Fitness personality Joe Wicks has sold his six-bedroom mansion in the Cotswolds for £3.25 million, marking another high-profile departure from the celebrity-favored rural area. Wicks, known as The Body Coach, had listed his Oxfordshire home on the market in February, signaling his intent to leave the "Chipping Norton set."
The Grade II-listed property, which Wicks purchased three years prior for £2.9 million, is situated near the homes of other notable figures such as the Beckhams, Jeremy Clarkson, and Amanda Holden. The estate spans 2.5 acres and includes a guest cottage, a spa, a sauna, and a home office. The grounds feature a wildflower meadow, an orchard, and a herb garden, with the River Swere running through the property.
The mansion boasts period features like open fireplaces and exposed timbers. Wicks had obtained planning permission for a double-height extension that included an open-plan kitchen with direct garden access. The property also contains three bathrooms, an oak-framed garage, a study, and a playroom for his three children. The listing noted the presence of a gym, essential for the fitness guru.
Wicks, who gained national recognition as "the nation's PE teacher" during the COVID-19 pandemic with his online livestreams, was awarded an MBE in 2020. His primary UK residence is reportedly a £4.4 million home in Virginia Water, Surrey, acquired in 2020. He also owns a beach house in Santa Monica, California, purchased in 2016.
Wicks's move follows a trend of celebrities vacating the Cotswolds. Fashion designer Stella McCartney and actress Elizabeth Hurley are among those who have previously left the area. Recently, Liam Gallagher, frontman of Oasis, purchased a Cotswolds home from former footballer Tony Adams for £4 million. Adams and his wife stated their desire for a "London life" and have relocated to the capital, with Adams currently renting while seeking a new home in North London.
The Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which extends across parts of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire, and Somerset, has an average house price of £447,690, according to Rightmove. The region attracts approximately 35 million tourists annually.
Some celebrities have recently been drawn to Northamptonshire, an area sometimes referred to as "the Notswolds," and Bruton in Somerset, noted for its rail links to London and cosmopolitan atmosphere.