Even if you’ve never visited, you might recognise this charming Cotswold village. It’s a favourite among filmmakers, with its honey-hued 17th-century cottages serving as the backdrop for films like Stardust, starring Ian McKellen and Michelle Pfeiffer, and Bridget Jones’ Diary. Artist William Morris dubbed Bibury ‘the most beautiful village in England’, and it’s not hard to see why. Nestled along the banks of the River Coln, this Cotswold village is the epitome of English charm. A stroll around will make you feel as though you’ve stepped into a fairy tale, with its winding lanes, picturesque riverbanks, quaint gardens brimming with flowers, ivy-draped cottages, and stone bridges, reports Birmingham Live . Unsurprisingly, it’s considered one of the UK’s most ‘Instagrammable’ villages, with intriguing names like Awkward Hill, Pudding Hill Farm, Sundial Cottage, and Squirrel’s Leap. Plus, it’s only about an hour-and-a-half drive down the M5 from Birmingham . Your first stop should be the Weavers Cottages on Arlington Row on Awkward Hill. These cottages are thought to date back to around 1380 when they were initially a monastic wool store supplying cloth for the nearby Arlington Mill. They were transformed into weavers’ cottages in the 17th century. The quaint stone cottages with sharply inclined roofs are currently occupied by National Trust tenants, and there’s no public access to the cottages or gardens. However, one of them is available for holiday rental. It’s rumoured that car manufacturer Henry Ford once attempted to purchase the Arlington Row houses to transport them back to Michigan for inclusion in Greenfield Village. Now a private dwelling, Arlington Mill was formerly home to the museum of Arlington Mill, which housed a collection of period attire, documents, and functioning machinery depicting milling and Victorian lifestyle. The fabric produced at the Arlington Row of weavers’ cottages was sent to Arlington Mill for fulling, creating robust felted material. Bibury also boasts England’s oldest operational trout farms. Spanning nearly 15 acres, Bibury Trout Farm has been around since 1902. Visitors can roam the grounds, spot wildlife, catch fish, rent a barbecue, and enjoy a game of crazy golf. Entry fees are applicable. While visiting, don’t miss out on tasting the renowned Bibury Trout in the cafe, along with a variety of locally sourced dishes, homemade cakes, and artisan coffee. Additionally, there’s a deli and gift shop selling William Morris design china and textiles, English soaps, and locally made lavender products. Overlooking the village square and the river, The Church of St Mary the Virgin is believed to have been established in the 11th century, or perhaps even earlier. The church boasts a Saxon gravestone embedded into its exterior, a Norman doorway, and some splendid medieval windows, along with a 1920s-designed stained glass window that featured on the 1992 Royal Mail Christmas stamp. The River Coln meanders through Bibury, nestled between the main village street and a marshy water meadow known as Rack Isle. This area earned its name from the historical practice of hanging wool out to dry on racks after washing it in Arlington Row. It’s an idyllic spot for a picnic when the weather is favourable. The Catherine Wheel is a family-run pub where you can savour homemade meals made from locally-sourced ingredients. Relax by cosy fires in the winter and enjoy a charming beer garden in the summer. The ivy-clad Swan hotel is situated on the banks of the River Coln and offers afternoon tea alongside traditional meals. With a large open log fire, comfy armchairs to sink into, antler chandeliers and a terrace providing a delightful retreat on a sunny day, it’s a must-visit. You have the option to dine in The Swan Bar or Brasserie, and overnight stays are also available. Baz and Fred have been crafting pizzas since 2012 using a rotating wood-fired oven and selling them at weddings and events. Make a pit stop at their cafe, The Twig in Arlington, for a coffee and a treat while visiting Bibury. As previously mentioned, the Bibury Trout Farm Cafe is also worth checking out. There’s an abundance of outdoor seating, offering a menu brimming with trout dishes, toasties, salads, homemade cakes and ice creams. Also, keep an eye out for the Cotswold Creperie and Coln Community Stores, which boasts a bakery and cafe. Bibury is situated near Cirencester in Gloucestershire. It’s approximately 83 miles down the M5 from Birmingham, exiting at junction 11A. Enter your postcode to uncover fantastic family days out in your area:. Bibury can become quite crowded as it’s a popular destination for tourists, particularly on a sunny weekend afternoon. You’ll occasionally spot tour buses bringing people in to see the attractions. Hence, if possible, it’s probably best to visit on a weekday or in the morning. Bibury is roughly nine miles from the market town of Burford and the charming town of Bourton-on-the-Water is 12 miles away. It takes about 35 minutes to drive into Cheltenham, where there’s a plethora of excellent shops, bars and cafes to discover.