Blockley is a village in the Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, about three miles northwest of popular Moreton-in-Marsh. With the Batsford Estate on one side and Northwick Estate on the other, residents in the village feel secure that they’re safe from overdevelopment, and the pretty brook running through the village also adds character. Blockley enjoys beautiful countryside views as it sits in a ‘bowl’ in the surrounding hills.
Families living in Blockley will frequent the Moreton-in-Marsh mainline station from where it’s around 90 minutes to London Paddington. A season ticket to London Paddington from Moreton-in-Marsh train station will set you back £6,580 over the year.
Blockley itself is home to a village pub, The Great Western Arms, and The Crown Hotel which is home to Rafters restaurant. Visitors can stay at the hotel and enjoy an en suite room from £69 a night.
The village enjoys a wonderful community atmosphere which is particularly evident with their village shop which was bought by the community is 2008, and has since been a huge success. Residents take it in turns to work at the shop which sells day-to-day necessities such bread, milk and the day’s papers. A new extension to the shop now includes a café, which is also owned by the Blockley community. There is generally a very sociable atmosphere and lots of friendly characters including shop owners, and an excellent cobbler. Popular activities in Blockley include football on Friday evenings or the occasional wine tasting event.
Local events in the wider area are also superb and draw crowds from all over: The North Cotswolds Point to Point on Easter Monday in nearby Paxford in particular is always a good day out, as is The Moreton Show in September.
The renowned ‘Robert Dover’s Olimpick Games’ takes place each year in Chipping Campden; last year they celebrated the 400th anniversary of what are now often called the Cotswold Olimpicks. You may not realise it, but the modern Olympic movement has its historic roots in a small rural event in Gloucestershire. The event is a unique continuation of early rural sporting events, combining informal, amateur sporting compeititons with general entertainment and activities for visitors. Games include Champion of the Hill, junior circuit, 5 mile run, tug o’ war and shin kicking (the media’s favourite)!
Blockley is also just ten minutes from Chipping Campden, which boasts some great restaurants such as the independent Michael Alexious Mediterranean restaurant and the Italian restaurant, Caninettos. Enjoy the traditional experience at Michael Alexious of smashing plates after you’ve eaten, just like the Greeks do!
Other nearby villages include Bourton-on-the-Hill which is just five minutes by car and which is home to The Horse and Groom pub, which is popular for a pint or a Sunday roast. Furthermore, the Ebrington Arms, just outside of Blockley, is a wonderful pub with a traditional feel and which serves some fantastic food. Alternatively The Churchill Arms in Paxford for example is only a mile from the village, although they are currently closed as they’re looking for a new manager.
If you are looking to buy a home in the village of Blockley then there are some wonderful education options to choose from for you children. A fantastic primary school, Blockley C of E Primary School, is known for its head teacher, Linda Jeffcut, who was recently been recognised for 25 years of continuous teaching service in the county’s schools. Furthermore, if you live in Blockley you also have the option of the grammar schools in Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon which are both just half-an-hour by car, respectively. Chipping Campden Academy is also a popular secondary school for both boys and girls.
Blockley attracts a number of different buyers ranging from family home-owners to weekend or holiday house buyers. There is a good choice of property which ranges from pretty village houses to top end period homes, all built with the familiar honey-coloured Cotswold stone.
House prices in the Cotswolds tend to be expensive as demand for these pretty houses is always strong. Having said this, because it’s a little bit further from London, properties in Blockley can be marginally cheaper than those in the ‘Daylesford Golden Triangle’ of Chipping Norton, Burford and Stow on the Wold. Whilst Blockley has some beautiful housing stock, buyers looking 8-10 miles south east of the area will find the same very attractive Cotswold housing approximately 30% cheaper than in the very well-known Cotswold regions.
For those looking to renovate a period property or build a house, you should be aware that planning permission in the Cotswolds is always hard to obtain, particularly for large-scale renovations, due to the desire to preserve the beauty of the area.
Blockley is very slightly off the beaten track (for the Cotswolds) but still very similar in look and feel to popular villages like Kingham. As house prices in the Cotswolds continue to grow, we expect many house hunters may start to look at these less well-known areas in order to fulfil their dream of living in such a desired location.
Approximate house prices in and around Blockley, Cotswolds:
* 3/4 bedroom stone-terraced house in the village: approximately in the region of £500,000
* 5/6 bedroom good quality detached period house: in excess of approximately £1.5m
* 6 plus bedrooms, period property on edge of village with tennis court, swimming pool and staff accommodation: in excess of approximately £3.25m
* Gloucestershire country houses for sale
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