Best places to live in Gloucestershire

Published Aug 11, 2025

7 mins read

If you are considering your next house move and looking for beautiful countryside surroundings with charm in abundance, why not explore some of the best places to live in Gloucestershire?

Nestled in the rolling Cotswolds hills, Gloucestershire has it all, with postcard-worthy beauty around every corner.

Whether it’s the regal heritage of Cheltenham or the agricultural heart of Berkeley and beyond, many delightful towns and villages across the county provide idyllic settings to call home.

Here are just a few examples of the best places to live in Gloucestershire from Garrington’s Best Places to Live in the UK research.

Tetbury

Showcasing honey-coloured Cotswold stone, Tetbury’s timelessness has long drawn attention, not least as the setting for Highgrove House, the private residence of His Majesty King Charles III. Just outside the town centre, visitors can explore its celebrated public gardens.

The Monday Market Place draws shoppers to chic boutiques offering fine antiques, jewellery, and British craftsmanship, while the nearby Westonbirt Arboretum provides one of the UK’s most impressive tree collections, perfect for seasonal walks.

Savour afternoon tea at elegant hotels like The Ormond or Close Hotel, or cosy in front of the fire at classic pubs and wine bars that spice up the foodie scene.

With active clubs, societies, and events year-round, plus schools often attended by families connected to Highgrove, Tetbury life merges rural splendour with modern sensibilities.

Stroll through Medieval weavers’ cottages and the Georgian town centre to discover why it is the pride of the southern Cotswolds and considered one of the best places to live in Gloucestershire.

Cheltenham

Cheltenham is known as a spa town thanks to its mineral waters that have been attracting health-conscious visitors since 1716.

The town boasts stunning Regency and Georgian architecture marked by elegant rows of cream, stone, and brick terrace houses, parades, and villas.

Iconic residential roads include the Promenade, Montpellier, and Suffolk Square, along with the lavish houses of Battledown, Charlton Kings, and the Park.

Top-rated schools like Cheltenham College, Cheltenham Ladies’ College, Dean Close, Pates Grammar School, and Balcarras draw families here.

The town is home to various cultural festivals for literature, jazz, science, and food, as well as the world-famous horse racing of Cheltenham Racecourse.

Attractions like the Wilson Art Gallery, museums, botanical gardens, and numerous parks provide plenty to do.

By night, locals and visitors alike enjoy the buzzing restaurant scene, with eateries like The Daffodil highlighting excellent local produce, along with the many traditional pubs and cocktail bars.

Stroud

Situated in the tranquil Five Valleys, Stroud has undergone a renaissance from its industrial wool and cloth mills history to become today’s captivating hub of arts, culture, and independent retail.

Additionally, nearby Painswick offers a fine-dining experience, and the vineyard café at Woodchester Valley is also popular. Festivals like literature’s Godsfield or innovative music event Nozstock attract all ages, while STRUT markets showcase local designers.

Surrounded by rolling hills and meandering waters, Stroud provides beautiful countryside and urban appeal thanks to artisan culture blending old textile roots and new creative endeavours into a uniquely modern market town.

Chalford

Set deep in the Golden Valley near Stroud, Chalford is a hillside village where steep lanes wind between rows of cottages built from Cotswold stone. Historically linked to the textile trade, it still retains a creative edge, with artists’ studios and a strong local identity.

Paths lead from the heart of the village into surrounding woodland and along canal towpaths, offering a peaceful escape. Although small, Chalford has a well-supported community shop and café, a primary school, and regular events that bring residents together throughout the year.

Its distinctive topography and tucked-away feel give it an almost Alpine character, unlike anywhere else nearby.

Cirencester

Known as the “Capital of the Cotswolds”, Cirencester is both a regional hub and a historic market town. It is brimming with character and considered among the best places to live in Gloucestershire.

Wander the Roman museum and gothic St John Baptist Church before grabbing lunch at the modern Australian café Jesse Smith’s or a pint at The Fleece, a cosy wooden-beamed inn.

Cirencester draws shoppers to independent boutiques down quaint Beeches Lane as well as luxe brands clustered around Market Place.

Foodies indulge at The Lounge speciality restaurant, the Michelin-listed Barnsley House, or Thomas Street’s many eateries.

Cirencester was previously voted the best place to live in the southwest by the Sunday Times in 2023. Surrounded by scenic countryside, the town also provides access to renowned schools like the Royal Agricultural University.

With sites like Corinium Arena and Blues music in local pubs and festivals all year long, Cirencester seamlessly blends affluent heritage with a cosmopolitan lifestyle.

Wootton-under-Edge

Wotton-under-Edge sits at the foot of the Cotswold escarpment, where historic buildings cluster along sloping streets. The town has a long history, seen in the medieval church and 18th-century town hall, and it still holds regular markets in the centre.

The high street is home to independent food shops, galleries, and cafés, while well-maintained paths offer access to hilltop views and open countryside. Wotton is also on the Cotswold Way, making it a natural stopping point for walkers.

