William Morris declares it the most beautiful village in England, and there's certainly a reason why. The village is quiet and peaceful, with beautiful stone houses and unique gardens that seem to have come straight out of a fairy tale. For the most part, it looks exactly as it did 1,000 years ago.
We drove for about 2 and a half hours from North London to arrive in this place that feels like a step back in time. The main street's parking was full, so we parked in a nearby alley close to the church.
The first thing we saw after arriving was the Saxon church, St. Mary's Church, dating back to the 12th century. Afterward, we continued on foot until we reached the main street of the village and found ourselves at the famous Arlington Row. This is the most popular landmark and the most photographed spot in the village. The houses were built in 1380 as wool stores for a monastery. In the 17th century, they were converted into weavers' cottages.
Bibury is situated on both sides of the River Coln, a tributary of the Thames, with the two parts connected by small stone bridges that offer breathtaking views of the village.
As an avid photographer, I took pictures of Arlington Row, and we headed back to the main street, where you'll find the village post office, the tea shop, and several impressive private properties, all of which have retained their charm over the years.
After the quaint cottages, we arrived at the Swan Hotel, whose architecture and gardens are in the typical village style. It's centrally located and a 10-minute walk from all the interesting places in the village. Besides accommodation and dining, the hotel hosts many weddings. If you want a fairytale wedding, this is the place.
Next to the hotel is the trout farm, which has been in operation since 1902 and is one of the oldest working farms. In addition to buying fresh trout from the farm shop, you can even catch your own fish. One of the ponds is designated for this purpose and is a great joy for both young and old. The farm provides everything you need, and you can even ask them to clean the fish you catch on the spot. The farm has picnic areas and special barbecue spots where you can grill your fish and enjoy a meal right there.
After the trout farm, you'll find Arlington Mill, where they used to send the cloth for weaving from the weavers of Arlington Row. The building is now a museum and privately owned.
I hope you enjoyed the walk and that you've felt at least a bit of the spirit of this beautiful village. Thank you for your time. If you'd like to receive notifications about new destinations, you can subscribe to my blog.
Sincerely,
Polly P.