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CLIENT isn’t relevant then further west to Stow- on-the-Wold, Lower Swell, Snowshill and Naunton (west of here, towards Winchcombe, there is stunning country but your nearest station is Cheltenham) or south to Northleach and villages surrounding Bourton-on-the-Water will immerse you in full Cotswold life. The South West Cotswolds Towards Stunning chocolate box market towns and villages, golden honey- and beyond the ancient Roman town of coloured houses, dry stone walls and beautiful rolling countryside Cirencester and you get a slightly different vibe. It is no less accessible to London, with that even looks lovely in the rain, this is quintessential English the M4 and M5 on both sides. In fact, the country living. And it is relatively accessible from London both by train commute is a little less (the fastest train is 1hr 12mins from Paddington to train and car, even commutable if you’re feeling brave. By Jill Forbes Kemble and on to Stroud) and getting Illustrations by Meg Niven

Cotswolds’. A plethora of celebrities call Where to live this area home, the Camerons, Jeremy Clarkson and the Beckhams hide away from The Cotswolds cover a huge area, towards the prying eyes of London life, and it is now Stratford-upon-Avon in the north, Bath in home to the wonders of Soho Farmhouse the south, almost as far as Oxford in the and Daylesford. Not exactly the nitty gritty east and to Stroud in the west. Perhaps of hardy country living but if you want unsurprisingly given the size, the North and the magic and mud of the countryside South Cotswolds have two quite distinct with a twist of urban luxury, it is here in personalities. abundance. It’s hard to pinpoint ‘the best’ The Northern Cotswolds Reached by village as there are so many; for those the M40 and trains from Paddington to needing to be close to the train, Bledington Charlbury, Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh and Chadlington and the villages around (from 1 hour 20mins with trains every Chipping Norton (Chippy if you’re a local) Stow on the Wold hour at peak times) are the ‘Cosmopolitan are great starting points but if commuting

