The Cotswolds have long appealed to an elite set, but the pandemic sent interest in the rolling hills of the South West sky high. Former Vogue editor Plum Sykes, who lives in the area, said: 'During Covid a lot of people started relocating out here. I'm talking about these mega rich hedge funders and people who were normally working in London. The giant palace in Holland Park was swapped for a giant manor house in the country.'
The area gained even more recognition when Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce rented a £3.3 million home in Great Tew near Chipping Norton last June. Beyoncé and Jay-Z are rumoured to be in the final stages of securing a 58-acre plot near Wigginton, where they plan to build a countryside retreat. Ellen DeGeneres left the US before Donald Trump's election victory and moved to Cheltenham, later selling up for a larger estate in the area, confirming she plans to stay.
The region is already home to David and Victoria Beckham, Jeremy Clarkson, David Cameron, Brad Pitt, and Kate Moss. Tom Cruise and Ariana Grande have also spent time there. This summer, JD Vance chose the Cotswolds for a family holiday, reportedly angering Clarkson.
Sykes's novel 'Wives Like Us' focuses on the ultra high net worth individuals now dominating the area. She notes that the new Cotswolds style involves mixologists and Marfa Stance rather than Barbour and Hunter wellies. Recommended spots include The Woolpack Inn in Slad Valley, The Fox at Oddington, and The Bull in Burford, which houses a 10-seat omakase restaurant called Hiro.
