Property, Houses and Flats for Sale in Gloucestershire, England

The county of Gloucestershire

The county of Gloucestershire lies on the northern edge of the south west of the UK bordered by Gwent in Wales, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Bristol. Occupying some 1,025 square miles it is the home of the Cotswolds, and the source of the River Severn. Still predominantly a rural county, the major urban areas are the county city of Gloucester and Cheltenham, which is the largest town. Gloucestershire's population of 565,000 is split between the areas of the Cotswolds, the Royal Forest of Dean and the Severn Vale. The county is less than two hours from London, with easy access to Stratford-upon-Avon, Bath, Oxford, Bristol and Wales. With the beauty of the Cotswolds, it is easy to see why Gloucestershire attracts thousands of visitors every year. Many of the Cotswold villages were established as early as the 12th century. Cirencester, known as the capital of the Cotswolds, is a charming town, and the cities of Gloucester and Cheltenham are well worth exploring. Gloucester has an impressive Norman Cathedral (where scenes from the first two Harry Potter films were shot), whilst Cheltenham has an elegance appreciated particularly by the horse racing fraternity during Gold Cup week. For those wishing to keep away from the towns and cities of the region, the Forest of Dean, one of England's last remaining ancient woodlands, offers a haven of peace and tranquillity.

A brief history

The English conquest of the Severn Valley began in 577 with the victory of Ceawlin at Deorham, followed by the capture of Cirencester, Gloucester and Bath. The Hwiccas who occupied the district were a West Saxon tribe, but their territory had become a dependency of Mercia in the 7th Century, and was not brought under West Saxon domain until the 9th century. Gloucestershire probably originated as a shire in the 10th century, and is mentioned by name in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 1016. The sixth wife of Henry VIII, Queen Katherine Parr, who survived her husband, died and is buried at Sudeley Castle. Gloucestershire has been known since Roman times for farming, forestry and horticulture, with an industrial history featuring the wool trade.

Living in Gloucestershire

One very famous resident of Gloucestershire is the Prince of Wales, whose private residence is Highgrove House in Tetbury. When the Prince was searching for property in Gloucestershire he selected the county because of its easy access to London and other parts of Britain, including the western counties where the Duchy of Cornwall has most of its properties.

There is a great variety of properties for sale in Gloucestershire. One of the most sought after and expensive towns to live in is Cheltenham, which is now larger than the county's capital of Gloucester. Regency town houses, characterised by intricate ironwork balconies and painted stucco facades, line the historic Promenade, squares and terraces. People searching for property in Gloucestershire will discover Cheltenham has good employment opportunities. Cheltenham's largest single employer is GCHQ (Government Communication Headquarters), which has a staff of over 4,500. Other major employers include Kraft Foods UK, the Countryside Agency and Marlborough Stirling, all of which have their headquarters in the town. Another source of employment is the tourism industry, which brings in some £235m to the local economy, and sustains approximately 8,000 jobs. If you're searching for a flat in Cheltenham expect to pay £150k+ for a one bedroom apartment in a brand new development. Other types of properties for sale in Cheltenham include Regency terraced houses, modern townhouses, red brick cottages, bungalows, and new developments of Regency style properties. Families might prefer to rub shoulders with Prince Charles and search for a house in Tetbury. Expect to pay £225k for a three bedroom semi-detached modern house.

Families searching for houses for sale in Gloucestershire will discover the county has a lot of education and learning opportunities available, which include early years and childcare services, student support services, libraries and also courses for adults. There is a good selection of schools, including primary, secondary, public and private schools, agricultural colleges and two universities. If your child is attending the university in Gloucester, they may prefer not to live on campus, but to rent a property locally with friends. You will find plenty of properties to rent in Gloucester on Primelocation.

Cirencester is another popular town for people searching for property in Gloucestershire. Cirencester is the capital of the Cotswolds and has the unmistakable air of a lively market town. People searching for property for sale in Cirencester will quickly discover the street market, held in the Market Place twice-weekly, and the wide variety of shops, restaurants, cafés and tea shops in Bishop's Walk and around the town's square. The award-winning Corinium Museum tells the story of the town's Roman origins. Cirencester is an important tourism and crafts centre and also boasts the extensive 19th Century parkland landscape of Cirencester Park. People looking for houses in Cirencester would pay £205k+ for a three-storey townhouse.

Travel and transport links in the county of Gloucestershire

People searching for property in Gloucestershire will find the county has good road and rail connections from London and the south east, as well as from Birmingham to the north and Bristol in the south west. Gloucester and Cheltenham, which lie in the heart of the county, are linked by the A40. There are good connections to the south west via the M5 motorway, to the north via the M5/M6 and M42, to Wales using the A40, and to London and the south east using the A40 and M4. The Fosse Way runs through the county north to south, taking travellers from Cirencester to Stow on the Wold and Moreton in Marsh, whilst the Ermin Way crosses east to west from Cirencenster to Ross. London is two and a half hours away from Cheltenham via the A40/M40 via Oxford) or the M4 (Swindon exit). There are regular rail services through the county including London to Paddington via Swindon, London Paddington to Moreton in Marsh, Gloucester to Cardiff, Birmingham to Bristol via Cheltenham and Gloucester. Major airports just outside the county, but within easy reach are Cardiff, Bristol and Birmingham.