Cherington and Stourton come as a pair and are separated only by Featherbed Lane. At the heart of this tight-knit community is the Hall, in Stourton. A hive of activity, the Hall is home to Pilates classes, theatre nights (with performances that fan out from Stratford-Upon-Avon), coffee mornings and the monthly North Cotswolds Farmers' Market.  The pub, The Cherington is popular and has been recently refurbished with a beer garden that runs down to the banks of the River Stour. The highlight of the community’s events calendar is the Cherington and Stourton Show, which is held at the Hall and spills out onto the playing fields. Current and former residents (of all abilities) are invited to compete in the annual tennis tournament.

Most households live here full time, and the community includes first-time buyers, upsizers and downsizers and those who have stayed put for the last 25 years. Its location on the edge of the Cotswolds, with a Coventry postcode, means house prices are marginally lower than in the heart of the Cotswolds - although there is little on the market. The nearest train station is at Moreton-in-Marsh (a 10-minute drive away) with a direct service into London Paddington. 

Simon Merton, Head of Moreton-in-Marsh Office

Between Cirencester and Bath, on the eastern edge of the Cotswolds, is the village of Shipton Moyne. Surrounded by flat countryside and close to the Westonbirt National Arboretum, this is certainly not a thoroughfare village and one for the rural purist. Stone terraced cottages make up the bulk of the housing stock within the centre of the village, with larger detached homes on the outskirts, as well as current and former farmhouses. Activity is centred around the much-loved The Cat & Custard Pot Inn, which has a pub restaurant serving classics and an Italian chalet restaurant with a take-away option. Pilates sessions and art groups are held in the village hall regularly and there is a marketplace on the village website where residents list items they wish to give away. Just a mile to the north is King Charles' country residence Highgrove. The gardens bring tourists and visitors to stay in the village too (the inn has rooms). For the bigger weekly shop, Shipton Moyne is well-placed between the market town of Tetbury (two and a half miles away) and Malmesbury (three miles). Property rarely comes up for sale here as people are reluctant to move away from Shipton Moyne. There is, therefore, a marginal premium to pay for this village. 

Ben Rymer, Senior Associate Director in Cirencester Office

In the heart of the Cotswolds' golden triangle – Stow-on-the-Wold, Burford and the star-studded Chipping Norton – is the beautiful and historic village of Bledington. A meandering stream, dotted with narrow wooden footbridges, cuts through the middle of the village green, which is overlooked by stone houses. In fact, there is a variety of housing stock here - from rows of period cottages and farmhouses, to new-build, family-sized homes. Prices range from around £400,000 to over £1 million. The 16th century pub The Kings Head sits proudly on the edge of the green, with a sophisticated and seasonal menu. It pulls in customers from miles around. The pub is not the only historic establishment in Bledington – services have been held at St Leonard's for more than 800 years! The award-winning Bledington Primary School continues to bring young families to the village and means the community comprises a wide age range of full-time residents, as well as second homeowners and weekenders. Life here is busy all year round with the day-to-day news best discussed in the volunteer-led village store. 

Mark Smith, Director in Moreton-in-Marsh

The village of Great Tew was built in the 19th century as part of the 3,500-acre country estate of the same name and it looks out across the Worton Valley. Its charming architecture differs to that of other Cotswoldian villages. Just on the edge of the Cotswolds AONB the properties here are made from a reddish ironstone under thatched, gabled roofs, with mullioned windows. Of course, Soho Farmhouse – which is within walking distance – has signposted the village to those global celebrities who want a piece of the British countryside. The historic inn has dog-friendly bedrooms and a bar with low oak beams and many a cosy nook. It is quite the place to be snowed in. The other popular local haunt is the Quince & Clover Cafe stationed in the old post office, serving coffee, brunch and lunch, and homemade ice cream, with chef-prepared meals to take home. There is a village primary school and Chipping Norton is only five miles away. Most homes are sold quietly and quickly off market. 

Amy Waller, Senior Associate Director & Head of Lettings in Oxford

Whichford is halfway between Chipping Norton and Shipston-on-Stour. With a CV postcode, it sits in a picturesque belt of villages in the north Cotswolds close to the Oxfordshire/ Warwickshire border, within the Area of Natural Beauty. Whichford is famous for Whichford Pottery and its hand-crafted flowerpots (Monty Don and the National Trust are among its customers). On site is a secret walled garden with a raised pond, summerhouse and a vegetable patch.

Whichford Pottery's Straw Kitchen serves meals using locally-sourced ingredients and there is a community of small holdings in the surrounding area. While The Norman Knight pub on the village green has been closed for refurbishment, it is due to reopen soon to great anticipation. Another local haven, tucked away on the banks of the River Stour, is The Wild Sauna, where mini retreats are held with food supplied by the Straw Kitchen. It's a 20-minute drive to Banbury and the nearest mainline train station with a direct line to London Marylebone in under an hour. Although previously property here was cheaper than prime Cotswolds, this is changing as demand ripples out across the region.

Giles Lawton, Senior Director in the National Country House Department

To complicate matters there are two Cherington villages in the Cotswolds. Gloucestershire's version to the south of the district is close to Cirencester (nine miles) and just north of Tetbury (four miles). This pretty village is centred around the green with a Grade II listed drinking fountain, a church which dates back to the 12th century (in parts) and a village hall. In the summer months, there's the Cherington Show – a fantastic rural event, full of food, flowers and plant stalls, and even its own dog show. The nearest pub is The Bell Inn at Avening which is dog- and muddy boots-friendly - a good job considering the local walking routes. The Crown Inn at Frampton Mansell is also just three miles away and thanks to its roaring fires, is a welcoming destination after a long walk. Cherington village sits on the edge of Cherington Park, with parkland, a lake and historic manor house, popular with hikers who follow routes into the nearby villages. The historic Michinhampton is nearby, home to its famous golf course, and also Henry’s Bakehouse Café – one of my favourite spots in the Cotswolds.

Slightly further afield, sailing and watersports can be found at the Cotswolds Water Park, as well as the motor racing circuit at Castle Combe just over half an hour away. There's a primary school close at hand in Tetbury, a traditional market town with 17th and 18th century architecture, boutiques and restaurants. Newer three-bedroom cottages start from around £300,000 in Avening and £400,000 for a period cottage in Cherington itself, whilst larger houses sell for upwards of £1.5M. Farms and estates in this area get snapped up quickly.

Juliette Burt, Head of Farms & Estates in Cotswolds & Central Region

Ledwell is a small hamlet close to the village of Great Tew. This is Sir David and Lady Beckham country, their barn conversion and land are tucked away down one of the lanes. It is easy to see why the Beckham family made it their home. Of course, this is the fashionable core of the Cotswolds'. Soho Farmhouse is a 30-minute walk over the fields, it is a 13-minute drive to Chipping Norton, and just beyond is the Daylesford Organic empire (farm shop and spa). But Ledwell itself, a collection of farms and stone cottages, makes for a quiet retreat from the shinier side of the area. A winding road connects Ledwell to the village of Sandford St Martin, which has a church, a village hall and a cricket club. With senior and junior teams, and socials, this is a serious sporting outfit based at the Cotswolds Coliseum. There are more properties available in Sandford St Martin, ranging from a three-bedroom apartment for £275,000 in a row of converted cottages to a large, three-bedroom, detached stone cottage with a paddock priced at £1,400,000. This area, although it attracts bolthole homeowners who come for the weekend, is also well-placed for commuting to Oxford (a 40-minute drive) or Banbury (25 minutes) to catch the train. 

George Hughes, Director & Head of Oxford Office