Hollywood Cotswolds Article Published: 11:03 03/02/2006 Article Classification: Waters Edge Cotswolds
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With so many celebrities flocking to the Cotswolds in search of the idyllic country lifestyle and anonymity away from the bright lights, Sandra Ashenford of 'Cotswolds Life' asks what is it about our little piece of paradise that makes them want to live here or visit. As if we didn't know already!

Sandra Ashenford of 'Cotswolds Life' asks what is it about our little piece of paradise that makes them want to live here or visit. As if we didn't know already!

Hugh Grant is the latest star rumoured to have bought property in the Cotswolds area, while estate agents have let slip that Jude Law and Sienna Miller are currently house hunting here too.

Recently Kate Winslet (pictured above right) and Sam Mendes move to Church Westcote near Stow-on-the-Wold. Television prankster Dom Joly has settled in Quenington, while Pam Ayres and Anne Robinson both live near Cirencester. Model Kate Moss has a place at Fyfield; controversial artist Damien Hurst has a studio in Chalford; round-the-world yachtsman Sir Chay Blyth lives in Box near Minchinhampton an Richard Ashcroft of The Verve enjoys life in South Gloucestershire.

In Chipping Norton, you may well find Jeremy Clarkson taking a spin on the roads near his home while Ruby Wax, Joanna Trollope and a long list of other celebrities all have homes round and about. They've been spotted shopping in the towns including Stroud and Cirencester, enjoying the facilities at country house hotels such as Barnsley House or Cowley Manor, having a drink at their village pub or playin a round of golf at Stinchcombe.

And where there are celebrities, there are tourists, as Chris Dee from Gloucestershire County Council's tourism department explains. " 'Celeb Culture' isn't just a British thing - American, Japanese, Australian and European travel writers are all intrigued by the fact that Gloucestershire has more than its share of film stars living here or visiting regularly." "They also love the fact that 'Brigitte Jones's Diary' was filmed as Snowshill, or that Jonny Depp stayed in Chipping Campden." 

Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds are becoming a must see part of Britain. Overseas visitors love the fact that they are staying in towns and villages where films have been made and celebrities live, even if they never actually see them!

Not many people could pull in a crowd of 10,000 people, which is the estimated number who squeezed into Cirencester to watch Liz Hurley switch on the lights. For a town that's used to celebrities (try Waitrose on a Friday afternoon!), even the locals were a little star-struck to have such a glittering icon in their presence. This is a task previously performed by another local celebrity, model Melinda Messenger.

The local estate agents agree that the 'Celebrity Factor' is good for business, but although the rich and famous can come to get away from it all, they are still only an hour from Birmingham and an hour and a half from London.