11 Must Things To Do In Bibury England That Make A Visit Worth It (+ map)

With so many ridiculously cute fairytale villages in the Cotswolds, it’s easy to contemplate whether or not it’s worth checking Bibury England off the bucket list. After all, if you’ve seen one Cotswold village, haven’t you seen them all? Absolutely not! Here’s why Bibury England is worth visiting and 11 must things to do in as little as 2 hours.

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Why Bibury England Is Famous

Whether you live in the UK or not, it’s quite possible you’ve visited Bibury England before. From the big screen to your travel companion, here are a few fun facts that make this super cute village famous and different from the others:

Arlington Row Bibury is a street lined with cute side-by-side 1380 cottages that can be seen on the inside cover of UK passports. This former mill village is that iconic for the country.
The converted 17th-century stone cottages with perfectly placed flowers and greenery make Bibury the most beautiful and most photographed of all the Cotswold villages.
Site location for major film productions, such as Bridget Jones Diary and Stardust.
Home to England’s oldest working trout farm (1902), making Bibury a bonus village to visit with kids.
Bibury is considered a spiritual place by the Japanese because it was a highlight of Emperor Hirohito’s Europe tour in 1921. This is why many Japanese tour groups can be seen here.
Henry Ford had the nerve to try to buy Arlington Row so that he could dismantle and rebuild it on his Michigan estate!

Thankfully, much of Bibury’s rich history is well protected and preserved. The National Trust owns Arlington Row and is entirely private except for number 9, which you can rent for an overnight stay!

Even with Bibury’s rich resume, it may not be convincing enough to visit if you’re on short time.

11 Things To Do In Bibury England

As an American expat in England, prioritizing where to go and what to see when expat time is almost up may push Bibury lower on the list. But, Bibury is one of those special places you visit and then leave with an experience you can’t possibly forget. In walking order, here are 11 more reasons and things to do in Bibury England that make it so impressionable.

1 – Arlington Row

The picturesque row of converted weavers’ cottages converted in the 17th century speak for themselves. It’s the most popular attraction in Bibury so get there early for stranger-less photos.

Cottage 4 on Arlington Row

2- Awkward Hill

Rarely mentioned since Arlington Row typically steals the spotlight, Awkward Hill is the little bend at the top of Arlington Row. This is where you’ll find the cutest little Number 9 cottage you can actually book for your very own Bibury Cotswold holiday.

Cottage at the top of Awkward Hill

3 – Cotswolds Elbow Public Footpath

There is a 6.5-mile circular walk in Gloucestershire Cotswolds that you can join just beyond Awkward Hill. The loop takes you along Bibury’s River Coln through to another pretty village, Coln Saint Aldwyns.

If you don’t have the time or stamina for a moderate countryside walk, that’s ok. You can turn back around to carry on Bibury sightseeing along the backside of River Coln.

Elbow Footpath entry past Awkward Hill

4 – The Catherine Wheel

The Catherine Wheel is the only pub in Bibury and also serves as a B&B. The pub is two 15th century buildings joined in the main bar area. The Catherine Wheel is known for its inn but may have originally served as a location for wool traders.

Only pub & B&B in Bibury

5 – Arlington Baptist Church

Before Arlington Baptist Church was originally built in 1747, Baptists met in each other’s private homes and around the Green. Evidence and the plaque that can be seen on the Arlington Baptist Church exterior wall indicate it was rebuilt in 1833 and can seat up to 240 attendees.

This community church remains active and certainly in the most picturesque Cotswolds village for a wedding or baptism service.

Arlington Baptist Church

6 – The Bakehouse & Pancake House

As an American living in England, finding old bakeries that are now someone’s ridiculously cute home never gets old. It’s these seemingly normal British things that you can’t find in the USA that make a visit to Bibury England worth it. In fact, it’s one of the reasons why I love the UK.

The Bakehouse Cottage is among the cutest group of cottages near Baptist Church

7 – Bibury Fish Trout Farm

Bibury has the oldest working trout farm in the Cotswolds. You can fish and even book your own BBQ pitch for your day’s catch.

But if fish isn’t your preferred picnic choice, the Bibury Trout Farm Deli has a cute outdoor patio with many sandwich and soup options for anyone. This is where you can also pick up a bottle of local Poulton Hill wine or gin, fresh fish from the fishmonger, and quaint Bibury locally made gifts.

