Finding your best place to live in the Cotswolds

From its honey-stone villages and undulating hills to elegant market towns and timeless countryside, the Cotswolds continues to attract buyers in search of lifestyle as much as location. To showcase some of the most desirable places to live, Garrington’s Best Places to Live research provides a data-led perspective.

Here, we share a selection of standout locations across the Cotswolds and its immediate surrounds, including a number of smaller villages with populations below our ranking threshold, yet among the area’s most cherished places to live.

Cotswold highlights

Across the region, larger towns combine everyday practicality with classic Cotswold character. Whether historic, artistic, or quietly cosmopolitan, they all share an enduring sense of place.

At the northern edge, Chipping Norton blends personality and convenience with stylish independent retailers and a strong community feel. Tetbury offers antique shops, galleries, and royal connections, all framed by classic stone architecture. Cirencester, with its Roman roots and excellent schools, brings energy and charm to its role as the region’s unofficial capital.

Moreton-in-Marsh is practical and picturesque with its rail links, market, and golden façades making it a popular choice for commuters and second-home owners alike. Stroud on the other hand, leans more towards the creative, known for its alternative spirit, thriving farmers’ markets, and commitment to sustainability. Cheltenham, with its spa town elegance, festivals, and handsome Regency terraces, is a cultural hotspot with a refined edge.

On the southern boundary of the Cotswolds, the city of Bath remains one of the South West’s most desirable places to live. Georgian architecture, cultural depth, and easy access to countryside give it lasting appeal, blending the grace of a historic town with the amenities of a small city.

Timeless smaller towns and villages

For those looking for a slower pace, there are numerous smaller towns and villages in the Cotswolds that offer a more intimate connection to landscape and heritage. Smaller market towns include Burford, which, with its medieval high street and riverside setting, feels lifted from a storybook, and nearby Woodstock is a small yet vibrant town, home to Blenheim Palace, a World Heritage Site.

Charlbury, often mistaken for a village, is a charming town with an extremely strong community, and Stow-on-the-Wold centres around its traditional market square surrounded by characterful 18th century buildings. Larger villages, such as Shipton-under-Wychwood, offer all the character of traditional market towns, but on a gentler scale.

Painswick is a classic hilltop beauty with clipped yews, honey-stone buildings, and peaceful lanes. To the south, Badminton and Tormarton deliver a rural grace, set well off the tourist trail and surrounded by open farmland. Sitting high above Stroud, Minchinhampton, with its wide common, stone cottages, and quiet confidence has long been a favourite for those seeking subtle sophistication.

Explore more

Of course, this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many wonderful places in and around the Cotswolds, and what makes somewhere the ‘best place to live’ is entirely subjective, deeply personal, and shaped by your lifestyle needs. To find out about our Best Places to Live rankings across England and Wales, visit the Garrington website and use the interactive tool.

You can search by place, region, or ranking and even pin locations side by side to compare. Available at garrington.co.uk/best-places-to-live-2025, it’s free to use and is an invaluable tool, both for those planning a move in 2025 or the merely curious..

Alternatively, you can contact Garrington to arrange a private, no-obligation consultation. For expert help to find your best place to live in the Cotswolds, call Philippa or Alex on 01865 582432.