- America's rich and famous are moving to the Cotswolds, the 'Hamptons of England.'
- Audrey Ann Masur moved from South Carolina to the Cotswolds with her family five years ago.
- She loves the history, pace of life, and — most of all — being a mom in the Cotswolds.
This essay is based on a conversation with Audrey Ann Masur, 37, an influencer and a mother of three from Indiana, who has lived in the Cotswolds, UK, for five years. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Before I moved to the UK with my husband and family, I had visited once before on a cycling trip with my church group. Even as a 16-year-old, I had a sense that I would one day return and that it was where I belonged.
I'd seen all of the Jane Austen adaptations with my Anglophile grandmother, and my husband and I had watched Downton Abbey. We enjoy the peacefulness of the countryside, so we really thought this part of the world — The Cotswolds — could be for us.
There's history and tradition everywhere in England. I'm an old soul, and being in older settings reminds me that there's so much beyond the right now. That's comforting. In the US, we get excited by anything from the 1700s, because that is seriously old to us.
My husband, who had never been to the UK, applied four times for our family to move to England from near Charleston, South Carolina, where he worked for the US military. But a posting in the UK — and one near the Cotswolds, at that — is extremely sought after.
We finally moved to the Cotswolds in late 2020. In my five years here, I've found that the child-inclusive culture in the UK helps me feel more supported as a mother.
Choosing where to live wasn't easy
A major obstacle at first was driving. I was terrified of the narrow, countryside roads and driving on the left-hand side, but I've since found that drivers are very patient here. You're not getting honked at all the time, and now, it feels normal. Finding a place to live near my husband's work also wasn't easy, because we knew nothing about the area.
As Christians, we tried to find somewhere with an active church scene and amenities for our children. One of my husband's coworkers recommended our village and, sure enough, a cottage to rent became available. We moved in around Christmas 2020.
Our first few weeks in the Cotswolds were during the COVID-19 pandemic, when we were only allowed outside for an hour a day. Being at home alone with my children while my husband was on base was very hard. I worried we weren't going to get to enjoy England and that we'd never meet anyone.
Moving to a US city would have been a bigger culture shock
I was lonely for a period, but I never despaired. I knew it would take a little longer to make friends here as an American. We found friendly people who cared for us through our church.
Since moving to Gloucestershire, one of the counties that make up the Cotswolds, I've met some other Americans, including a few people from Los Angeles. I grew up in rural Indiana and never lived in a big city: I'm used to driving 45 minutes to get to a big store. I feel more connected to the Brits than someone from LA or another major US city.
Our pace of life is slower than it was back in the US. There's a culture in the Cotswolds of walking and enjoying things that aren't necessarily expensive. Of course, there are the luxury brands and Land Rovers, but it's also about enjoying the simple things, like the natural surroundings or having a "cuppa."
One thing that has become very apparent is that no matter how beautiful the setting, there's still heartache and people who struggle with all sorts of things. As a parent of a child with additional needs, that has rung very true for me. I'm thankful, however, for the beauty I get to see every day, like the sheep beside our cottage. Watching the lambs grow has been very soothing through it all.
I think the Cotswolds can be a very restorative place.
I feel supported as a mom in the Cotswolds
I'm also grateful for all the ways that children are included here. Mine are two, six, and eight, and most places you go will have a trail guide, scavenger hunt, or something else for the kids to do.
I love how intentionally children are included, even in historical places where they might break things. All this adds up to feeling supported as a mom, rather than a nuisance. In the US, I often felt as though there's a delineation between "for children" and "for grownups."
There are also so many supportive groups for moms and little ones, because women here typically take off more time than in the US, where maternity leave can be very short. I had my third child in the UK, and I really liked how they have all these preschool playgroups where you can settle into motherhood and get to know other moms.
The Cotswolds are a slice of heaven
Our parents would be the main thing that would make us need, or want, to go back to the US. But, for now, we love living here.
Every day, I drive through the beautiful, relaxing countryside to get my children to their lovely little school. We have access to all these beautiful spots. Sometimes, after the school run, my husband and I might go for a walk around stately homes.
I've been reminded, though, that even though the Cotswolds is a slice of heaven, we're still on earth, and we can't escape the hardships. I think if people were to consider moving here, they should bear that in mind.
Still, we'd like to stay longer because, after all, it's a great place to be a mom.
