Villages in Gloucestershire | The best of bucolic Britain
Villages in Gloucestershire offer a blend of scenic landscapes, historic charm, and modern convenience.
If the thought of living in a Cotswolds village appeals, one of these highly sought-after locations in Gloucestershire might be the perfect place to look for a home.
Naunton
Naunton is a village in the Windrush Valley, within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Known for its idyllic setting and active community, Naunton has a pub: The Black Horse offering good food and real ales from the local Donnington Brewery.
As villages in Gloucestershire go, Naunton has a good array of facilities and amenities with a a village hall that hosts a range of activities, a church, a chapel, a cricket club, and the renowned Naunton Downs Golf Club is nearby.
Many of the houses in Naunton are built of Cotswold stone with stone tile roofs and vary in age and size.
Naunton is well-served by the local market town of Stow-on-the-Wold five miles east, which provides amenities including supermarkets, independent shops, schools, health services, and cultural attractions.
Nearby road links include Fosse Way and the A40, and there are direct rail services from Kingham and Moreton-in-Marsh to London Paddington, adds to the village’s appeal.
Coln St Aldwyns
Coln St Aldwyns is a small village in Gloucestershire, located in the Coln Valley surrounded by beautiful Cotswolds countryside with walks to nearby villages, such as Bibury and Quenington.
The village is home to the 12th-century Church of St John the Baptist, a village store with post office and café, and the village pub, The New Inn, a 16th century coaching inn.
As with most small settlements within the Cotswolds AONB, properties are constructed of honey-coloured stone giving the quintessential Cotswold look.
Coln St Aldwyns is three miles from the small market town of Fairford with its range of shops, and eight miles from more extensive amenities and cultural activities in Cirencester.
Quenington
Quenington, just south of Coln St Aldwyns, is one of the larger villages in Gloucestershire, rich in history with notable landmarks such as the 11th century Grade I listed St Swithin’s Church renowned for its Norman architecture and decorated doorways, and the 14th century Knights Hospitallers Gateway.
The village has a thriving community with a popular pub restaurant, The Keepers Arms Keepers Arms, village hall, village green, and it is host to the bi-annual Open Air Sculpture exhibition. The nearest shop is in Coln St Aldwyns.
A large proportion of the village, which is built in the classic Cotswold style, is protected by a conservation area: however, there are more modern properties with rendered exteriors.
Frampton on Severn
Frampton on Severn is a charming village in Gloucestershire seven miles west of Stroud. It sits between the River Severn and the M5 motorway and is adjacent to the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal.
The village has a rich history, including the 12th-century St. Mary’s Church and the Grade I-listed Frampton Court, which hosts the annual Frampton Country Fair.
The Green, a 22-acre village green is a particular feature and provides a scenic setting for recreation and community events.
The Green and its surrounding area is a designated conservation area, which includes a wide range of house styles built over several centuries.
Frampton on Severn’s amenities include two pubs, a village shop with post office, and a café. The village is well-connected, just ten miles southwest of Gloucester and close to major road and rail links.
Oakridge
Oakridge is a rural village lying between Stroud and Cirencester in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, known for its close-knit community.
Whilst we include it here in our round up of villages in Gloucestershire, and many consider it to be one large village, it is in fact comprised of five hamlets: Oakridge Lynch, Far Oakridge, Waterlane, Bournes Green, and Tunley, with key amenities including a village shop and post office, the Butchers Arms, an 18th-century pub with oak-beamed ceilings, a village hall, a primary school, a recreational ground that holds an annual village show.
The hamlets are situated amongst undulating hills giving some spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. Properties are of varying ages and styles but are mostly set in individual plots giving the residential areas a feeling of space.
The Slaughters
The twin villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter are renowned as particularly beautiful Cotswold villages in the Windrush Valley.
Both villages span the River Eye and are full of charming and characterful Cotswold stone cottages and houses.
There are not one but two popular 17th century hotels in the villages: The Slaughters Manor House Hotel, and Lords of the Manor Hotel, The Slaughters Country Inn, a village hall, and a historic water mill with original wheel.
Everyday shopping amenities are available in nearby Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold, and a more comprehensive selection can be found in Cheltenham.
Major roads are easily accessible, and Kingham Railway Station provides a direct service to Oxford and London Paddington.
Bourton-on-the-Water
Bourton-on-the-Water is a large, bustling village, one of the better known villages in Gloucestershire. As its name suggests, the River Windrush flows through the centre and is a particular feature attracting many visitors.
The village sits within the Cotswolds AONB and the a large section is also protected by a conservation area. The houses and shops in the village centre are quintessential golden Cotswold stone, with more modern houses on the outskirts.
There are several independent shops. a supermarket, post office, doctors and dentists, cafes, pubs, and restaurants. It also has a leisure centre which provides a wide range of classes alongside a gym and swimming pool.
Visitor attractions include the Cotswold Motoring Museum, Birdland, which is home to many species including owls, parrots, and penguins, and The Model Village, a scale replica of the village as it was in the 1930s.
Southrop
Southrop is a pretty village in the Cotswolds AONB, midway between Cirencester and Burford, and positioned alongside the River Leach. Known for its traditional stone cottages and charming character, the village is a desirable place to live.
Within the village is a 12th century Norman church, a primary school, a village hall that hosts a weekly community shop and post office, and regular events, including an annual summer fete.
The very popular Swan at Southrop, a 17th-century pub on the village green, offers locally sourced food in a traditional setting.
Southrop Manor, a feature of the village, includes the renowned Thyme hotel, restaurant, and spa.
Everyday goods and services can be found at the local market towns of Lechlade and Fairford. The larger towns of Cirencester and Witney provide a wider range of shopping and recreational amenities.
Villages in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire’s villages have much to offer but with such high demand for homes in this area, the market can become competitive.
For those considering making the move, a property buying agent can streamline the process and help you find the ideal home in this sought-after area.
Contact a professional today to explore exclusive opportunities.
