Just a short drive from the ‘capital of the Cotswolds’, Cirencester is the sleepy village of Bibury, thought to be one of the most charming places in the UK. Artist William Morris certainly thought so in the 1800s when he declared it to be “the most beautiful village in England.”
In 2014, Bibury’s beauty was once again praised, this time internationally, when it appeared on the Huffington Post’s list of the most charming towns in Europe. Arlington Row in Bibury is believed to be home to the country’s most photographed and beautiful cottages. These cottages were built in 1380 as a monastic wool store and were then converted into weavers’ cottages in the 17th century.
These are now owned by the National Trust and rented out to private owners, with one currently available as a holiday cottage.
Arlington Row has proved popular with some rather high-profile visitors. Ford Motor Company founder Henry Ford loved the cottages so much that he even made plans to dismantle them brick-by-brick so he could have them rebuilt in America – something that luckily never came to fruition.
Another famous visitor was Japan’s Emperor Hirohito, who, as Crown Prince, visited the UK, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Vatican City, and Malta, opting to reside in Bibury during part of his stay in the UK.
Those who visit Bibury can also make a beeline for the Bibury Trout Farm, which is one of the oldest in the country, having been opened in 1902. While a trout farm may not be your typical tourist attraction, Bibury’s claims to the the most attractive in the UK, with plenty of wildlife seen alongside the rainbow fish.
The areas surrounding Bibury are thought to have been settled since the Iron Age, with the remains of a hill fort and Roman villa discovered on the outskirts of the village.
In the early eighth century, the land was granted to Earl Leppas, who named the settlement after his daughter Beaga, and the town was known as Beagan-byrig. Then, in 899, Beagan-byrig’s first church was established.
Sometime later, the town underwent its first name change, with the Domesday Book of 1086 recording its name as Becheberie. The name would then change at least once more, with Becheberie eventually becoming Bibury.
The nearest train station to Bibury is Kemble, which is then a £25 taxi drive from the village itself. A train from London Paddington to Kemble typically takes One hour and 11 minutes.
For information on driving to Bibury and to find out more about the village, visit the Bibury website here.
