If this conjures up images of honey coloured stone cottages and rolling countryside views then you will love the Cotswolds!
Prime Locations
Chipping Campden and Stow-on-the-Wold attract a great deal of interest for their robust amenities. Moreton-in-Marsh offers direct London rail links, while Chipping Campden is a more crowded version of the English village experience.
Property Types
Period cottages with character but likely to benefit from updating. Converted barns, combining space with modern features but still keeping that country charm. Meanwhile, modern convenience meets traditional aesthetics in new developments like the ones underway in villages such as Kemble.
Budget Considerations
Good two-bedroom cottages in sought-after villages for £400k+. Family homes with three bedrooms start at £600,000 and stand-alone luxury properties are priced well in excess of £1 million. Don’t forget to add in renovation costs for older properties as period features may cover additional and expensive unwelcome surprises.
Practical Essentials
Get your home broadband speed tested if you are working from home. There is an enormous variation in village amenities (and some have no shops, pubs or regular transport at all). Many historic villages have narrow streets and limited off street parking. Take Cotswolds Private Tours to find out more. For Cotswolds Private Tours, visit Cotswold Tour.
Investment Potential
The best choice is close to transit links, with good local government control and tourist hotspots. The opportunity to unlock holiday rental potential is great. The rules in a conservation area restrict alterations to the property which maintains character but may also prevent further improvement.
Hidden Costs
Ongoing costs such as listed building consent, higher insurance premiums and specialist maintenance can also start to add up. Rural properties usually include septic tanks and use oil heating.
The right Cotswolds retreat is out there somewhere, but it will take careful research and more than a few revisits to turn up.
