Warwickshire &amp; West Midlands


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>This small village is just six miles outside bustling Stratford-upon-Avon, and despite it&#8217;s small size and rural location it&#8217;s got a bustling pub and foodie scene. There&#8217;s also some lovely walks, great community vibe and schools, oh, and it&#8217;s home to the most haunted hotel in Britain. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-258.jpg" alt="Ettington Park Hotel" class="wp-image-57776" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-258.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-258-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-258-768x511.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Ettington Park Hotel</figcaption></figure>



<p>If pubs are what you&#8217;re after, <a href="https://www.the-chequers-ettington.co.uk">The Chequers Inn</a> is your local serving elevated classics and has one of the prettiest gardens around. Nearby there&#8217;s <a href="https://castleatedgehill.co.uk">The Castle at Edgehill</a>, you can&#8217;t miss it, it&#8217;s a whopping great castle on top of a hill – complete with two crenelated towers and a drawbridge no less. There&#8217;s also <a href="https://www.peacockoxhill.com">The Peacock</a>, restaurant with rooms <a href="http://www.fuzzyduckarmscote.com">The Fuzzy Duck</a> and <a href="https://www.bellalderminster.co.uk">The Bell</a>. For coffee, cars, diner classics and good vibes there&#8217;s the awesome <a href="https://caffeineandmachine.com/thehill/">Caffeine &amp; Machine</a>. If gran gestures and special occasion dining is your thing, <a href="https://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/ettingtonpark">Ettington Park</a> Hotel will impress. The magnificent Great Drawing Room is used for dining has a huge chandelier, ornate ceiling, unique tapestries, paintings and the sun sets are dreamy.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/09/Untitled-design-310.jpg" alt="Sister SIster Collective
colourful cake plate Ettington Warwickshire" class="wp-image-58297" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/09/Untitled-design-310.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/09/Untitled-design-310-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/09/Untitled-design-310-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/09/Untitled-design-310-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/09/Untitled-design-310-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Sister Sister Collective</figcaption></figure>



<p>It&#8217;s a quiet village, so a convenience store for essentials is as good as it get, but Stratford is a short drive if you want a little retail therapy. High street names include M&amp;S, Fatface, Jack Wills and The White Company abound, but look beyond for independents like&nbsp;wine merchants&nbsp;<a href="https://www.vinneuf.co.uk/">Vin Neuf</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://vinegarhill.co.uk/">Vinegar Hill</a>, a family-run home, fashion and lifestyle&nbsp;store.&nbsp;</p>



<p><a href="https://www.bellcourtstratford.com/">Bell Court</a>, an attractive courtyard of bars, eateries, beauty salons and shops, is worth a visit. You&#8217;ll find <a href="https://www.morbakery.co.uk/">Mor bakery</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://sistersistercollective.net/">Sister Sister Collective</a> and pop-art&nbsp;specialist&nbsp;<a href="https://whitelightgallery.co.uk/">White Light Gallery</a>. There’s gorgeous interiors and antiques store&nbsp;<a href="https://l.instagram.com/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hudsonsstratford.com%2F&amp;e=AT3iP2kcktQz1OFZXu1WH9zNz40ewIOft_BS8bpdtWh2RGdWVQAOyuUIHW_xHKtvvAjVn74dVPqo0QDD8taHxVoDPahtsEwp4zKCNbY8Ce5t7_sacG4MLQ">Hudson’s</a>, and in the nearby the village of Snitterfield, is a lovely Muddy Award-winning family-run farm shop, food hall and café,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cobbsfarmshops.co.uk/cobbs-at-the-farm-stratford">Cobbs at The Farm</a>. For serious on-a-mission shopping, hop in the car for 50 mins to luxury outdoor designer outlet&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tbvsc.com/bicester-village/en">Bicester Village</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p>Nearby there&#8217;s <a href="https://oldschoolyoga.co.uk">Old School Yoga</a> in a beautiful converted studio. In the village community centre there&#8217;s classes galore, from pilates through to keep fit, badminton, tai chi and karate. While there&#8217;s no GP surgery or pharmacy in the town you&#8217;re spoilt for choice with private and NHS options just down the road in Stratford. For a massage or dip in the sauna or hot tub then then head to tranquil local spa and hotel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/ettingtonpark">Ettington Park</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s regular annual events like tractor runs, Santa runs and a barn where regular concerts are held by local and international musicians. At Christmas locals decorate trees and go head to head at the Christmas Tree Festival.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<p>Nearby is&nbsp;<a href="http://armscotemanor.co.uk/">Armscote Manor</a>, a 17<sup>th</sup>&nbsp;Century manor house and celebrated garden, or If you fancy flying the nest there are dozens of beautiful, quaint Warwickshire and Cotswolds villages on your doorstep. They include Admington,&nbsp;Ilmington, Larkstoke, Blackwell, Newbold-on-Stour, Bourton-on-the-Water, Moreton-in-Marsh,&nbsp;Broadway, Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Campden.&nbsp;</p>



