Bibury in Gloucestershire has been described as the “most beautiful village in England” and is a popular spot for tourists thanks to its charming houses and serene river
A quaint Cotswolds village has been compared to “stepping into a postcard”, with tourists lauding its charming homes and tranquil river.
Bibury, nestled in Gloucestershire, was even dubbed the “most beautiful village in England” by renowned artist and textile designer William Morris.
The idyllic hamlet draws globetrotters from far and wide, thanks to its enchanting architecture, local trout farm and picturesque landscapes.
Arlington Row, a line of cottages, is the most snapped spot in the village. These houses were initially erected in 1380 as a monastic wool store before being transformed into weavers’ cottages in the 17th century.
Centuries ago, the cloth crafted at Arlington Row was dispatched to the mill and draped on timber frames for degreasing, reports the Express.
While most of these cottages are rented out to private tenants, one is available as a holiday let, offering visitors a unique opportunity to experience life in this historic setting. If you hold a British passport, you might recognise Arlington Row – a vibrant image of the cottages was printed inside all passports issued between 2010 and 2015.
Visitors to the village can also explore the Bibury Trout Farm, established in 1902 and one of the oldest in the country. Guests can observe the fish being fed and learn about the life of a trout – as well as enjoy the ducks, swans, Kingfishers, geese and the rare water vole.
The farm also offers fresh and smoked trout along with a variety of seafood, locally baked bread, and free range eggs and cheeses.
One visitor to Bibury shared on TripAdvisor the village “is like stepping into a postcard”.
They added: “The charming village, with its picturesque cottages and tranquil river, feels like a scene from a fairy tale. Wandering along Arlington Row, I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of the ancient stone buildings, their honey-coloured walls.”
Another visitor said: “A lovely little piece of old England, we visited at 10am on Saturday morning, it was already hard to park in the village, but the trout farm had 2 lovely car parks with a short walk back to the village and very reasonably priced!”.
A third wrote: “Bibury lived up to expectations. A beautiful, picturesque village. The river stream is tranquil, full of trout and smaller fish and foul. The two bridges are lovely, Arlington Row is the perfect picture spot.”
Visitors have lavished praise on Arlington Row and its surrounding nature, with one smitten tourist penning: “This will surely become your favourite place. Walk by the stunning river watching the ducks and swans and cross over the bridge to Arlington Row. Spend a few hours here and you will fall in love with it.”