In a list published on Thursday, November 13 by the Daily Mail property experts named Wiltshire as a cheaper alternative to the Cotswolds.
Remarking that the county is home to a part of the Cotswolds and offering a “similar rural lifestyle” experts also say the county has more affordable property prices.
They say average house prices remain significantly lower than in the Cotswolds, yet buyers can still enjoy attractive period homes, scenic surroundings and good transport links via towns like Chippenham, Melksham and Westbury.
Historically a wool-production hub of the UK, the Cotswolds is now home to a range of national and international celebrities, with David Beckham, Jeremy Clarkson, Ellen DeGeneres just a few of the high-profile names living in its rolling hills.
Wiltshire – which boasts its own celebrity haul and picturesque country vistas – gets an early mention on the list, finding itself among a slew of other mostly rural regions such as Lincolnshire and Rutland.
It comes as The Daily Mail reports, the Cotswolds area has become a victim of its own success, with property prices going through the roof, one of the UK’s highest proportions of second homes, and its charm slowly draining away due to a huge influx of tourists and a trend for garish modern makeovers on traditional homes.
A full description of the county’s listing reads: “While around 7 per cent of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty lies within Wiltshire’s northern border, agents are seeing buyers unable to afford The Cotswolds search further into the county.
“Mid-Wiltshire is emerging as a strong alternative to the Cotswolds thanks to its blend of countryside charm, historic villages and better value for money, says Johanna Cole, sales director at Hamptons in Marlborough.
“Average house prices remain significantly lower than in the Cotswolds, yet buyers still enjoy attractive period homes, scenic surroundings and good transport links via towns like Chippenham, Melksham and Westbury. The area offers a similar rural lifestyle, peaceful and characterful, and is well-connected without the tourist crowds or price premiums of Cotswold hotspots.’”
“With steady price growth, quick sales and strong commuter access to Bath, Bristol and London, mid-Wiltshire provides a more affordable, less overheated, and still aspirational option for those seeking the ‘Cotswolds feel’ at better value.”
Also finding itself on the list was Somerset, with the authors highlighting the creative triangle around Bruton, Frome, and Castle Cary as a “magnet for the arts”.
A full description reads: “The area around Bruton in Somerset is another destination Cotswolds wannabes are focusing on.
“’Somerset’s creative triangle centred around Bruton, Frome and Castle Cary has become a magnet for those in the arts, design and media sectors looking for space, style and substance,’ says Jonathan Handford, Managing Director at Fine & Country.
“Bruton in particular has transformed itself from a rather staid market town into something of a party town, and has the sort of features a Cotswolds type looks for, such as its world-class Hauser and Wirth art gallery and near proximity to Babington House, Somerset’s private members’ club getaway to rival the Cotswolds’ Soho Farmhouse.”
The nearby A303 and good train links to London add to the appeal.”