice places to live.

Thanks both, we do want to be as close to the cotswolds as possible ideally but not 100% wedded so will look into the recommendations. I was kind of resigned to the fact I would be driving rather than train, but definitely something to consider from rugby.
We looked at ilmington, hook norton and the chippings. Wondered if there are any hidden gems we have missed?

What is it about the Cotswolds that is attracting you? I currently live just off the north end of the Cotswolds (I think the nearest border is 3 miles from us) and I think the Chipping Camden/ Broadway/ Moreton region is lovely and much less weekend Londoner than around Chippy

@CMOTDibbler exactly - trying to avoid the purely weekend crowd for a permanent home. We have always loved the moreton area, love the series of villages and being able to walk through the village and into the countryside easily. We are also drawn to the beauty of the more period properties. Slighly north of the border fine!

Northleach?

@devildeepbluesea, we havent been to northleach! Just did a quick search and definitely on the list to explore on our next research visit in August. Could be a little bit too far for the commute but houses look exactly our style, thank you

Winchcombe. On the Cotswold Way, easy reach of M5 and railway stations at Evesham and Cheltenham. Not too touristy as all the coach tourists stop at the castle.

Bishops Cleeve is hardly a 'village' these days and is really ugly imo (tho it has some useful shops, big Tesco, Lidl, etc.) (sorry if you live there - I do go there quite a lot, I just find it so... soulless 😯.)

Broadway is very lovely, and 20 mins or so from Moreton in Marsh station, 1.5 hours to London.

Winchcombe, as per a PP, is one of my favourite places, but the centre is very small (it has a number of quite nice new builds on the periphery now).

Tewkesbury is a bit down-at-heel these days, but has a glorious Abbey, a wonderful mediaeval centre with narrow ancient alleys and timbered buildings, and a lovely walk along the river. Trains from Ashchurch-for -Tewkesbury are approx 2 hours to Manchester, and such an easy little station to reach and free parking.

Morton, Stow & Chipping Camden are absolutely rammed with tourists all year round as is broadway.
Chipping Norton is basically owned by the London SoHo farmhouse lot and to be avoided at all costs.
Northleach is lovely, proper Cotswold but small. Fairford is fab - big enough to have things to do and places to go but still Cotswold village vibe.
I like Winchcombe but it is small - nice bars and restaurants but not much else

Lots of the places listed are more like small towns rather than villages. Is that what you're after? Cafes etc?

There are v nice (but cheaper) villages withing a mile or two of illmington. The Worcester, Gloucester and Warwickshire borders all meet (plus Oxfordshire is v close). The house prices definitely vary depending on which county you live in. If budget is important, I'd look worcestershire way.

@Welliesandaprettydress As we go racing in Cheltenham regularly, Winchcombe is rammed and comes to a standstill in mid March. The No5 restaurant is closing, We stay regularly in Moreton in Marsh and don’t see it as touristy. Chipping Norton still has lots of locals! I know it pretty well.

You might like north of Broadway, eg Bretforton. Plenty of villages in this area are lovely. Your decision really needs to be quicker train - which route? or what driving route appeals. M5 or M40 route to M6. Bretforton is quick to M5. Only 2.5 hours to Manchester. Bloxham to Manchester is just a bit longer but this area is very quiet. Look at the Tews, Deddington or the Barforfs. These aren’t holiday areas and are authentic.