Exploring the eight areas labeled as the "New Cotswolds" and examining how they compare to the original charming landscape

The picturesque region of the Cotswolds continues to captivate visitors and residents alike, with its charming villages, historic buildings, and bustling countryside. The area, renowned for its wealth accumulated during the Middle Ages through the wool trade, is home to a rich tapestry of manor houses, churches, and mills.

In recent years, the Cotswolds has served as the venue for high-profile news, such as Eve Jobs' £5m wedding at Estelle Manor, a rural members' club. Celebrities like Kim Kardashian have graced its landscapes, while luxury festivals like Wilderness, sponsored by Audi, have attracted renowned figures such as Raymond Blanc.

The allure of the Cotswolds has extended beyond its borders, with several areas being mentioned as potential new Cotswolds by various publications. These include Bruton, Somerset, a town near The Newt and Babington House, as well as North Norfolk, with its charming towns like Holt, Burnham Market, Cromer, and Holkham. Suffolk, with inland hotspots like Sutton Hoo and coastal favorites such as Aldeburgh, has also been named in this esteemed company.

The Cotswolds' charm has not gone unnoticed by the rich and famous. Jeremy Clarkson, of Blur and Big Feastival fame, has a farm in the Cotswolds, while Sir David Beckham makes his own honey in Burford, a town within the region. Alex James, another member of Blur, produces artisan cheese and sparkling wine in the Cotswolds.

The region's appeal is not just limited to its celebrity residents. Luxurious holiday home resorts like Lakes by Yoo, where David Gandy and Kate Moss have attended, offer an exclusive escape. For those seeking a more permanent residence, properties like a slightly smaller terraced townhouse in Chipping Campden, currently on the market at £1.3 million, provide an opportunity to join the Cotswolds' community.

However, the high demand for properties in the Cotswolds has led to a significant increase in house prices. The average house price in Northamptonshire, a neighbouring county, is £309,859, 19% lower than in the Cotswolds. This discrepancy has led some to look elsewhere for their idyllic English retreat.

Areas such as Bedfordshire's four villages on the banks of the Great Ouse - Bromham, Sharnbrook, Turvey, and Harrold - have been mentioned as potential new Cotswolds. Fittleworth, a village in West Sussex, has been revamped by a former front-of-house worker from Chez Bruce, boosting its claim to be the new Cotswolds. Lincolnshire's East Lindsey district, with villages such as Somersby and Telford, has also been referenced in this regard.

Warwickshire, despite part of the county already being in the Cotswolds, has been chosen by The Spectator as a new Cotswolds, lamenting the traffic and queues. The advent of the car and the construction of new roads, such as the Westway and the M40, created a direct link from W8 and W11 to Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, making the Cotswolds more accessible to Londoners seeking a weekend escape.

Despite the rise of potential successors, Lucinda Eaton, a buyer at Property Vision, asserts that the Cotswolds cannot be imitated due to its unique 'theatre'. In 2021, regions such as the Cotswolds themselves were traditionally celebrated, but no widely reported new English regions or cities were explicitly discussed as potential heirs to the Cotswolds' status as the traditional jewel of the English landscape. The search results do not indicate any specific alternative English cities or regions gaining this reputation in 2021.

As the Cotswolds continues to captivate visitors and residents, it remains to be seen whether any of these potential successors will truly rival its charm and allure. One thing is certain: the region's enduring appeal shows no signs of waning, with seven Michelin-star restaurants across the Cotswolds area catering to the discerning palate, and cars being pampered in the Cotswolds at one of the many supercar hotels in the area. Whether you're seeking a holiday home, a permanent residence, or simply a day trip, the Cotswolds continues to offer an unparalleled English experience.

Exploring the eight areas labeled as the "New Cotswolds" and examining how they compare to the original charming landscape