Bibury Trout Farm Cafe offers a covered patio & local Bibury gifts

8 – Rack Isle

Go for a walk along Rack Isle. This is the paved walkway that runs alongside the River Coln directly across the cottages on Arlington Row. This meadow earned its name from the racks used to dry the wool. The weavers would hang outside to dry on racks, hence Rack Isle.

This little meadow is now home to an abundance of wildlife. In fact, Bibury is the only place in the UK where I witnessed a wild grass snake!

The Rack Isle, National Trust

9 – The Swan Hotel

Address: Bibury, Gloucestershire, GL7 5NW

Situated on the corner of where 2 main roads meet in the heart of Bibury, The Swan Hotel stands tall with its sprawling ivy and postcard presence over the nearby River Coln. Pop into the bar or garden for views of this 17th-century inn dressed in blue plaids and statement prints.

The Swan Hotel near River Coln

10 – The William Morris Tea Room, B&B & Shop

If you arrive for your day trip to Bibury from the east, the street lined with little shops on the right opposite the river is where you’ll find the quaint William Morris Tea Room. If there’s no time for tea, pop into the neighboring Bibury Post Office to shop for more than a stamp.

11 – St Mary’s Church

Nestled in the old village parts of Bibury near the Primary School is St Mary’s Church. This is about a 5-minute walk from The Swan Hotel. You can do a circular walk via Cemetery Ln to Church Rd to see Village Hall and interesting cottages along the way.

St Marys Church, Bibury England

A few notable things to look for at St Mary’s Church include the Norman doorway arches, a Saxon gravestone on the exterior wall not far from the door, 13th-century stained glass, font, and the not-to-be-missed beautiful trees lining the walkway to the north door.

Where To Picnic In Bibury

The best location for a picnic in Bibury is the Bibury Trout Farm. Aside from the public footpaths, there are limited areas along the River Coln for a scenic picnic lunch. Otherwise, The Swan Hotel, The William Morris Tea Room, and The Catherine Wheel are great spots for lunch.

Short Walking Map of Bibury England

For a 2-hour visit, here’s a short walking map of the 11 things to do in Bibury listed in this post.

Bibury Parking & Toilets – This is Important!

Bibury Parking

Although parking is free, there are limited parking spaces in Bibury. Best advice is to arrive early, be patient, and park as soon as you see a spot become available. Your best bet for finding a parking spot in Bibury is along the River Coln.

Bibury Toilets

Address: Bibury, The Street GL7 5NP

The only public toilet facility in Bibury requires 20p. Be sure to bring enough money for the whole family.

Things To Do Near Bibury

If Bibury alone isn’t enough to justify the drive from London or elsewhere in the UK, Bibury is nestled between two other not-so-far-away Cotswold villages.

Burford

Another pretty Cotswold village to add to your Bibury trip is the town of Burford. This Cotswold town is an easy stop because you drive straight through it if traveling via the A40 from London. Burford is considered ‘the gateway to the Cotswolds’, as proven by the incredibly picturesque high street, The Hill, and River Windrush that anchors it.

Picturesque street in Burford

Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water is 20 minutes north of Bibury via the A429. Take the kids through the Dragonfly Maze for a different Cotswold experience, before popping into St Lawrence’s Church.

For a long weekend exploring more things to do near Bibury, read An Easy Family Getaway for Londoners: Bath, Cotswolds and Blenheim Palace.

Oxford

Although Oxford isn’t in the Cotswolds, it’s conveniently located off the A40 while driving to Bibury from London. For things to do in Oxford to add to a Bibury trip, read this 1-day Oxford itinerary.

Final Tips For Things To Do In Bibury & Why

You don’t need much time in Bibury to make your visit special. It’s simply one of those British villages that must be seen in order to understand it. Even if seeing only the outside is an option, this picture-perfect watercolor village is more than enough to appreciate why a drive to Bibury is worth it.

Bibury England art on Etsy

As an expat in England running out of time, we nearly crossed a Bibury day trip off the bucket list. However, one drizzly Sunday morning decision to hop in the car for a day trip to Bibury was all we needed to appreciate why it’s titled the “most beautiful village in England”.

Have you been to Bibury? Add what you loved the most in the comments! x

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