A number of towns surrounding Bristol have been singled out as being some of the ‘best places to live’ in the country.
Online guide Muddy Stilettos has compiled its annual list of the top places to call home in each region.
The suburbs, villages, towns and cities that made the cut within a short distance of Bristol were chosen for different reasons - either for their best restaurants and pubs, stunning green spaces, cool independent shops, brilliant farmers’ markets or must-see attractions.
The lifestyle website uses insider knowledge of places outside of London to help potential buyers and renters decide where they’d like to live.
The local round-up is part of the site’s top 250 places to live guide for 2023. Below are ten top places picked in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire - along with the reasons they were chosen.
9. Stroud, Gloucestershire
Searching for a proudly independent town with a strong arty and foodie scene and a bucolic backdrop to boot? Then Stroud is a strong contender (shhh, just don’t tell everyone else). Muddy Stilettos says: “Welcome to the People’s Republic of Stroud as it’s affectionately known to locals. If much of the Cotswolds is honey-hued gentility then Stroud is it’s red brick, radical cousin. The ‘Boho Capital of the Cotswolds’ champions the handmade, the artisan, the eco and the independent, and was voted the Sunday Times Best Place to Live 2019 in the UK. High praise indeed. You’ll get arguably the most breathtaking views in the whole county here as Stroud is hugged by the famous Five Valleys (yes, you’ll need to love hills). If you want to live somewhere that proudly champions eco shops, vegetarian cafes, yoga retreats, wellbeing classes and arts spaces then you’ve hit the jackpot here. It has a cinema, the lovely Stratford Park, a live music venue and thriving arts scene.” The famous weekly Farmers’ Market is an absolute feast for the stomach and the senses. Pick up artisan bread and cheese, handmade pasta, fresh fish and more. We’re there filling up our basket every Saturday it’s so good (open 9am to 2pm). The newly regenerated Five Valleys shopping centre is also a mecca for incredible street food. Recently overhauled, it now features a hawker’s style food market and boutique department store. There’s an abundance of colourful, artisan shops here – this place is proudly independent at its core. Expect an eclectic mix of shops selling everything from fossils to fairies and vintage to vinyl. | david hughes - stock.adobe.com
10. Tetbury, Gloucestershire
Adopt that virtual curtsy – Tetbury has serious royal swagger. But that’s not all. This thriving market town has pretty lanes packed with boutiques and amazing antique shops as well as a buzzing cafe culture and arts scene. Muddy Stilettos says: “One of the most stylish postcodes in Gloucestershire, Tetbury is a small market town with big appeal. But don’t just take our word for it, King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla are fans, their country pile Highgrove sits on the town’s outskirts. Tetbury may have a mightily posh rep but there’s nothing stuffy about it, it’s an eclectic and lively place to live. The four main streets of shopping feature perhaps the biggest percentage antique shops per square mile anywhere in the UK, gorgeous indie interior and fashion boutiques, and enough delis, cafes and restaurants to keep any foodie very happy.” The Snooty Fox is a quintessential English pub that does great Sunday roasts. Don’t miss KNEAD bakery which has some of the best artisan bakes in Gloucestershire. We also love The Royal Oak which has Balearic-vibe DJ sets in its pub garden throughout the year. Head to the Calcot Hotel and Gumstool Inn with its cosy nooks and sunny terraces, or Veloton – a cycle and coffee shop where you can pick out your next fancy set of wheels over a flat white. Retail rocks here. Tetbury has four long streets for browsing – and it’s antiques heaven. Make time for The Highgrove Shop, HRHs’ official gift and gardening store packed with royal-crested goodies to impress your mates with. At last count there were 25 antique shops and the town has a regular weekly market in the main square. | John Corry - stock.adobe.com