The Welland Valley: England’s best kept country secret?

The Welland Valley is a patchwork of fields and rolling farmland, dotted with historic estates, pretty villages and vibrant market towns. The countryside is unspoilt and the period architecture is a charming mix of warm limestone and striking ironstone.

While still relatively unknown by outsiders, this Midlands enclave, located along the border of Northamptonshire and Leicestershire, passing through Rutland and on to Lincolnshire, is fast gaining a reputation as a hub for artists and creatives. 

Homes represent good value for money compared to the Cotswolds and neighbouring counties like Oxfordshire and those moving here are discovering the area’s convenient transport links, excellent schools and a growing food scene.

“The Welland Valley is situated within easy reach of London and is becoming a sought-after location for those preferring understated yet refined rural living without the crowds,” says Barclay Macfarlane, director in Savills Country Department.

So what are the hottest spots in the place everyone’s increasingly talking about? Portfolio spoke to three locals who’ve moved there to find out.

Market Harborough and Medbourne, Leicestershire

The River Welland rises west of Market Harborough, a thriving market town with boutique shops and a busy social scene. “There’s a real sense of community and now that the railway line has been upgraded, journey times to London St Pancras have dropped below 60 minutes,” says James Abbott, head of residential at Savills in Stamford.

The town is also ramping up culturally, in no small part thanks to the nearby Nevill Holt Festival, which takes place annually and has built on a decade of acclaimed opera performances to become a full arts celebration. 

This rich artistic seam inspires Imogen Owen, a designer and calligrapher who runs The Great, a chic homestore and neighbourhood café in Great Easton. “The Welland Valley has my heart although, as a cyclist, the rolling fields can sometimes be a challenge!” she says. “There are open studios, interesting arts events all around and so many lovely places to go for a walk and stop off at a pub.”

One of the most popular watering holes is the Nevill Arms, a boutique country pub and hotel set in a striking ironstone building beside a brook in the picturesque village of Medbourne. Part of the Three Goats group, a Leicestershire and Rutland hospitality business, it serves local, seasonal food including lamb, pork and beef reared at its own farm four miles away. 

Uppingham and Oakham, Rutland

The Welland Valley flows on through Rutland towards Uppingham and Oakham, famous for their eponymous public schools. Pretty, compact Uppingham has a Friday market and an annual fatstock show that celebrates the agricultural roots of England’s smallest county. Oakham has a railway station from where the fastest service to St Pancras takes 1 hour 28 minutes and to Cambridge is only 1 hour 20 minutes.

The nearby village of Hambleton, positioned on the Rutland Water peninsula, has detached houses commanding premiums of 45 per cent more than surrounding areas, according to Savills Research. This is where you will find Hambleton Hall hotel and restaurant, owner of the UK’s longest-retained Michelin star. Hitchin’s Barn in Oakham has a Michelin Bib Gourmand and the Olive Branch in Clipsham features in the Michelin guide too.

Foodies are also well-served at Rutland Nursery, set just above the southern shore of Rutland Water. “Rutland Nursery has completely changed the landscape – it’s not just a garden centre, but somewhere you can shop and eat well, with brilliant events,” says decorative artist Laura Jekyll, who lives nearby with her filmmaker partner, John Davison. The couple, who moved to the Welland Valley from Buckinghamshire in 2022, have founded ‘Notswolds,’ a digital platform that showcases craftspeople and makers working in Rutland and the surrounding counties.

“Landing here has changed our lives,” Jekyll adds. “The open skies give you room to think and we have discovered vibrant communities with a strong creative culture.”

Stamford, Lincolnshire

This is where the architectural beauty of the Welland Valley reaches its zenith. England’s first conservation area, Stamford has more than 600 listed buildings, mostly 17th- and 18th-century constructions of mellow limestone. It’s also becoming increasingly trendy, with the Hollywood actor Robert De Niro planning to launch the first rural Nobu hotel, restaurant and branded residences collection in partnership with the nearby private members’ club Woolfox.

Stamford made a lasting impression on graphic designer Gary Curtis when he came to study at Stamford College and he moved back permanently 17 years ago. “The town is defined by its unspoilt Georgian architecture, which gives it a timeless, almost cinematic quality,” Curtis says, who shares the beauty of historic places through his Instagram account @theoldbuilding. “There’s a thriving high street, a strong independent spirit and a real sense of community.”

Curtis also feels incredibly fortunate to have Burghley House on the doorstep. “The house, its gardens and parkland are exceptional,” he says. “I also love Stamford Arts Centre and, for a classic Stamford moment, Central café and tea room is hard to beat.”

JAMES ABBOTT, HEAD OF OFFICE AND RESIDENTIAL DEPARTMENT, SAVILLS STAMFORD
JAbbott@savills.com

BARCLAY MACFARLANE, DIRECTOR, SAVILLS COUNTRY DEPARTMENT, EAST ANGLIA REGION
barclay.macfarlane@savills.com