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shorter due to the electrification of the Cheltenham line in 2018, but villages close to the station are limited so journey times to the station can be as much as 25 minutes which adds a chunk of time to your commute. This area has got a slightly more old school, grown-up feeling, less celebrities, just Royalty! Not as trendy as its northern neighbour, it still has plenty of urban creature comforts. Cirencester is a lovely market town and lots of lovely boutiques are There has been a marked change in property prices in the popping up next to antique shops in Tetbury. North. The Daylesford/Soho House effect has meant that prices All around the Cirencester and Tetbury area have gone up by up to 10-20% – a rural family farmhouse with are small villages with genuine communities. garaging and an acre of garden could set you back up to £2m Cherington, Sherston and Luckington are in a pretty commutable village. Further from the station and all popular. further south and you get more for your money. You can still get The unsung hero of the Cotswolds is the change from £700,000 for a three-bed village house in the south area around Stroud, less well known to the weekender market, so you get more for your Cotswolds. Luke Morgan, Strutt & Parker struttandparker.com money and Stroud’s reputation of being arty and quirky is well deserved. Tiny narrow lanes Cheltenham College Prep Thirlestaine Road, school with a nurturing environment. lead to pretty villages perched on the side of Cheltenham, GL53 7AB 01242 522 697 Rendcomb College Rendcomb, Cirencester, the beatiful Slad valley. Minchinhampton, cheltenhamcollege.org Ages 3–13 (to 18 at GL7 7HA rendcombcollege.org.uk Bisley, Nailsworth and Painswick are Cheltenham Coll), co-ed, boarding and day. Ages 3–18, co-ed, day. A small school, with a brimming with charm and hidden gems. Action-packed, strong academic drive whilst family feel and good facilities. Down one of the narrow lanes in Painswick also a focus on sport. Many pupils transfer to Westonbirt School Tetbury GL8 8QG is the lovely Painswick Hotel, voted Sunday Cheltenham College but it is not automatic. westonbirt.org Ages 3–18, girls, day and Times Hotel of the Year last year. Dean Close Shelburne Road, Cheltenham, boarding. Things are changing here with an The only problem is that these picturesque GL51 6HE 01242 258 000 deanclose.org. injection of energy and modernism. A very villages attract tourists by the bus load. uk Ages 3–13/18, co-ed, boarding and day. close, caring environment nurtures the girls, Watch out for the tourist hotspots in Small yet supportive and enthusiastic school leaving them confident and enthusiastic. the high season, Bourton-on-the-Water, in 50 acres with a strong Christian ethos. Wycliffe School Prep School Ryeford Burford, Bibury, Tetbury and Castle Combe King’s School, Pitt Street, Gloucester GL1 2BG Hall, Ebley Road, Stonehouse, Glos GL10 2LD get especially busy – be aware if they are 01452 337 337 thekingsschool.co.uk 01453 822 432 wycliffe.co.uk your local town as you’ll need to choose your Ages 3–18, co-ed, day. In stunning Gloucester Ages 3–13 (to 18 in Wycliffe Senior), co-ed, times to do your weekly shop! Cathedral, this school used to be a choir boarding and day. Non-selective but gets school. Great academic drive, strong excellent results. Encourages individualism; community spirit, outstanding pastoral care. art block is great. Schools St Edwards School 252 London Road, Northern Cotswolds Cheltenham GL52 6NR 01242 388 550 Dormer House School High Street, Moreton- Both state and independent options are stedwards.co.uk Ages 1–11, co-ed, day. School in-Marsh GL56 0AD 01608 650 758 extensive. There is so much on offer for motto ‘Believe. Strive. Achieve’ says it all. dormerhouseschool.co.uk Ages 2–11, co-ed, nursery and pre-prep especially as more Cirencester/Tetbury/Stroud day. Lovely small classes: a school that London families are relocating here; the Beaudesert Park School develops individual strengths of each pupil. popular Willow Nursery from Clapham Minchinhampton, Stroud GL6 9AF 01453 Kitebrook House School Little Compton, has even opened its doors in Oxfordshire 832 072 beaudesert.gloucs.sch.uk Ages 3–13, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0RP 01608 674 350 with Willow on the Farm. There are some co-ed, boarding and day. Happy, genuine, excellent village schools. Leighterton, nurturing school with old-fashioned values Sapperton, Kemble, Cold Aston and Great and good academic results. Fab facilities on Tew primaries seem to get it just right. the edge of the Minchinhampton Common. Hatherop Castle Hatherop, Cirencester GL7 3NB PREP SCHOOLS 01285 750 206 hatheropcastle.co.uk Ages Cheltenham area 3–13, co-ed, boarding and day. Lovely cosy, Berkhampstead School Pittville Circus Road, traditional school with a Hogwarts feel to it. Cheltenham, GL52 2QA 01242 523 263 Hopelands 38/40 Regent St, Stonehouse GL10 berkhampsteadschool.co.uk Ages 3–13, co-ed, 2AD 01453 822 164 hopelands.org. Fun at Hatherop day. Lovely school: small classes, happy kids. uk Ages 3–11, co-ed, day. Small but happy

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REPRO OP kitebrookhouse.com Wilts, SN6 8HZ 01793 782205 School Gloucester, St Edwards, Ages 3–13, co-ed, boarding and pinewoodschool.co.uk Rendcomb, Westonbirt and day. A wonderful school for the Ages 3–13, Co-ed, day and Wycliffe all have thriving outdoorsy type in grounds that boarding. Academically strong secondary schools. In addition: children explore and roam with but not a hothouse and full of Cheltenham Ladies School freedom. Academic focus whilst happy, confident kids. Bayshill Road, Cheltenham, Glos

