Cotswolds market town that’s a ‘secret treasure’ and is home to a princess
THERE’S a tiny town in the Cotswolds that is home to an actual princess.
On top of a hill in Gloucestershire is the town of Minchinhampton where cows roam free and there’s a major sporting event on the royal lawn.
As for royalty, Minchinhampton is home to Princess Anne, the daughter of Queen Elizabeth II.
Princess Anne has lived at Gatcombe Park, which you’ll find on the outskirts of Minchinhampton, since 1976.
The manor is reported to have five bedrooms, four secondary bedrooms, four reception rooms, a library, a billiard room and a conservatory
Princess Anne moved in after her mother, Queen Elizabeth, bought the property for her as a wedding gift in the 1970s.
Princess Anne isn’t the only member of the royal family to live there either, as she lives at Gatcombe Park with her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence.
Also on the sprawling 730 acre estate is Zara and Mike Tindall along with their three children, Mia, Lena, and Lucas who live at Gatcombe Park.
The house and estate is closed to the public, apart from one weekend a year in August when they host the annual Festival of British Eventing.
The weekend is big for equestrians as they host five championship competitions on the grounds.
Sadly the competition didn’t take place in 2024 due to climbing costs – which was the first time it had been cancelled in 40 years.
VisitGloucester describe Minchinhampton as “one of the Cotswold’s secret treasures”.
It is one of a kind for a few reasons, the first being it’s home to herds of Shetland cows, horses and donkeys that regularly stroll through the town.
The livestock roam freely in Minchinhampton because it’s a centuries-old tradition to release livestock onto the grasslands for the summer.
One resident told The Guardian: “You learn to live alongside them. If you don’t disturb them, they don’t disturb you. It’s a matter of using common sense.”
As for the town, the buildings were built in the 17th and 18th centuries.
This is when Minchinhampton was well-known for being a successful market town where they traded farm animals and wool.
A popular market still runs every Thursday morning.
The Minchinhampton Golf Club is well-known and is one of the earliest to open in the west of England.
There are plenty of places to eat too, like Cucina Di Amalfi, an Italian bottega and number one on the list of places to eat in Minchinhampton on TripAdvisor.
One visitor commented: “This has to be the best coffee in the area, fantastic Italian welcome.”
Also in the town is a Post Office, bridal shop, and more cafes and restaurants.
Here is why you should visit the Cotswolds, from someone who grew up there.
And the pretty Cotswolds village that is often forgotten.
Here's Another Cotswolds Town With A Royal Nickname
Here's why Painswick is called 'Queen of the Cotswolds'...
Painswick is one of the best preserved settlements in the Cotswolds, leading to the name ‘Queen of the Cotswolds’.
It was even named as one of the most beautiful villages in the UK by the Telegraph.
Expect to spot a number of celebs in the town too. Tom Cruise visited in 2022, celebrating his 60th birthday in a cottage in Painswick.
It was also the home of Thomas Twining, the man behind the famous Twinings tea brand.
Other unusual claims to fame in Painswick include the UK’s oldest bowling green, and the oldest building home to a Post Office.
One of the town’s main attractions is Rococo Gardens, which dates back to the 1700s. Also the UK’s only complete surviving rococo garden, the pleasure garden is known for its snowdrops too.
There is also St Mary’s Church which is surrounded by 99 pretty yew trees – with legend saying a devil will appear if a 100th tree is added.