Ellen DeGeneres & Portia de Rossi: From Cotswolds Farmhouse to Potential California Return
Here’s a roughly 500-word account of what’s known so far about Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi — their relocation to the U.K., the lifestyle they embraced in the countryside, and recent reports that they may be rethinking the stay and edging toward a return to California.
🇬🇧 Why They Moved: Leaving the U.S. for the Cotswolds
In November 2024, Ellen and Portia left California and bought a countryside home in the Cotswolds, a scenic rural region in southwestern England. The relocation was confirmed by Ellen in July 2025, when she said the morning after Donald Trump was re-elected, they “woke up to lots of texts from our friends with crying emojis,” remarking bluntly, “He got in … we’re staying here.”
Originally purchased as what they described as a “part-time house,” the intention was reportedly to spend only several months each year there. But with the political climate and a desire for a quieter life, the Cotswolds farmhouse soon became their primary home.
Ellen lauded the lifestyle shift: praising the countryside’s beauty, the architecture of villages, the gentler pace of life, and a sense that “everything here is just better” — from how animals are treated to how friendly people are. She and Portia even began settling in with pets, horses, and occasional sheep.
🏡 Settling In — Then Quickly Moving On
Their initial farmhouse — reportedly a sprawling, historic property with substantial grounds — underwent rapid, substantial renovations after their purchase in 2024.
However, within about a month, the couple listed that same property for sale. The public explanation: the need for a more suitable estate to accommodate de Rossi’s horses and other animals.
Ellen later clarified that while the first home was not ideal for their animal lifestyle, their overall commitment to living in the U.K. remained.
Still, life in rural England hasn’t been without challenges. Maintenance — including lawn care, fencing for animals, and property upkeep — gradually became a burden, and managing farm life from scratch has reportedly worn on them.
🔄 Signs of a U-Turn: Are They Headed Back to California?
While the couple once told friends they had no plans to return to the U.S., recent developments suggest their sentiment may be softening. Reports from February 2025 claimed they were already “planning to leave” their Cotswolds mansion, perhaps disillusioned by property-related headaches, local friction, or the realities of rural living.
Locals reportedly raised objections to renovations at their current property — citing potential flood-risks and unapproved building work.
Some sources say the couple is “eyeing up” a new home (either back in the U.S. or elsewhere), though nothing definitive has been publicly confirmed.
Given these pressures — climate issues, maintenance, lifestyle changes, and possibly longing for familiar friends and surroundings — a return to California might be more than speculation.
🧭 Reflection: What Their Moves Reveal
Ellen and Portia’s journey highlights just how complicated leaving home can be — even for those with the means to buy luxury properties across countries. Their move initially signified a search for refuge — a peaceful escape from a changing political and cultural climate in the U.S. But once the novelty wore off, the practicality of daily life — maintaining farmland, dealing with renovations, managing animals, even adapting to a different social environment — seems to have weighed heavily.
Their story underscores a truth many people can relate to: the idea of “starting fresh” is appealing, but settling into a new reality — especially one with radically different routines — often comes with unexpected friction.
And while a full return to California isn’t confirmed, the fact that they’ve listed a major UK property, reportedly deliberated moves, and navigated lifestyle difficulties suggests that “permanent exile” may have been more aspirational than realistic.
If you like — I can pull up a timeline of all known property moves for Ellen & Portia across 2024–2025 (with dates, approximate prices, and what triggered each move) — might help map their shifting location history more clearly.
