The festive season has arrived. This is a time to snuggle up by the fire, indulge in festive foods, relax with a good book and spend time with your family. This year, we have scoured the country for the prettiest winter villages. We have chosen 10 picturesque villages in the Peak District, North Yorkshire, Dorset and the Cotswolds, all with one thing in common; they are the perfect places to visit this Christmas. 

1. Castle Combe, Wiltshire 

Will it snow in Castle Combe this Christmas? 

This village has been named the prettiest in England many times, and for good reason. Visitors have been drawn to this beautiful settlement for over a century, attracted by the small streets leading from the Market Cross to the By Brook, which is incredibly picturesque. 

Even the film industry has noticed the delights of Castle Coombe, as Doctor Doolittle was filmed here back in 1966 and, in more recent years, it played a large role in War Horse. 

• Property prices range from over £1,000,000 for a large period detached home, to £330,000 for a cosy two-bedroom terrace. 
  

2. Ceres, Scotland 

There is no shortage of beautiful villages across Scotland. Here is a stunning part of the country, with attractive stone cottages, a friendly inn, and Ceres is one of the only villages in Scotland to have its own village green. 

“Ceres is a remarkably unspoilt and attractive village. As you wander the streets you do get a sense of travelling back in time,” says Undiscovered Scotland.  

• A four-bedroom detached property near Ceres costs around £400,000. Three bedroom homes cost around £150,000.

3. Slingsby, North Yorkshire

Think of the perfect country village, and Slingsby ticks all the boxes: it has a bakery, local pub, and even a castle.  

Slingsby lies at the foot of the gently sloping land which forms the northern edge of the Howardian Hills (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), with the Vale of Pickering spreading out to its north and east. On the western edge of the village lie the ruins of a 17th-century manor house called Slingsby ‘Castle’.

• A detached family home in the village can cost £550,000. There are new-build properties in the area which cost around £325,000. 

4. Broadway, Worcestershire 

Broadway is certainly the ultimate Christmas village, and photographers flock here to see the stone houses blanketed in a layer of snow. 

You are spoiled for choice when it comes to pretty villages in the Cotswolds. Broadway stands out for its artists and writers, including J.M. Barrie, William Morris, and John Singer Sargent. 

“The beautiful and historic Cotswold village of Broadway is a memorable place to stay and a perfect base from which to tour the local area and enjoy the stunning walks. The pretty High Street is lined with horse chestnut trees and includes a mixture of period houses and picturesque honey-coloured Cotswold stone cottages,” says Broadway Cotswolds.  

• Premium family homes can sell for up to £2,000,000 here, while small apartments and bungalows can cost as little as £100,000. 

5. Evershot, Dorset

“There were 10-15cm of snow on the ground in the village of Evershot in January 2013,” says ITV.

Will snow return to this picturesque village in Dorset this winter? 

Evershot is a village that seems to have stepped back in time. It has a church with a ring of six functional bells, a post office/shop, doctors' surgery, primary school, bakery, pub, and a hotel. There is a great community atmosphere, with the 200 residents coming together during the festive season for the annual Christmas party. 

• Grand family homes in the countryside surrounding Evershot can cost over £750,000. A two or three-bedroom home will cost around £300,000. 

6. Lacock, Wiltshire 

Lacock has many claims to fame, from appearing in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Downton Abbey and the BBC’s Pride and Prejudice. It would make the perfect place to live with its stone cottages full of character. 

It may be too cold to paddle in the Bide Brook at Christmastime, but Lacock Abbey is a perfect place to explore and the National Trust have special festive events to enjoy. 

• A stunning historic property near Lacock can cost up to £1,250,000. At the other end of the market, a three-bedroom terrace property starts at £200,000. 

7. Beeley, Derbyshire 

Chatsworth House stands out as one of Britain’s most impressive country estates. The nearby village of Beeley is equally as charming with its period properties and popular pub. 

“Beeley sits snugly amongst the gently undulating wooded hills which rise on the east bank of the River Derwent about a mile and a half due south of Chatsworth House, the home of the Duke & Duchess of Devonshire,” says Peak District Online.  

• The popularity of the area means that properties do not come up for sale often here. To live nearby, it would cost over £1,000,000 for a premium country home with five or six bedrooms. A one-bedroom property could cost under £150,000.

8. Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire 

Chalfont St Giles makes our Christmas top 10 for many reasons.

The best dressed Christmas window competition invites local businesses to design festive windows, and then the children at the local school announce one winner every year. It has a quintessentially English duck pond, surrounded by period properties, a great variety of restaurants and attractive churches. The village also won the Pushman Cup for the Best Kept Village in Buckinghamshire in 2016. 

• Prime property is abundant in this area, with detached properties with land regularly achieving over £2,000,000. Smaller properties with two bedrooms cost upwards of £250,000. 

9. Bibury, Gloucestershire

“Bibury was once described by William Morris as ‘the most beautiful village in England’. The cottages of Arlington Row are often referred to as the most photographed and beautiful cottages in the country,” says Bibury.com.   

Residents love this village for many reasons. The River Coln flows through the centre of the village, there are beautiful stained glass windows in the church, and it even appeared in the 1992 Christmas stamp set issued by the Royal Mail. 

• There are lots of country manors in the area, some costing over £4,000,000. A period two-bedroom cottage can cost around £400,000. 

10. Belford, Northumberland 

Belford is an ancient village situated in north Northumberland. In the centre of the village, you will find Market Square and its medieval cross. It is a thriving community with a large number of community clubs, societies, a host of local businesses and many places to stay. The village is great for cycling or walking holidays and is just a short distance from the Northumberland coast.

For those with an interest in local history, fishing and golf, it's a great base to explore the area. If you are looking for a more relaxed pace, it is great to relax and soak up the beautiful landscapes, ranging from sandy beaches through wild moorland to the splendour of the Cheviots hills

• Properties are more affordable here, with five-bedroom detached homes costing under £500,000. Properties start at £85,000. 
  

These Christmas villages are all great places to visit in the winter or live year-round. Start your property search on Fine & Country's homepage, or click here to request a valuation of your property. 

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