Gloucestershire

This village in the Cotswolds has been named the world’s most beautiful village in a Forbes-featured ranking, with its honey-slicked cottages and River Coln setting beating Mediterranean destinations

Travel lovers have awarded this charming village with cobbled streets a top spot as the most picturesque village on the planet.

Now a thriving tourist destination, Forbes crowned the Cotswolds settlement as the most beautiful village in the world, giving Mediterranean coastal hotspots a real run for their money.

While England has no shortage of stunning landscapes, from the rugged beauty of the Lake District to the sweeping coastlines of Cornwall, the Cotswolds continues to attract visitors from across the globe with its fairytale villages and quintessentially English charm.

Yet it’s one particular village that has truly made a name for itself. Forbes, in partnership with Unforgettable Travel Company, revealed the 50 most stunning villages in the world — and placed Bibury firmly at the top.

The publication wrote: “Bibury unfurls like a watercolour dream-where honey-slicked cottages line Arlington Row; their mossy roofs whispering tales of 14th-century weavers. The River Coln murmurs gently here-weaving through golden buttercups and forget-me-nots, while plump ducks paddle lazily beneath canopies of willow.”

Visitors travel from all corners of the globe to admire these honey-coloured cottages and sweeping willow trees, located just a 15-minute drive outside of Cirencester. However, locals are increasingly vocal about the issue of overtourism, as thousands descend upon the tiny village during peak season.

Residents are calling for greater action to preserve the peaceful and intimate atmosphere that makes the area so beloved in the first place. Nestled on the banks of the River Coln, Bibury is steeped in history and natural beauty, with the cottages on Arlington Row dating back as far as 1380.

Today, the village’s character is safeguarded by the National Trust, who own most of the properties along the row, except for two that are now operated as holiday lets.

The historic row was subsequently transformed into weavers’ cottages during the 17th century and has remained unchanged ever since. Their characteristics appear to be straight from a storybook, and their location beside the meadow, which is inhabited by water-loving plants and birds, feels like something from a fantasy novel.

One visitor shared their thoughts on Tripadvisor, saying: “Quintessential English rural scene. Okay, we were one of the many tourists doing the same thing in admiring the buildings, but it didn’t spoil our time.

“We managed to park nearby for free, and the walk by the beautiful clear river is all part of the experience. Worth a visit.”

With nature forming the essence of this small village, many choose to visit England’s oldest trout farm, Bibury Trout Farm, where they can wander the grounds and observe vibrant wildlife. Tucked away within the village, this is a destination where you can catch a fish, hire a barbecue, enjoy a round of Crazy Golf, or simply relax in the welcoming onsite cafe.

One visitor who made the trip to the farm wrote: “We had such a fun trip at Bibury Trout Farm! The grounds were beautifully maintained, everything was clean, and the trout fishing and BBQ experience were fantastic.

“The staff were incredibly friendly, and we really appreciated the effort they made to make our visit enjoyable. Highly recommend it!”.

Should you be considering a day out to Bibury, it’s worth planning your parking arrangements ahead of time to avoid causing unnecessary disruption to the village. Where possible, experts advise visiting during the off-peak season and mid-week to ensure a more relaxed experience.

A charming market town in the Cotswolds with a thriving independent scene and a backdrop of honey-coloured cottages, has been named as one of the best in the UK

A picturesque market town boasting a thriving independent scene has been crowned as one of the finest in Britain.

With rolling hills, cobbled streets, honey-hued cottages and picture-perfect towns that resemble something from a storybook, the Cotswolds are undeniably one of England’s most stunning regions. There’s Bibury, home to the iconic Arlington Row cottages hailed as the ‘most beautiful village in England’, Bourton-on-the-Water with its stone bridges earning it the moniker ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’, Broadway celebrated as the ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds’ with its broad high street, and Burford, famously described as the ‘Gateway to the Cotswolds’.

But among these Cotswold gems, Cirencester outshines the rest as it’s been crowned Gloucestershire’s best market town. It was also ranked as one of the top market towns in the UK by Bullock Coaches, thanks to its long-established markets, antique shops, boutiques, and cafés.

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Dubbed the ‘capital of the Cotswolds’, I’ve visited Cirencester on countless occasions, but my most recent trip only reinforced my affection for the bustling town and confirmed its stellar reputation as the best market town.

Home to roughly 19,000 residents, the town’s close-knit community spirit is plain to see after just an afternoon wandering its streets – far from the sleepy charm found elsewhere in the Cotswolds, it boasts a thriving independent scene and celebrated markets. There are even glimpses of its Roman heritage, when it once ranked as the second-largest city after London, which are visible throughout its grand architecture and ancient medieval streets.

I strolled along cobbled high streets flanked by warm, honey-coloured stone buildings, which whisked me away to something straight out of Downton Abbey, while the Parish Church of St John Baptist stands proudly over the market square. This is where I discovered the renowned outdoor Charter Market, one of the oldest in the country, held every Monday and Friday, reports Gloucestershire Live.

The stalls overflow with everything from plants and outdoor furniture to fresh produce and household essentials, and are clearly a major draw for the town as locals peruse the vast array of goods before nipping into a nearby café for a cuppa. I settled on a warming cappuccino in the snug surroundings of Keith’s Coffee Shop, its shelves bursting with tempting treats to take home, from loose-leaf tea to biscuits, jams, chutneys and chocolates – resisting the urge to grab something sweet is no easy feat!

