The Cotswolds, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are said to be considering an imminent move, may seem worlds apart from glossy Montecito, the California celebrity enclave they have called home in recent years.
One is the postcard version of rural England, with honey-stone villages, thatched cottages, winding lanes and soft green hills. The other is known for sprawling gated estates, ocean-facing views and the polished privacy of Santa Barbara County.
Yet the two sought-after addresses share a quality that may well appeal to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as they weigh up a possible new base in the UK.
In both places, the celebrity count is strikingly high. These are the kind of discreet, moneyed destinations where an A-lister sighting can happen with little fanfare, whether outside a village pub or behind the gates of a hillside mansion.
Meet the neighbours: If Harry and Meghan’s rumoured return to the Cotswolds goes ahead, they would find themselves surrounded by both royal connections and famous faces, with members of the Royal Family and A-list stars among the area’s residents
As in Montecito, many well-known residents in the Cotswolds live on expansive private estates, shielded from unwanted attention. But they are not entirely hidden away, and the region’s historic pubs remain a favourite place for high-profile locals to surface.
The roll call of famous Cotswolds homeowners and regulars is impressive, including Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, the Beckhams, Kate Moss, Liam Gallagher, Jeremy Clarkson and Damien Hirst.
The area’s best-known resident, however, is also one of its longest-standing: Harry’s father, the King. The prince’s cousins Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Zara Tindall are also often seen in the Cotswolds.
Over the last 30 years, the Cotswolds has become the rural hideaway of choice for major stars, with the Beckhams regularly sharing snaps of their lives there
Charles’s Cotswolds’ home, Highgrove, close to the royal town of Tetbury, was the venue for the Duke and Duchess’ recent private reunion with the Monarch – a meeting that may have spurred on the couple to return to UK shores with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
So, where might Harry and Meghan go for a quick pint or a Sunday roast in their new home – and feel right at home…
An old stomping ground: The Tunnel House Inn
Cotswold beauty: Just 15 minutes’ drive from Highgrove, The Tunnel Inn is tucked away in rural countryside and was a firm favourite of the royal family before closing in 2020
This remote 18th century pub, tucked away in rural farmland just 15 minutes from the King’s Highgrove estate, was a firm favourite with the young Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex before their high-profile falling out.
The off-the-beaten track pub often saw the brothers sharing a pint while staying at their father’s Cotswolds retreat…but the popular inn was left in need of major restoration after its previous owners called time on running it due to a rental disagreement.
At one time, speculation suggested that the pub might have been the venue for Prince Harry losing his virginity in 2001 – but the Duke of Sussex clarified in his memoir Spare that the encounter had actually taken place at The Vine Tree Inn, in the Wiltshire village of Norton.
The centuries-old pub, popular with walkers and close to the small West Country village of Coates, first shut its doors – and boarded up the windows – during the pandemic in 2020.
However, local publican Peter Austen, who also runs The Bell in nearby Sapperton, re-opened the historic pub after extensively renovating in June this year.
Spice up your life: The Fox, Oddington
The Fox (pictured), Bamford’s latest business venture, is a ‘million miles from a traditional Cotswolds pub’, according to Jane, though she notes that it has two ‘traditional’ rooms off the main bar
Owned by Daylesford Organic creator Carole Bamford, wife of billionaire Tory donor and JCB chairman Lord Bamford, The Fox is a character-filled pub with six trendy suites for guests who want to stay a little longer.
Who might you spy perched at the oak bar, by the large inglenook fireplace, or sinking into the chocolate-coloured armchairs in the Tack Room? Geri Horner and Christian Horner are frequently spotted here.
The Swan Inn, Swinbrook
Right next to St Mary’s church, where many of the Mitford family are buried, sits The Swan Inn at Swinbrook. This down-to-earth rural pub on the River Windrush has likely heard a few tales, with former Prime Minister, now Lord David Cameron of Chipping Norton, a regular. Other politicians have also been known to thrash out the country’s future while dining on a classic pub dinner.
‘Poshest pub in Britain’: The Wild Rabbit, Kingham
The bar at The Wild Rabbit, described as a ‘modern interpretation of a traditional country inn’
When it opened in 2013, The Wild Rabbit, also from Lady Bamford, the undisputed Queen of Cotswolds cool, it was dubbed the ‘poshest pub in Britain’.
Who might you find tucking into the highly-rated menu? David and Victoria Beckham have been seen enjoying family meals here, while Kate Moss is also a fan.
And should Harry and Meghan fancy a rave up, Pete Tong will host a Day of the Dead DJ set there in November.
The royal family has a long-standing love affair with the Cotswolds, with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, right with Harry at Trooping the Colour in 2015, regularly spotted lunching in pubs there
An F1 favourite: The Killingworth Castle, Wootton
When Sir Winston Churchill stayed at Blenheim Palace in the 1930s, he would occasionally slip away for a spot of lunch at The Killingworth Castle.
Opened in 1637 by Thomas Killingworth, this centuries-old public house is still enjoying the attentions of the rich and famous, and particularly those with a passion for speed – F1 stars Jenson Button and George Russell, and Geri and Christian Horner have all been spotted enjoying a pint or two.
Million dollar question: The Falkland Arms, Great Tew
Beyoncé and Jay-Z nearly sealed the deal on a 58-acre estate last year, causing much excitement at the nearby Falkland Arms in Great Tew.
Sadly, the power couple ducked out of the purchase but the pub still has pedigree when it comes to famous people supping there. Millionaire television producer John Lloyd came up with the idea of long-running quiz show QI while propping up the bar.
And Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have all been spied dining here, as have Benedict Cumberbatch and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Cousins’ catch-up? The Bull, Charlbury
In good company: Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are fans of the The Bull in Charlbury
Former The Great British Bake Off star Prue Leith is a fan of this 16th-century foodie pub with rooms on Sheep Street in Charlbury.
She told Our News Outlet in 2024: ‘We’re spoiled for great pubs in the Cotswolds and my current favourite is The Bull. ‘It still looks like a proper pub, not some decorator’s fantasy, and the food is just great – unpretentious, hearty and cooked with imagination and talent.’
Indeed, the grub is now so sophisticated, The Bull ranked 11th on the Estrella Damm’s Gastropub list this year.
What might Prince Harry drink if he pops in? A pint of Steady Rolling Man pale ale, from DEYA Brewery, is a local favourite.
Those who’ve also been spotted popping in for a Sunday roast include Robbie Williams, Ellen DeGeneres, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice and Jeremy Clarkson.
Lunch with Camilla: The Bell at Charlbury
Just one letter separates this pub from its also popular peer The Bull in the gorgeous market town of Charlbury.
This 17th-century coaching inn is also part of the Daylesford empire and attracts a similar clientele to The Wild Rabbit and The Fox – well-heeled, basically.
Who might you share the bar with? Queen Camilla has been known to lunch here.
Regal patrons: The Woolpack Inn, Slad
Overlooking the Gloucestershire valley that was made famous by Laurie Lee in Cider With Rosie, the Woolpack Inn is an unpretentious Cotswolds pub that knows how to host a sing-a-long – with the pub piano often the focal point.
You Magazine’s Food Critic Tom Parker-Bowles, Queen Camilla’s son, is a regular thanks to this cosy boozer’s ‘really excellent food’.
Lily Allen’s dad Keith Allen used to work behind the bar too.