SUBS letting children develop at their St Hughes Carswell Manor, GL50 3EP cheltladiescollege.org own pace. Now part of The Faringdon, Oxon SN7 8PT Ages 11–18, girls, boarding Cothill Trust, they offer a term in 01367 870 700 st-hughs.co.uk and day. Stunning buildings, France in Year 7. Ages 3–13, co-ed, day. A bit far academic excellence is a given, Central/East east, but it’s too good to miss! A the girls are confident and Cokethorpe Witney, Oxon truly fantastic and happy school. driven to succeed. Sports and Pony Club smiles

ART OX29 7PU 01993 703921 music are strong too. No wonder cokethrope.org.uk Ages 4–18, co- SENIOR SCHOOLS this is one of the top schools in an annual pilgrimage for locals, ed, day. Strong Christian ethos. There are some excellent state the country. the RSC in Stratford isn’t far Cricklade Manor Prep (formerly secondary schools including away and they run a range of Prior Park Prep) The Manor House, Cotswold School, Farmor’s family programmes. The Theatre Cricklade, Wilts SN6 6BB 01793 School and Chipping Campden in Things to do Royal Bath and their dedicated PRODUCTION 750 275 cricklademanor.com the North and Cirencester Deer children’s theatre The Egg also Ages 3–13, co-ed, day. Lots Park, Stroud High and Balcarras If your child has an interest have some good productions. of changes here, new Head, Cheltenham in the South. in ponies then the Cotswolds The Romans left their mark on new name. Broad academic Independent Secondaries does Pony Club better than the Cotswolds. Their gloriously curriculum with an enthusiastic Of the independent preps listed anyone. Falling into Area 9 of straight Fosse Way goes right and inclusive vibe. above Cheltenham College, The Pony Club, there are a range through the middle. Chedworth CLIENT Pinewood Bourton, Shrivenham, Cokethorpe, Dean Close, King’s of local branches to join. The Roman Villa has the remains Heythrop, Cotswold, VWH and of one of the grandest Roman Beaufort Pony Clubs are local villas in Britain. The Corinium hunt clubs whilst Stroud and Museum in Cirencester is filled Minchinhampton Pony Clubs are with Roman artefacts and hands- also great fun. on activities to inspire the most Cotswold Farm Park west of reluctant learner. Stow has rare breeds and farm animals (we go back time after FESTIVALS The Willow On The Farm time just to hold the baby chicks); There seems to be one a month! nearby Bourton-on-the-Water Daylesford Summer Festival Nill Farm, Hook Norton, Banbury, Oxon OX15 5DQ is home to the Model Village 19 May Artisan food stalls, 01608 730143 [email protected] and Birdland. Towards Burford dog shows and farm tours. www.willowonthefarm.co.uk is the Cotswold Wildlife Park – Chippping Norton Literary who doesn’t love real rhinos and Festival 26–29 April giraffes? Cornbury Music Festival There are National Trust 1–15 July gardens a-plenty, Batsford and Wilderness Festival 2–5 Aug Westonbirt Arboretums are Big Feastival 24–26 Aug stunning at all times of year, even Cheltenham Literary Festival if you aren’t a tree hugger! Close 6–15 Oct to Cirencester is the Cotswold Country Park and Beach which EATING OUT will keep everyone happy. You You won’t be short of places to can learn to sail, use the pedalos, eat here, this is gastro pub-land swim or take some bikes and ride with a capital G. Have a look at Highly Qualified Teachers¥ Farmyard Animals around the grounds. The beach in our online version of this article ¥ Forest School Tractor & Trailer Adventures the summer is surprisingly nice, for our full round up of our RULER Programme: Building emotional intelligence & resilience busy, but if you can’t get to the favourites. Suffice it to say for ‘Getting children offline and outside’ sea, it’s the next best thing! You here that we reckon the bacon

1 will also find Head4Heights here, and egg bap from Jolly Nice For 2 /2 - 4 year olds. Term time only. a high rope adventure park. outside Cirencester is the best in Morning, afternoon or full day sessions available. While the panto in ‘Chippy’ is Engand!

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