The historic Cotswolds market town of Tetbury is loved by residents for its laid-back lifestyle and quality shopping. It is located a five-minute drive from Highgrove House, the family home of King Charles and Queen Camilla. Charles acquired the property in 1980 when he was Prince of Wales, and it’s easy to see why he fell in love with the area’s beautiful gentle rolling valleys, leafy lanes, and historic stone buildings.
Independent Shops and Royal Connections
Because of its proximity to Highgrove, Tetbury has an abundance of independent businesses, many with royal affiliations. These include the Highgrove shop in Long Street, which sells organic food, branded homeware, and artwork painted by the King, the award-winning Knead bakery, and around 25 antique shops.
Residents and visitors can enjoy “Big Pan Saturdays,” during which bacon, sausages, and burgers are freshly cooked in a massive pan outside Jesse Smith Butchers. There is also a weekly market in the Grade-I listed Tetbury Market House, built in 1655 to sell yarn and wool at the height of Tetbury’s wool trade.
Today its yellow frontage, bell tower, clock face, and columns make it the town’s architectural jewel. The Chipping Steps are a local landmark not to be missed. The steep lane of medieval steps lined by historic weavers’ cottages connects the upper and lower part of Tetbury and offers fantastic views of the town.
Attractions and Gardens
A visit to Highgrove’s nearby stunning gardens is an obvious must; they open to the public from April until October. The National Arboretum is also down the road in Westonbirt, while the nearby five-acre Larkhill Vineyard offers wine tours and tastings.
Tetbury has more than 1,300 years of recorded history and was built on the site of an ancient hill fort. In 681, Æthelred, Lord of the Mercians, gave 15 acres of land near “Tette’s monastery” to the abbey of Malmesbury. It is not known for certain who “Tette” was, but a woman of that name was abbess of a monastic settlement at Wimborne at around this time.
The Grade-I listed St. Mary’s Church that towers over Tetbury is thought to have been built on the site of a Saxon monastic settlement. Inside are stained-glass windows, which include work by Clayton and Bell and William Wailes. Two huge chandeliers dating from 1781 also hang in the nave.
Residents' Views and Practicalities
Paul Walker, 58, a stonemason, has lived in Tetbury for nine years. He says: “It’s a quiet, rural life. There are lots of antiques shops and all that. It’s very touristy. I grew up in London so it is a big change for me – nice and quiet. But it gets bigger by the year because of new housing estates being built. But that’s what’s going to happen everywhere, I suppose.”
Lilly James, 23, who works at Knead, says: “Everyone here is so friendly. I’ve never met somebody rude or hostile. It’s very community based. Everyone is keen to help each other out.” She adds: “We’re also surrounded by amazing nature. Have a walk around.”
David Rees, 71, is originally from Wales and has lived in Tetbury for three years. He says: “It’s a nice place to retire – there’s the countryside and no traffic problems. I worked 30 to 40 years in London and this is a delight.” He adds: “It’s not the kind of north Cotswolds – all the posh stuff. It’s the proper Cotswolds. It’s too busy in Bourton-on-the-Water and Chipping Camden.” “There’s good access to motorways and airports are all within an hour and a half – Bristol, London, Birmingham. It’s a very convenient place to live. It’s close to Wales without actually living there.”
Travel and Housing
Bristol Airport, around 35 miles south of Tetbury, is approximately an hour’s drive away. There are good connections to the M4 and M5. There are good bus routes to nearby cities including Bath and Cirencester.
Average house prices over the last year were £436,795. Semi-detached properties sold for £429,739, with detached homes fetching £580,450. Terraced houses, the most popular type of property, sold for £376,104.
For food and drink, enjoy Mediterranean cuisine at Spanish-owned and family-run restaurant Lola & Co Tapas, and coffee and cake at Whistle Stop Cafe.
Top Three Must-Dos
1. Highgrove: For gardens and shop, book a guided tour of the King’s personal garden, which is “renowned as one of the most inspiring and innovative” in the UK. Then pop into the estate’s shop for a browse and maybe treat yourself to some quality products.
2. Tetbury market: Enjoy mouth-watering food from the “Big Pan” and browse other fresh seasonal produce. Market stalls sell plants, bric-a-brac, furniture, books, and jewellery.
3. The National Arboretum: Enjoy a relaxing walk around what is described as “one of the most beautiful and important plant collections in the world”. It contains more than 15,000 specimens and 2,500 species of tree from across the globe.
