For those looking to leave the city behind and embrace a more rural way of life, there may be several criteria high on the list for seeking out the ideal village to settle in. For some, it's all about the surrounding landscape and breathtaking views, while for others, the pull of the countryside is more about finding a grounded sense of community.
But let's face it; if you have enough cash to purchase an idyllic country pile and the professional freedom to ditch urban living, you may well just be eyeing up prospective pastoral locations based solely on their poshness. To help readers differentiate which rustic areas are a cut above the rest, The Sunday Times has compiled a list of the 22 poshest villages in the UK, including two just an hour away from Bristol.
Both the Cotswolds and Somerset are renowned for their natural beauty and quaint ancient villages. The former offers rolling hills, golden-stone cottages and convenient commutability, while the latter has a diverse coastline, a hipster art and food scene and the most famous music festival in the world.
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If you fancy paying a visit to one of the poshest villages in the country to see what all the fuss is about because, according to the Sunday Times, they're right on your doorstep.
Ranking number seven on the Times's list with a five-star posh rating is Castle Combe, near Chippenham in Wiltshire is hailed for its timelessness, with 107 listed buildings in the parish. This picturesque village is peak chocolate box, and thanks to its good looks, has been used as a filming location for movies including War Horse, Stardust and Dr Dolittle.
Travelling there from central Bristol on public transport would take around 50 minutes, but if you're a posh village dweller, you'll probably be making the 32-minute by car. Once you arrive, you can pop into the award-winning gastropub, the Castle Inn, but for the genuinely posh, a visit to the Michelin-starred Bybrook restaurant at the Manor House luxury hotel and spa will be in order.
Coming in at number 18 on the posh list with a posh ranking of four stars is Mells, near Frome, Somerset. Mells is no stranger to village beauty pageant listicles and has long been considered one of the most desirable places to live in the southwest boasting beautiful buildings, a historic church, a popular pub, a cafe and picture postcard scenery.
According to the Times, you're likely to come across arty types such as Stella McCartney, Alice Temperley and Pearl Lowe in the area, as well as George Osborne for a bit of balance. Nearby is the ancient village of Mells with its imposing St Andrew’s church, where the First World War poet Siegfried Sassoon is buried.
It'll take you closer to two hours to get to Mells on public transport from Bristol, but you can drive there in as little as 45 mins. To whet your whistle, you could head to the atmospheric Talbot Inn, and if you're peckish, why not sample one of Little Jack Horner's sausage rolls are made at a bakery in the village in flavours including Pork and Westcombe Cheddar, Pork and Seville Orange Marmalade, Chicken and Mushroom, which according to GQ are the best in the country.
A 20-minute drive from the village is buzzy Bruton, a town with a bustling high street and high-priced art courtesy of the Hauser & Wirth gallery. Nearby you'll find the similarly pricey Newt, a stunning hotel and restaurant set in glorious gardens.
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