Visiting Bibury — The most charming ancient village in England
Forget about your fall plans because we’ve found the trip you need to take. Visit Bibury, also known as “England’s Most Beautiful Village.”
Bibury, located in the Cotswolds, appears to be straight out of a painting. It has everything you want in an English vacation: rows of ancient cottages, a picturesque old church, and the Coln, a river that flows directly into Bibury’s main street. We can’t get enough of it because it’s so bloody perfect.
It’s difficult to choose a more beautiful location than Bibury, but Arlington Row, a cluster of ancient cottages dating back to the 1300s, is a safe bet. With their stone slate roofs and old-world charm, these tiny little shelters look like they belong on a postcard.
Bibury’s famous trout farm is also lovely — you can catch your own dinner there, and it’s connected to a cafe. It goes without saying that fish is always on the menu.
While in Bibury, be sure to visit St. Mary’s Church, which has beautiful stained glass windows.
Stop by The Swan Hotel for a meal in a beautiful seventeenth-century inn.
Bibury is not only a popular spot for tourists, it’s also a popular setting for films. As if we weren’t already obsessed with this town, “Bridget Jones’s Diary” was filmed here.
We’re packing our bags now!
Futher information
Bibury Tourist Information Guide
Bibury is located on the River Coln in the Gloucestershire Cotswolds, 9 miles from the market town of Burford.
William Morris once called the village “the most beautiful village in the Cotswolds.”
The village center is centered on a square near St. Mary’s Saxon church. Some of the Saxon relics inside the church are replicas because the originals are in the British Museum.
Arlington Row, a group of ancient cottages with steeply pitched roofs dating back to the 16th century and overlooking a water meadow and the river, is one of the village’s main tourist attractions.
Arlington Row was regarded as an English icon by Henry Ford. On a trip to the Cotswolds, he attempted to purchase the entire row of houses to ship back to Michigan and incorporate them into Greenfield Village.
Bibury has served as the setting for blockbuster films such as Stardust and Bridget Jones’ Diary.
How to get to Bibury by Car
M4 Motorway
Traveling west on the M4, exit at junction 15 and take the A419 to Cirencester, then the B4425 to Bibury.
Traveling east on the M4, exit at junction 17 and continue on to Malmesbury and Cirencester (A429). Take the B4425 to Bibury from Cirencester.
M5 Motorway
Take exit 11A from the north and head towards Cirencester. Take the B4425 to Bibury from Cirencester.
Take exit 11A from the south and head towards Cirencester. Take the B4425 to Bibury from Cirencester.
How to get to Bibury by train
Kemble, a few miles from Cirencester and about 14 miles from Bibury, is the nearest railway station.
Once at Kemble train station, you can take a taxi to Bibury for about £25.
Hoe to get to Bibury by Bus
Given a large number of possible starting points, providing comprehensive information on how to get to Bibury by bus is difficult.
If you arrive in the area by train (Kemble train station), you may want to stop in Cirencester before taking the Bibury. Cirencester has a regular bus service.
If you take the bus from London to Cirencester, you will most likely be dropped off on London Road in Cirencester. You can then walk to Market Place and take a bus to Bibury.
Attractions
Bibury Trout Farm is a restaurant and trout farm where you can catch your own trout. Fresh trout meals are available at the restaurant.
Strolling along the river, watching the trout in their natural habitat, and stopping by Arlington Row.
Don’t miss a visit to Barnsley House’s beautiful gardens, which are 3.3 miles away.
The Church of St Mary
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is located on higher ground than the river and the bridge on one side of the village. We have a Saxon church here, probably founded in the mid-eighth century, though the earliest surviving feature may date from the 11th century.
There’s a lot to see here, from the Saxon and Norman carvings to the medieval windows and stained glass, as well as the striking chancel arch with Saxon, Norman, and Early English work. St Mary’s is a charming church that is well worth a visit.
A strange story surrounds a section of the churchyard known as “The Bisley Piece” for centuries. Bisley is a village located about 17 miles west of Bibury, near Stroud. The locals seemed to have a habit of breaking church law. The pope issued an interdict against Bisley in the 13th and 15th centuries.
The people of Bisley were not allowed to bury their dead anywhere within the Diocese of Worcester for the duration of the penalty, as a result of the interdict. Bibury was the nearest place outside the diocese that would accept Bisley burials.
Walking Route 4 miles approx 2 hours
Away from the crowds in Bibury, a delightful walk through wildlife-rich woodland and meadow, across a Roman road, and past a hidden dewpond.
Places to Eat
Bibury Court is a magnificent Jacobean mansion that is now only used for exclusive weddings and private parties.
Trout Farm Restaurant and the Swan Hotel