<p>Nature-loving families will enjoy&nbsp;<a href="http://www.butterflyfarm.co.uk/attraction/index.php">Stratford Butterfly Farm</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://hattonworld.com/adventure-world/">Hatton Adventure World</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.birdland.co.uk/">Birdland</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/">Cotswold Wildlife Park&nbsp;</a>and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk/">Cotswolds Farm Park</a>, home of <em>Countryfile</em> presenter Adam Henson and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.batsarb.co.uk/">Batsford Abortorium</a>.&nbsp; Heritage fans can add&nbsp;<a href="https://www.warwick-castle.com/">Warwick Castle</a>, English Heritage-run&nbsp;<a href="http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenilworth-castle/">Kenilworth Castle and Elizabethan Gardens</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ragley.co.uk/">Ragley Hall</a>&nbsp;and two nearby National Trust attractions&nbsp; –&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hidcote">Hidcote&nbsp;</a>gardens and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/snowshill-manor-and-garden">Snowshill Manor&nbsp;</a>with its Arts and Crafts terraced garden, to their must-visit list.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-74-1-1000x667.jpg" alt="COMPTON VERNEY CAPABILITY BROWN" class="wp-image-57780" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-74-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-74-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-74-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/08/Untitled-design-74-1.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Compton Verney</figcaption></figure>



<p>A short drive away you&#8217;ll find Compton Verney, with its Capability Brown landscape, lake, art gallery and exhibitions galore. Culture-vultures will enjoy Stratford-upon-Avon with five of Shakespeare’s family homes, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rsc.org.uk/">Royal Shakespeare Theatre</a>&nbsp;and boating on the river to explore.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community-0">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>There&#8217;s a busy community centre which hosts everything from karate and badminton classes to guitar lessons. If you&#8217;re up for a dosey doe there are barn dances, plus breakfasts and even bingo nights which rallies the entire village together. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing-0">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p>Rest, relax and restore at nearby <a href="https://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/ettingtonpark" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ettington Park</a>&#8216;s spa complete with indoor swimming and spa pool, sauna and steam room. Treat yourself to a luxurious treatment, they use top spa brands like&nbsp;Comfort Zone. For even more of a chill head to nearby Whichford which has <a href="https://www.whichfordmill.co.uk">The Wild Sauna</a>, set on the riverbank.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-price">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICE</h2>



<p>Properties average £587,667. The majority sold were detached, selling for an average price of £798,750. Semi-detached homes averaged £434,500, with terraced properties fetching £395,250.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/09/Untitled-design-170-1000x667.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-58167" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/09/Untitled-design-170-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/09/Untitled-design-170-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/09/Untitled-design-170-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/warks/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/09/Untitled-design-170.jpg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Feeling flush? This 4-bed grand design is just out of Ettington. <a href="https://www.knightfrank.co.uk/properties/residential/for-sale/idlicote-shipston-on-stour-warwickshire-cv36/oxf012349708" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market with Knight Frank for £2.2m</a>. </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries">NURSERIES</h2>



<p>In the village there&#8217;s <a href="https://ettingtonpreschool.co.uk">Ettington Pre-School</a> and nearby you&#8217;ll find <a href="https://greenfieldsnurseryshipston.co.uk">Greenfields Nursery</a> and <a href="https://tysoechildrensgroup.co.uk">Tysoe Children Group</a>. In Stratford there&#8217;s <a href="https://footstepsnurseries.co.uk/nurseries/stratford-day-nursery-preschool">Footsteps Nursery</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://monkeypuzzlestratforduponavon.co.uk/">Monkey Puzzle</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theoldstationnursery.co.uk/nurseries/stratford/">Polkadot</a>, with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.littledragonsnursery.com/">Little Dragons</a>&nbsp;in nearby Snitterfield.&nbsp;<a href="https://warks.muddystilettos.co.uk/national-school-reviews/croft-prepatory-school-stratford-upon-avon/">The Croft:Prep</a>&nbsp;in Alveston provides care from age 3.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p><a href="https://www.welfordonavonschool.co.uk/">Welford-on-Avon Primary</a>&nbsp;is rated Outstanding as is&nbsp;The Croft Prep, a rural co-ed independent day school for ages 3 – 11yrs in nearby Alveston. There are around 44 Good and Outstanding state primary and secondary schools in the wider Stratford-upon-Avon area. The town also has two grammar schools:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kes.net/">King Edward VI</a>, Shakespeare’s school, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sggs.org.uk/">Stratford Girls</a>‘ in Shottery. Independent secondary school options range from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.princethorpe.co.uk/page/?pid=10">Princethorpe College</a>, near Rugby to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.warwickschool.org/">Warwick School</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kingshighwarwick.co.uk/">King’s High</a>, the single sex&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thekingsleyschool.co.uk/">Kingsley School</a>&nbsp;for girls in Leamington Spa,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.solsch.org.uk/">Solihull School</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sibfordschool.co.uk/">Sibford School</a>, Banbury.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>Neo-Gothic mansion&nbsp;<a href="https://www.handpickedhotels.co.uk/ettingtonpark">Ettington Park</a>&nbsp;is built from Cotswold stone with views over the valley.&nbsp;It was where 1960’s classic The Haunting was filmed, and reportedly has some resident friendly ghosts (though luckily I haven&#8217;t met them on any of my visits!).</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>A train from Stratford-upon-Avon station with a change in nearby Leam can get you to London in around 2 hrs 30 mins. It&#8217;s also just a quick drive to hop on the M40.</p>



<p> <em>View the full&nbsp;</em><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/"><em>Top 300 Best Places to Live</em></a>.</p>


Ettington

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