StayCotswold has been looking at where in the region the couple could settle following their return to the UK…
The obvious guesses are villages like Kingham or Great Tew, both synonymous with celebrity residents, with Kingham offering Daylesford and The Wild Rabbit alongside a direct rail line into London, and Great Tew sitting close to A-list favoured venue, Soho Farmhouse. But StayCotswold, which manages over 300 luxury properties across the region, suggests Harry and Meghan are more likely to look somewhere far less predictable, away from the villages already associated with the region’s celebrity scene.
Filkins and Kelmscott
These West Oxfordshire villages offer a more under-the-radar take on Cotswolds living. Filkins is known for its traditional stone cottages and strong village community, while nearby Kelmscott sits beside the River Thames with a distinctly rural feel. Away from the busiest tourist routes, but close to exclusive country retreat, Estelle Manor, both offer a slower pace of life and enough distance from the region’s celebrity hotspots to provide a greater degree of privacy.
Sapperton
Just outside Cirencester, Sapperton is often overlooked in favour of the Cotswolds’ more famous destinations. Surrounded by rolling countryside and woodland, it has the desirable Cotswolds aesthetic of honey-coloured stone and quiet lanes, without attracting the same attention as some of the region’s more famous villages, making it an attractive option for anyone looking for a haven away from public life.
The Coln Valley – Southrop, Coln St Aldwyns & Quenington
In the Coln Valley, these small, picturesque villages sit surrounded by open countryside, with the River Coln running through the landscape. Their relative anonymity to places like Stow and Bourton-on-the-Water could be exactly what makes the area attractive to a high profile couple.
Southrop has a distinctly private, rural character and is home to The Swan at Southrop, a much loved country pub known for good food and relaxed hospitality. The exclusive Thyme estate country retreat is nearby and the Ox Barn restaurant features in the Michelin guide and is extremely chic. In Coln St Aldwyns, The New Inn, is extremely upmarket and offers amazing food.
Guiting Power and Temple Guiting
Further north, these villages retain a strong sense of traditional rural England, with stone cottages and country lanes. Temple Guiting is tucked away from the main tourist routes, while Guiting Power has a traditional pub and a reputation for its picturesque setting. ‘The Cotswold Guy’ is a highly-acclaimed deli (a favourite of the Beckhams) and is perfect for if the royal couple don’t fancy cooking. The village also has a music festival each year offering ten days of live music including jazz and blues.
Tracy Archer, owner director at StayCotswold, said: “Places such as Filkins, Sapperton, Coln St Aldwyns and Temple Guiting don’t have quite the same celebrity profile as some of the better known Cotswolds villages, and that’s precisely what could make them appealing to a couple who value peace, space and discretion. We often accommodate holidaymakers exploring the area with a view to one day making it home. We’d be delighted if Harry and Meghan moved here, it’d be another royal seal of approval for this unique and beautiful corner of England.”
For more information visit https://www.staycotswold.com
