Moving to North Wiltshire & The Cotswolds

The historic Saxon town of Cricklade is the Southern gateway to the Cotswolds. Moving to this area is the ultimate dream for many, a naturally popular choice for people who want to enjoy a rural lifestyle without losing touch with the shopping and cultural activities associated with city living.

Cricklade Manor Prep School sits midway between Swindon and Cirencester. It is within easy reach of the vibrant, historic cities of Bath, Oxford and Cheltenham.

Transport links 

The M4 motorway and fast-speed rail links (from Swindon, Kemble or Oxford Parkway) allow a rapid commute to London. Bristol airport is convenient for travel throughout Europe, and Heathrow is just over an hour away. It is also well placed for access to other popular destinations: Devon and Cornwall are just down the M5. The stunning Gower Peninsula on the south coast of Wales is another holiday hotspot within easy each, and the M5/M6 route makes travel to the North straightforward.

Property

This area is filled with extraordinarily picturesque villages, with beautiful houses built in the characteristic honey-coloured Cotswold stone. From quaint cottages to large country houses, the traditional architecture of this part of the world alone is a huge draw, and many properties have extensive gardens and grounds.

Local estate agents include Savills, Knight Frank and Strutt & Parker. Click on the link to see houses currently for sale in the area: Houses for sale.

Shopping

Moving to North Wiltshire or the Cotswolds doesn’t mean leaving civilisation behind! Cirencester, Cheltenham and Gloucester are all within easy reach of Cricklade for shopping. Bristol is also less than an hour away. The Swindon Outlet Centre and Bath’s South Gate are popular high street brand shopping destinations. Whilst independent retailers like Indico and Sam Venn Interiors are right on Cricklade’s own high street. In fact, independent and local produce is aplenty in this area. You can get some fantastic finds at the regular weekend markets in Cirencester, Marlborough and Stroud, boasting wonderful locally sourced produce and gifts.

Eating

From cosying up by the log fire in a traditional country pub like the The Red Lion in Castle Eaton, to taking a family stroll along the water in South Cerney to get their highly rated fish and chips, there’s a café, pub or restaurant to everyone’s taste here. Including some high class eateries – Conde Nast Traveller gives their picks here, citing the Cotswolds as the ‘foodiest patch outside London’.

Family days out

Amongst the glorious countryside there are a number of local attractions that are sure to keep the kids entertained at the weekend. The Cotswold Water Park, covering 40 square miles, is a series of more than 150 lakes. As well as being an important wildlife area, it provides a wide range of water sports, from sailing and kayaking to fishing and paddle boarding.

Cycling is another popular family sport around here, with lots of off-road routes to explore in the area. Stanton Country Park and The Ridgeway (often described as Britain’s oldest road) are popular routes amongst Cricklade Manor Prep families.

The Cotswold Wildlife Park is an exciting day out for little ones and older ones alike. They schedule a number of fun and educational events throughout the year.  The Swindon STEAM Museum is another great day out that schedules educational events throughout the year.

Stately homes, grounds and National Trust properties are also in abundance here. Popular among Cricklade Manor Prep families to visit include Bowood House, Westonbirt Arboretum and Lacock.

Arts & Culture

Theatre buffs are well served by the Wyvern Theatre in Swindon, Cheltenham’s Everyman Theatre, the highly regarded Theatre Royal in Bath and Cirencester’s Barn Theatre. A little further afield in Bristol, the Hippodrome hosts all the best shows from London’s West End.

O2 Bristol is a great music venue, as is Colston Hall. For a more rural vibe, Westonbirt Arboretum hosts extremely popular outdoor concerts every summer.

Both the Holbourne Museum and Victoria Art Gallery in Bath offer a consistent stream of interesting collections and exhibits to explore.

The Cricklade Manor Prep Community

Our strong Cricklade Manor Prep community offers a supportive and welcoming network. If you have any questions about moving to this beautiful area, or would like advice on places to live, please let us know, and we’ll do our best to help.