‘Prettiest’ village in England famed for its quaint cottages and picture-perfect riverside views

A pretty village tucked away in the Cotswolds has been described as “picture perfect”, with a peaceful river and stone cottages that date back to the 1300s.

This Gloucestershire gem was once called “the most beautiful village in England” by artist and designer William Morris, and it’s easy to see why.

It attracts visitors from across the globe, drawn by its historic buildings, scenic trout farm and charming countryside views.

The most famous part of the village is Arlington Row, a line of beautiful cottages often seen on postcards and calendars.

The buildings were first built in 1380 as a wool store for monks, before being turned into weavers’ cottages in the 1600s.

Back then, the wool produced at Arlington Row was sent to the mill and stretched out on wooden frames to dry after cleaning.

Most of the cottages are still privately owned, but visitors can actually stay in one of them as a holiday home.

If you’ve held a British passport, you might already recognise it, an image of Arlington Row was printed inside all passports issued between 2010 and 2015.

Visitors can also explore the nearby Bibury Trout Farm, which opened in 1902 and is one of the oldest in the UK.

Guests can feed the fish, learn how trout are raised, and spot wildlife like ducks, swans, kingfishers, geese and even the rare water vole. The farm also sells fresh and smoked trout, local bread, cheeses and free-range eggs.

One visitor described Bibury as “like stepping into a postcard”, while another said the village felt “like a scene from a fairy tale”.

They wrote: “Walking along Arlington Row, I couldn’t stop admiring the old stone cottages with their warm, honey-coloured walls and flowers growing around the doors. It’s honestly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.”

Remember - LeaveNoTrace!

As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!

Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.

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