While Cheltenham is definitely the star of the Cotswolds area, the town does have some amazing satellites as well, Winchcombe is around eight miles to the north east of Cheltenham and the village has a population of over 4,500.
A popular place since prehistoric times
While Winchcome proudly shows its medieval past, people have lived in the area since at least the Bronze Age and a popular tourist attraction is the Neolithic Belas Knap long barrow not far from the village.
During the Restoration period, the village has something of a reputation for lawlessness, with cattle rustling and other dodgy dealings. Some locals even tried illegally growing tobacco as a cash crop at some points but were thwarted by soldiers sent in to destroy it.
Nowadays, Winchcombe has a reassuringly low crime rate and is a safe place for you and your family to live. You can rent a two-bedroom detached house in Winchcombe for around £1,500 and a detached three-bedroom house for around £1,950.
Many of the houses in Winchcombe are detached and the village has quite a few listed buildings as well, so you’re really moving into a historical place! The church has Anglo-Saxon foundations and there’s lots of evidence of Roman settlements, including villas.
Lots of mod cons
Despite the ancient feel to Winchcombe, you’re not totally stepping back in time as the village does have a lot of modern-day amenities. There are buses to Cheltenham, Broadway and Willersley, for example, so getting around without a car isn’t a problem. You don’t have to go far for good food and drink, though, with William’s of Winchcombe food market and the Lion Inn being popular venues.
Winchcombe has its own radio station – Radio Winchcombe – and the village does have an active community, with lots of clubs and a busy sports hall for netball and pickleball fans.
The village has two good schools
The secondary school – Winchcombe School – is rated “Good” by Ofsted (2022) and the primary school – Winchcombe Abbey CoE – had an “Outstanding” rating after its 2023 Ofsted inspection.
