Cotswolds, more Italians looking for a home in the 'British Chianti'

Italians consider them the British Chianti, Americans compare them to the Hamptons, but the Cotswolds are actually the quintessential English countryside. If you are looking for picture postcard villages, honey-coloured stone houses with flowering gardens surrounded by lush green meadows and rolling hills, this magical part of the West of England is the place to be.

The combination of idyllic landscapes, unspoilt nature and 'storybook' architecture has made the Cotswolds one of the favourite areas for the British to have a second home in the country. The short distance from London - about 140 kilometres - makes it easy to travel both by car and train.

Three major changes have occurred in these seemingly unchanged villages in recent years. During and after the pandemic, many London residents decided to move to the countryside and work remotely, in search of a healthier life in tune with nature. The demand for houses and cottages, especially in the more picturesque villages such as Castle Combe, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold or Burford, has increased significantly.

Over the same period, many foreigners - many Americans but also Europeans - have 'discovered' the Cotswolds, increasing competition in the property market and driving up prices. In prime areas, the increase has been 30% since 2020. And this is not a passing trend, according to experts.

"Demand for houses in the Cotswolds from Europeans has increased by 20 per cent in the last year," says Harry Gladwin, head of the area for The Buying Solution. "It is becoming increasingly international and many foreigners are coming here to live, attracted not only by the beauty of the area but also by the fact that there are excellent schools and also clubs and restaurants that are on a par with the best in London.