I WENT TO THE TINY VILLAGE WHERE MEGHAN WAS JUST SPOTTED… But ONE THING About The Place Caught Me Completely Off Guard! Meghan Markle’s quiet pub outing with Ellen DeGeneres put the tiny Cotswolds village of Asthall under a sudden spotlight—but a visit to the village has revealed something far more intriguing than celebrity sightings. With only around 250 residents, Asthall was remarkably peaceful on a weekday, offering exactly the kind of seclusion that may have appealed to Meghan. But it was the unexpected warmth of the locals that really stood out—and it revealed a side of Meghan’s new British surroundings that few would have expected.

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I VISITED THE PRETTY COTSWOLDS VILLAGE WHERE MEGHAN MARKLE WAS SPOTTED — ONE AFTERNOON WAS ENOUGH TO SEE THE APPEAL

Asthall, Cotswolds

One quiet afternoon in the Cotswolds village where Meghan Markle was recently spotted was enough to understand why the Duchess of Sussex might have chosen it for a brief escape.

On a midweek afternoon in late September, Asthall in Oxfordshire was almost deserted.

A handful of locals wandered along its winding country roads, while others sat outside the village pub, The Three Horseshoes, making the most of the late sunshine.

With a population of around 250, Asthall can become considerably busier at weekends. But residents say weekdays bring a dependable sense of calm.

And that peaceful atmosphere was on full display during my visit.

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It is easy to understand why the village offered Meghan a discreet retreat earlier this week.

The Duchess of Sussex was spotted at The Three Horseshoes on Monday with celebrity friends Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, in one of the few sightings of her during an otherwise low-key return to Britain with Prince Harry and their children.

A covert photograph taken inside the pub provided the first photographic evidence that Meghan had been out and about in the UK during the visit.

Yet when I asked around, villagers were remarkably tight-lipped about the sighting.

A Village Steeped In History

Asthall may be tiny, but there is far more to it than its quiet lanes and picturesque stone cottages.

The village is perhaps best known as the childhood home of the Mitford sisters, the glamorous 20th-century aristocratic family whose lives became intertwined with literature, politics and high society.

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Their former Jacobean manor sits slightly above the village, built from the distinctive honey-coloured Cotswold stone and surrounded by six acres of gardens.

The property is now privately owned, although it occasionally hosts exhibitions and charity events.

It also provided the inspiration for Alconleigh, the fictional estate featured in Nancy Mitford’s novel The Pursuit of Love.

Beyond the manor, Asthall unfolds through a collection of picturesque homes, many positioned around the River Windrush.

The surrounding valley opens onto sweeping views of the hills, while walking paths connect Asthall with neighbouring Cotswold villages.

Meghan Markle seen for first time since UK move as she rubs shoulders with A-list pal at pub

During my visit, walkers could be seen making their way across the surrounding fields, adding to the sense that life here moves at a considerably slower pace.

More Than Just A Pretty Village

For Meghan, seclusion may have been the main attraction.

But Asthall’s small size hides an unexpectedly rich history.

The village church dates back to the 12th century, while nearby are the remains of a Roman settlement on Akeman Street, the ancient road that once connected Cirencester with St Albans.

It is the sort of place where history feels woven into the landscape rather than displayed behind glass.

And there is a striking contrast between Asthall and some of the Cotswolds’ better-known destinations.

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Just up the road sits Jeremy Clarkson’s pub, The Farmer’s Dog, where the atmosphere was entirely different.

Its car park was packed and queues stretched outside, with visitors clearly drawn to one of the area’s more fashionable attractions.

Ten minutes in the opposite direction is Burford, often described as the “gateway to the Cotswolds”.

Its high street was busy with tourists, easily identified by their accents, backpacks and armfuls of visitor leaflets.

Burford has its own appeal: livelier, more sociable and filled with opportunities to browse, eat and take in the scenery.

Asthall offers something else entirely.

Quiet.

The Locals Were The Biggest Surprise

What struck me most was not the celebrity connection or even the scenery, but the warmth of the handful of people I encountered.

As a journalist, it would be understandable to expect a certain wariness in a village surrounded by famous neighbours and increasing interest from outsiders.

There was certainly little appetite for gossip about Meghan.

But there was no hostility either.

Conversations began with a cheerful “how are you?” before inevitably moving on to the other great British conversation starter: the weather.

That ordinary friendliness seemed to tell me more about Asthall than any celebrity sighting could.

At weekends, visitors may arrive hoping for a glimpse of someone famous or the perfect Cotswolds photograph.

But underneath that attention is a much quieter character.

There is history, community and a genuine sense of welcome.

Exactly where Harry and Meghan have settled in the Cotswolds remains unclear.

But after just one afternoon in Asthall, it was easy to understand why somewhere like this could appeal — a place where the countryside does the talking, the village can still fall almost silent on a weekday, and even a fleeting celebrity appearance does little to disturb the rhythm of local life.