For those in search of a freshly baked treat, KNEAD Cirencester is an independent bakery well worth a visit, offering all the classic pastries — a personal highlight being their pecan and maple danish. The charming Heather’s is another brilliant option for a decent coffee, tucked away down one of the town’s characterful lanes, conveniently close to a handful of delightful independent retailers.

Cirencester’s flourishing independent shopping scene is arguably one of the town’s greatest draws, making it an absolute goldmine for finding unique gifts for family and friends. During a recent day out, a browse through Octavia’s Bookshop turned up a great read, while the gift shop m.a.d.e. and the welcoming Corn Hall Indoor Market also proved well worth exploring.

Open year-round, Sunday to Thursday, the indoor market is packed with warm and friendly traders flogging everything from organic beauty products and jewellery to art, bags, scarves, cards, wood, craft, Persian rugs, and even carpets – a real one-stop shop. Just a stone’s throw away is the Corn Hall Cellars Wine Shop, stocking a fine selection of wines, beers and spirits – ideal for those hosting evenings, along with all the tasty treats needed for a cracking night in with friends.

Beyond the independents, familiar high street names such as White Stuff, Seasalt Cornwall, Barbour, Mountain Warehouse, French Grey and Waterstones are also well represented. While the independent retailers and bustling daily markets were the real standout attractions, Cirencester is undeniably a thriving town in every sense.

Those keen to soak up the delightful character of Cirencester will find it just a 30-minute drive from both Gloucester and Cheltenham, or less than a two-hour train journey from London. Alternatively, you could make it a weekend escape and take in some of the surrounding Cotswolds villages, such as Bibury and Tetbury.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

A striking UK destination used as a movie set, with 27,000 acres of ancient woodland and a meandering river passing through, has been named one of the ‘best places in the world’

Some of the world’s most spectacular places are right on our doorstep, and there’s one in the heart of an enchanting UK woodland.

Nestled between the Rivers Wye and Severn in Gloucestershire, straddling the Welsh border, lies the ancient Forest of Dean, with 27,000 acres of towering, majestic trees. It’s one of England’s largest ancient woodlands and stands as a celebrated haven of outstanding natural beauty.

It attracts visitors from far and wide to admire and explore its otherworldly woodland, rustic bridges, snowdrops, and spiralling rivers. But there’s one particular spot in the Forest of Dean that has been deemed the ‘best place in the world’.

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Speaking to the Mirror, forest ranger for Forest Holidays, Gerry O’Brien, said: “I love the Forest of Dean, it’s obviously an area very close to my heart, it’s rich in history, heritage and wildlife. I know it really well, inside out, I guess, now. There are a lot of hidden gems around the forest that I love to go and explore, but Symonds Yat Rock is one of my favourite places in the world. It’s an incredible place to go, and I love it.”

Symonds Yat Rock offers breathtaking views across the winding River Wye, which is towered over by limestone cliffs and sprawling acres of ancient woodland. It’s a haven for birdwatching, with goshawks, buzzards, and sparrowhawks sweeping over the viewpoint, and it has ample walking trails to soak up the picturesque vistas and explore the nearby forest.

Gerry further shared about Symonds Yat Rock: “It’s incredible, it’s an old Iron Age Hill Fort, it’s almost right on the Hertfordshire border, looking out over the countryside. You could imagine, like 2,500 years ago, people were living on that rock, which is hard to believe.

“There are peregrine falcons that nest in the cliff face along the edge, so you can often see them coming up. There’s also a woodland, and if you’re looking down from Symonds Yat Rock, with the River Wye below you, you can look out over Copper Hill and on the other side, it’s the woodland where Harry Potter was filmed.”

Sharing a closer insight into the area and its renowned connections, Gerry added: “If you go to Symonds Yat East, it’s a little hamlet by the river, it’s beautiful and really picturesque. But you walk right past the house that was used in the Netflix series, Sex Education.

“It’s the red house, so all of that was filmed in and along the Wye Valley. There are a lot of hidden gems around the Forest of Dean. They’ve done alot of movies and TV work around the forest.”

Another highlight in the Forest of Dean’s otherworldly scenes is the beautiful Puzzlewood with 14 acres of twisted, moss-draped trees, ancient wooden bridges and snowdrops scattered across the rugged terrain. Alongside Gerry’s favourite place in the world, Puzzlewood is frequently hailed as one of the region’s most picturesque locations.

It even secured a place on Big 7 Travel’s ’50 Most Beautiful Places in the UK’ list for 2025 and again this year. This fantastical atmosphere has also attracted Hollywood attention, serving as a backdrop for productions such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Secret Garden, The Huntsman: Winter’s War, Doctor Who, Merlin, Netflix’s Our Planet and BBC’s Atlantis.

Elsewhere in the Forest of Dean, Gerry recommended King Arthur’s Cave and the nearby Little Doward Hill Fort, an Iron Age fort situated in the Wye Valley. But one lesser-known landmark he applauded is the Darkhill Ironworks.

“It’s an old industrial ruin, and it’s really atmospheric where nature has reclaimed around it”, Gerry shared. “You can do a little walk around the Ironworks, which is a nice nature walk, and you can see the ruins.”

To explore some of Gerry’s recommendations in the Forest of Dean, you can book a stay with Forest Holidays, which offers a collection of lodges, cabins and treehouses, some with outdoor hot tubs to soak under the towering trees. Meanwhile, the likes of Sykes Holiday Cottages and Holidaycottages.co.uk also offer a range of stays in the region.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com