When visitors think of the Cotswolds, popular names like Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, or Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm often come to mind. Yet just a few miles away lies a lesser-known gem: the village of Oddington, repeatedly hailed as one of the UK’s poshest villages.
Located three miles from Stow-on-the-Wold and close to Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm and Hawkstone Brewery, Oddington sits amid the rolling Cotswold hills. The village also enjoys proximity to Daylesford Organic farm shop, a hotspot for A-list celebrities like Eddie Redmayne, Ellie Goulding, and Princess Beatrice.
Oddington actually consists of two adjoining hamlets—Upper Oddington and Lower Oddington. The 2021 census recorded a population of just 412 residents, which recent estimates suggest has dwindled to around 378 as of 2024. Despite its quaint charm, Oddington is remarkably small and lacks everyday amenities. There is no village shop, just one pub called The Fox, a line of houses along a single street, the historic 12th-century Grade I-listed St Nicholas Church, and a village hall offering a Post Office service only twice a week for a brief hour.
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This picture-perfect village has earned its “posh” label largely due to its location. Carol Thin, a resident of over 25 years, points out that the nearby Daylesford, The Fox, and the village’s Cotswold setting create its appeal. “It’s busy mostly because of how close it is to Daylesford and places like Soho Farmhouse," she explains. Despite high property prices fueled by demand from wealthy newcomers and Airbnbs, Carol stresses that Oddington holds a balanced community spirit with a mix of residents, many of whom are “not posh” but genuinely friendly.
Local Anne Every, who was born and raised in Oddington, paints a picture of transformation. Once quiet enough to sit in the middle of the road, the village now sees more visitors and a significant number of wealthy part-time residents renovating properties into weekend retreats. Still, Anne cherishes the peaceful walks and the friendliness that define life here.
Newcomer Erika Cook moved to Oddington a few years ago and describes it as an undeniably posh village—but one where people are approachable and welcoming. She explains, “The really posh people blend in. You’ll find most of us in Barbour jackets and wellies.” Erika admits frustration with the village’s reputation driving property prices ever higher—with ex-council houses selling for hundreds of thousands—but she loves living there and wouldn’t dream of leaving.
Currently, only a handful of homes are on the market in Oddington, with prices ranging from around £450,000 for a small detached house to over £2 million for substantial cottages. However, not all residents embrace the premium. Neil Orton, a recent arrival, finds the village’s lack of amenities challenging. With no shops and limited delivery options, he notes humorously how horse riders sometimes create village “rush hour.” Travel to essential services often means long drives to crowded towns like Cheltenham, making him question the justification for Oddington’s high prices.
Other residents acknowledge the drawbacks of isolation but also treasure the village’s peacefulness and strong sense of community. One neighbor praises the village’s setting and the communal efforts to keep its spirit alive, highlighting nearby towns such as Chipping Norton as charming escapes.
In the end, Oddington offers more than just a posh reputation—it provides a slice of tranquil rural life nestled at the heart of the Cotswolds. For visitors passing through on their way to Daylesford, it’s worth a stop: admire the stunning Cotswold stone houses, explore the ancient St Nicholas Church, and enjoy a pint at The Fox. Oddington may be small, but it’s a uniquely cherished part of Cotswold country.