Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are settling into their new life across the pond, though the transition has come with its fair share of challenges. The couple, who relocated from California in 2024, are now living in a sprawling 43-acre estate in the picturesque Cotswolds, just outside of London.
According to a source speaking to In Touch Weekly, the pair always knew the move wouldn’t be entirely seamless.
“They knew going into this that it wasn’t going to be totally smooth sailing, it was always going to be a challenge,” the insider revealed.
Much of that challenge stems from their ambitious renovation plans, which were complicated by the fact that they are in a foreign country. “Taking on a big renovation in a foreign country is not easy. But they’re both very skilled at renovation,” the source noted, adding, “It’s one of their passions.”
The couple’s original property in the Cotswolds was severely damaged by floods shortly after their move, forcing them to find a new home about 30 minutes away. Despite the setback, the source says the pair was not overly fazed. “They have navigated plenty of hiccups in the past with other projects,” the insider said.
“So, they weren’t all that thrown off by the stumbling blocks they’ve faced in the UK.” Still, there have been moments of homesickness. “It’s been difficult at times because they do miss the comfort of things back in America,” the source admitted. “But more than anything, they’re pleased to be embracing this new start.”
The couple is reportedly enjoying their new countryside lifestyle, forming connections in their local community and fully immersing themselves in the slower pace of rural English life.
“They’re getting to know the people around them and loving the property and the area,” said the source. “They take long walks in the woods every day, build roaring fires at night, all that stuff that’s so typical of the English countryside.”
While it hasn’t been without its challenges, insiders say the move is proving to be a rewarding chapter for both Ellen and Portia, personally and as a couple. “It is proving to be a very good move for their souls and for their marriage,” the source concluded.