Frederick Hunt for BI
- The Cotswolds, dubbed the "Hamptons of England," is a buzzy destination for America's rich and powerful.
- But it has long been a playground for Britain's high society.
- Here are seven must-have items to blend in with the rural elite.
Close enough to London for a weekend escape, far enough to provide a dose of countryside calm, and abuzz with wealthy Americans, it's clear why the Cotswolds is known as the "Hamptons of England."
Home to members' clubs including Soho Farmhouse, along with stylish boutiques and restaurants, this patch of countryside to the west of England has become a magnet for the rich and famous from both sides of the Atlantic. Ellen DeGeneres has lived there for about a year, and JD Vance visited in the summer, among others.
But the Cotswolds have long been a playground for the rich and famous, drawing royals, aristocrats, and wealthy Londoners in search of a rural retreat, as well as plenty of regular tourists.
Stroll through the storybook streets of Stow-on-the-Wold — like I recently did to lift the lid on why the area has become a hotspot for Americans — and you'll spot the Cotswolds set by their scuffed Barbour jackets and mud-splattered Chocolate Labradors — status symbols that haven't changed for decades.
Here's what you need to embrace the Cotswolds' old-money aesthetic.