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- 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.
A Barbour jacket is a must-have
If one item defines the British countryside look, it’s a waxed Barbour jacket. Quilted and waterproof, it’s not just practical for the Cotswolds’ changeable weather but built to last.
Although it may need the occasional rewaxing, many locals wear theirs until it’s scuffed and faded, hanging on to the countryside favorite year after year.
Whether you’re in Bibury or Chipping Norton, expect to see a good number of Barbour jackets in the wild.
A healthy helping of tweed never goes amiss
Originally worn by Scottish and Irish farmers, tweed is a favourite of Britain’s upper classes.
From tailored riding jackets to blazers and pants, the traditional fabric is a versatile fixture of the Cotswolds. The current brand of choice is Holland Cooper, known for its contemporary take on tweed.
You’ll see well-dressed, tweed-clad Cotswolders at fancy restaurants, as well as social events, like the Cheltenham Festival, a major horse race, and the Cheltenham Literature Festival.
Veja trainers are a new addition to the Cotswolds uniform
Traditionally, the Cotswolds streets were filled with Hunter Wellington boots. But with an influx of Londoners, Americans, and trendy Europeans, the French footwear brand Veja has taken over.
A favourite of urban media types, the simple white trainers are now everywhere in the Cotswolds, especially at places like Soho Farmhouse and Daylesford Organic.
A gilet is not just for finance bros
For a more casual look, pair jeans with a gilet. Once worn for country pursuits like hunting and shooting, and later embraced by finance bros, the gilet is a smart-casual staple in the British countryside.
The brands of choice for the old-money set are Schöffel Country for men and Fairfax & Favor for women.
Stores selling country clothing, which you’ll find in Stow-on-the-Wold and in Moreton on the Marsh, among other villages, are where you can pick up this staple Cotswolds item.
A retriever-type dog for long, muddy walks is key
In London, you’ll spot small, fluffy breeds like Cavapoos and French bulldogs in the city’s parks. But it’s Labradors and other working dogs-turned pets that are the companions of choice for the Cotswolds set.
You’ll find them running through Oxfordshire’s farmland, as well as cosying up by a fire while the country elite sip on gin and tonics at gastropubs.
As is a Land Rover Defender — or another big, classic car
At upscale Cotswolds hot spots like Soho Farmhouse, Daylesford Organic, and Burford Garden Company, there’s one car you’re sure to see in the parking lot — the Land Rover Defender.
I saw plenty of these, parked in market squares and at every chic country hangout.
The large 4×4 handles off-road driving well, perfect for navigating muddy fields and narrow snow-covered lanes.
An AGA cooker is the hallmark of countryside living
“Some things simply belong together,” Dominic Worsley, group managing director of AGA Rangemaster, told Business Insider. “Tea and biscuits, gin and tonic, and, of course, an AGA in the Cotswolds.”
Whether in a sprawling estate or a honeystone cottage, a traditional Cotswolds kitchen is likely to have an AGA cooker.
The hand-built cookers are designed to be always on, keeping the kitchen warm and making it quick to heat up a cosy fall meal. Bonus points if you’re using Le Creuset pots and pans.
That’s your ultimate Cotswolds starter kit
Work these into your life, and you might just get mistaken for a Cotswolds local this fall.
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