Have you heard that Beyoncé and Jay-Z are moving to the Cotswolds? This power couple are the latest celebrities drawn in by the honey-coloured cottages and lush, green landscapes of the quintessential English countryside—with the likes of Ellen DeGeneres, David Beckham, and the King of Bahrain owning properties here.
I mean, wouldn’t you move to the Cotswolds too if money were no object? Particularly, we’d be looking at Bibury, which just beat a fjord-hugging hamlet in Norway and a Greek island paradise (and the rest of them) to be crowned the world’s most beautiful village.
Forbes’ annual list spans glacial valleys in the Faroe Islands, blue-washed buildings in Morocco, and thousands of years-old rice terraces in the Philippines. But none hold a candle to this quaint Cotswold village, which was picked out with help from Unforgettable Travel Company.
What makes Bibury so beautiful?
Forbes describes Bibury as “like a watercolor dream” and is revered for its “honey-slicked cottages” and their “mossy roofs whispering tales of 14th-century weavers.” Elsewhere, it advises a riverside picnic among “blooming lavender” and “ancient stone” with “freshly-baked scones.”
Don’t just take their word for it, either; artist William Morris also called Bibury “the most beautiful village in England”. With the 14th-century Arlington Row depicted inside some British passports, as well as featuring in films like Stardust and Bridget Jones’s Diary, it has become the touchstone of all English villages.
While the winding River Coln, ivy-covered Swan Hotel, as well as England’s oldest working trout farm, make for a scenic stroll, there isn’t tonnes to do in Bibury. However, it’s just a short distance from the ‘Capital of the Cotswolds’, Cirencester, which has plenty of boutique shops, independent restaurants and historic landmarks to enjoy.
How do I get there from Bristol?
Taking an hour, the quickest way to get to Bibury from Bristol is by car via the M4—exit near Chippenham, then take A429 and B4425 to Bibury.
The world’s most beautiful villages:
- Bibury, England
- Hallstatt, Austria
- Reine, Norway
- Giethoorn, Netherlands
- Gásadalur, Faroe Islands
- Oia, Greece
- Bourtange, Netherlands
- Kotor, Montenegro
- Shirakawa-go, Japan
- Batad, Philippines
- Russell, New Zealand
- Mrauk U, Myanmar
- Adare, Ireland
- Steg, Liechtenstein
- Eguisheim, France
- Manarola, Italy
- Valldemossa, Spain
- Zhouzhuang, China
- Ghandruk, Nepal
- Cam Thanh, Vietnam
To see Forbes’ complete ‘World’s 50 Most Beautiful Villages 2025’ head here.