Living in London can sometimes feel like the complete opposite of the Cotswolds. London is a buzzing and hectic city that never seems to sleep and the Cotswolds is a rural area of far stretching fields and tranquillity.
However, while they might feel worlds away from one another, London is closer to the Cotswolds than you might think. In fact, one town is just over an hour away from Paddington station.
Charlbury in Oxfordshire is accessible via a direct train and can be reached in as little as one hour ten minutes, making it the perfect Cotswold location for a day trip from London. The quiet town sits in a valley with a sleepy and tranquil atmosphere.
One part of Charlbury that never sleeps, however, is its community. A look at the local website proves community initiatives, groups and pages are of great importance to the Cotswold town; Charlbury's sense of community is the main reason it was named one of The Sunday Times' best places to live in 2021. The some 2000 residents are a mixture of old timers and newcomers who took one look at the unspoilt beauty of the area and never looked back.
Like any good Cotswold town, Chalbury has no shortage of idyllic walking paths and traditional pubs to stop in. There is also live music, sport and the occasional summer festival offering residents and tourists alike the chance to soak up the sun in an enchanting setting. The locals also have stories aplenty to tell.
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According to the Charlbury website, former Prime Minister David Cameron (who was MP for Witney which includes Charlbury) claimed to enjoy visiting the town and said: "I come here and everyone tells me exactly what I'm doing wrong."
Author J.R.R. Tolkien was also a frequent visitor. In the 1950s he offered to help a Charlbury pub landlord buy out a lease and the landlord, not knowing who he was talking to, took one look at the academic and said "I don't think you can."
The nearby area of Chipping Norton, just 13 minutes away by car, is currently home to some of the UK'S biggest celebrities including Jeremy Clarkson and the Beckhams. Jeremy Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm is located in Chipping Norton and a hot spot for tourists and locals alike looking to buy quality local produce and get a glimpse of the setting for Clarkson's Farm TV show.
The Beckhams are also local to Chipping Norton: they own a £6m mansion in the area where they isolated during the first coronavirus lockdown.
Amber-Louise Large
I'm a Life Writer covering anything from what's on to lifestyle and features. I enjoy writing first-hand about my experiences in London and love getting to know the characters and communities that make it so special.
Three stories I’ve worked on recently that I’m proud of are:
1. The nearest Cotswold town to London is Charlbury. (on a good day, 75 mins by hourly train from London Paddington, or 60 mins by car from Heathrow if Mrs F's driving). Though without doubt the finest place to live in anywhere in the known universe, its tourist attractions are limited.
To reach the southern part of the Cotswolds by train, take the direct service from London Paddington station to Kemble (1h 11m), Stroud (1h 29m), or Stonehouse (1h 32m). To get right into the heart of the Cotswolds, take the service from London Paddington station to Moreton-in-Marsh (1h 37m).
Best areas in The Cotswolds for commuting to London
For London specifically, yes, country living with reasonable commute times really do exist. Train services from towns and villages such as Kemble, Kingham, Chalbury, Moreton-in-Marsh and Stroud run frequently and directing into London Paddington.
This is a total distance of approximately 92 miles taking around 1 hour and 45 minutes. Alternatively you could take the M40 towards Oxford, the A40 from Oxford, around Witney to Burford where you would then drive to Bibury and on to Cirencester.
The nearest Cotswold town to London is Charlbury. (on a good day, 75 mins by hourly train from London Paddington, or 60 mins by car from Heathrow if Mrs F's driving). Though without doubt the finest place to live in anywhere in the known universe, its tourist attractions are limited. 2.
The Cotswolds is the perfect destination for a day trip. With Great Western Railway, there are plenty of transport links that you can take from London to the heart of the Cotswolds.
Hike from one enchanting village to another on good trails, through pastoral green countryside. Highlights include the hamlets of Bourton-on-the-Water (known as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds'), and Lower Slaughter (much nicer than its name suggests) before finishing at the equally lovely Stow-on-the-Wold.
First, take the train from London to the Cotswolds
Even better – it has a direct rail link connecting it to London Paddington station in just 90 minutes. This regular, reliable route passes through some beautiful countryside on the way, so you'll arrive in the Cotswolds relaxed and ready to explore!
The Cotswolds has some lovely country house hotels, but our Gurus have numerous picks in pretty Cotswolds towns too. Some of their recommendations for the best places to stay in The Cotswolds are in famed Cotswolds-charmers like Burford, Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Norton, Chipping Campden, Cirencester and Broadway.
Cirencester. Among the most buzzing market towns in the Cotswolds, Cirencester's history dates all the way back to Roman times, when it was known as Corinium. Today, this 'Capital of the Cotswolds' is a destination for its Roman amphitheatre, lovely Cirencester Park, and historic church of St. John the Baptist.
The fastest way to get from Cotswolds to London is to train which takes 1h 33m and costs $85 - $170. How far is it from Cotswolds to London? The distance between Cotswolds and London is 104 miles. The road distance is 102.3 miles.
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