With a cinema, sports centre, and schools within walking distance, the town manages to feel self-contained while still well connected.

Moreton-in-Marsh

Situated along the Roman Fosse Way in the North Cotswolds, Moreton-in-Marsh boasts Anglo-Saxon roots that blossom in cosy tea rooms, inns, galleries, and boutiques.

The weekly market has operated since the 13th century, now bringing locavores and tourists flocking to a High Street dotted with lovely stone buildings.

Moreton also provides services like health centres and sports facilities for the many surrounding villages.

Popular places to live nearby include Batsford, Little Moreton, and Moreton Heights, overlooking the river and hills that offer scenic walks straight from your doorstep.

With two train stops connecting Moreton to London and beyond, it makes an accessible base to explore the Cotswolds. The bustling yet cosy feel integrates history and practicality into an ideal English country town.

Nailsworth

Surrounded by wooded hills and former mill valleys, Nailsworth is a small town with a strong independent streak. The compact centre is full of character, with a mix of delis, bakers, bookshops, and cafés tucked into converted stone buildings.

Weekly markets and a full calendar of local events contribute to a lively atmosphere. Just up the road, Minchinhampton, Selsey, and Rodborough Commons offer wide views and walking routes, while a network of old railway lines provides traffic-free cycling and access to nearby villages.

Nailsworth’s past as a mill town is still evident in its architecture, but today it’s known more for its food, arts, and thoughtful pace of life.

Hidden Gems

Garrington’s Best Places to Live research focuses on cities, towns, and villages with a population exceeding 5000. There are numerous locations under this threshold that are highly desirable and sought-after amongst homebuyers.

Here are some examples that our expert property finder has chosen to highlight as some of the best places to live in Gloucestershire.

Stow-on-the-Wold

An endearing market town in the Cotswolds, Stow-on-the-Wold charms visitors with its bustling traditional square surrounded by lovely buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Antique shops, galleries, and independent boutiques line postcard-perfect streets and alleyways like Digbeth, Sheep Street, and Nelson’s Square.

Locals and foodies flock to the popular monthly farmers market showcasing local produce while pubs and tearooms serve artisanal fare.

Nearby attractions include the majestic St Edward’s Church, an ancient Iron Age fort, mazes, and parks. With quirky events like the annual Sheep Race drawing crowds, Stow retains a lively community calendar.

Painswick

Next on our best places to live in Gloucestershire list is Painswick. Dubbed “Queen of the Cotswolds”, its traditional buildings nestle amidst the tranquil Painswick Valley, perfect for scenic walks to the forested Painswick Beacon.

The historic wool town channels idyllic English charm down narrow streets lined with Regency stone houses and shops leading up to the 14th century St. Mary’s Church.

Local venues such as Rococo Garden are popular with residents, and of course, Painswick golf course is right on the doorstep. And there are several cosy village pubs too, including The Falcon Inn and Royal Oak Inn.

With wildlife-rich landscapes like the deer park Slad Valley immortalised by Laurie Lee, yet only miles from Cheltenham and Gloucester, Painswick attracts with its unspoilt village ambience and Cotswolds splendour.

Neighbourhoods in Edge and Sheepscombe ooze photogenic rural beauty, belying Painswick’s modern amenities and transport links that bridge history with 21st-century comfort.

Winchcombe

Once the capital of the Mercian Kingdom, rich history now runs through Winchcombe’s cobblestone streets like Saxon Church Walk.

Dined in by royalty through the ages, The White Hart Inn offers locally reared meats and valley views while boutiques line traditional timber-framed buildings. Hidden Hailes Abbey and Sudeley Castle exhibit mediaeval grandeur.

Weaving along the Cotswold Way or hiking sectioned routes, Winchcombe provides ample walking access across the lush farmlands and vineyards nearby.

With a bustling street market and events like the walking and folk festivals, Winchcombe is a small but vibrant hilltop town that forges modern comfort amidst a timeless setting in the Isbourne Valley.

Brewery tours at the Lion, country home options and proximity to the A40/M5 motorway signal Winchcombe as the next undiscovered find for idyllic Cotswolds life within reach of London.

Minchinhampton

Sitting high on a hilltop overlooking the Amberley Valley, the rural town of Minchinhampton displays quintessential Cotswolds beauty.

The historic Market Square bustles on market days while the 12th-century Holy Trinity Church stands sentinel.

Enjoy lunch at The Old Crown Inn before rambling across Minchinhampton Common. This offers 500 acres of scenic walks around ancient burial mounds and one of England’s oldest cricket pitches.

Nearby attractions range from Westonbirt Arboretum to Woodchester Mansion and Castle, Tetbury’s boutiques, and Cheltenham’s horse racing.

With a golf club, community centre, and stone cottages tucked along curving lanes, “Minch” retains its quaint village feel.

For a taste of authentic Gloucestershire country life enveloped within idyllic pastoral landscapes just 15 minutes from Nailsworth and Stroud’s conveniences, Minchinhampton delivers old-world appeal with modern connectivity.