Beautiful Villages in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
See the Beautiful English Villages Index
The Swan, Bibury
Bibury, Gloucestershire
Situated on the pretty River Coln, Bibury was once described by the Pre-Raphaelite artist William Morris as “the most beautiful village in England”. Of course, such things are in the eye of the beholder, but few could possibly argue with its bucolic charm nor deny that its famous ‘Arlington Row’ of cottages are anything other than delightful. Map
Places to stay: Perhaps the most notable place to stay to be found in the village is The Swan - a grand old coaching inn right at the heart of the community. Information for both it and Bibury self-catering options can be found at Booking.com
Situated on the pretty River Coln, Bibury was once described by the Pre-Raphaelite artist William Morris as “the most beautiful village in England”. Of course, such things are in the eye of the beholder, but few could possibly argue with its bucolic charm nor deny that its famous ‘Arlington Row’ of cottages are anything other than delightful. Map
Places to stay: Perhaps the most notable place to stay to be found in the village is The Swan - a grand old coaching inn right at the heart of the community. Information for both it and Bibury self-catering options can be found at Booking.com
Lower Slaughter Manor
Lower Slaughter, Gloucestershire
Together with its neighbour, Upper Slaughter, this small Cotswold village in many ways encapsulates the reason why so many are lured to the area in search of traditional England. A mix of the vernacular and the grand, the buildings are almost all constructed of the local golden stone and could only fail to impress the most obstinate of ultra-modernists. Also nearby is the world-famous village of Bourton in the Water which is considerably larger and, thus, not eligible for inclusion here. Map
Places to stay: There’s no shortage of exquisite country houses in the Cotswolds and, like Lower Slaughter Manor, several have been transformed into hotels. In addition, Upper Slaughter is where one finds the Lords of the Manor Hotel – a grand former rectory dating from the 17th century. All of these and other accommodation options are listed at the village’s entry at Booking.com
Together with its neighbour, Upper Slaughter, this small Cotswold village in many ways encapsulates the reason why so many are lured to the area in search of traditional England. A mix of the vernacular and the grand, the buildings are almost all constructed of the local golden stone and could only fail to impress the most obstinate of ultra-modernists. Also nearby is the world-famous village of Bourton in the Water which is considerably larger and, thus, not eligible for inclusion here. Map
Places to stay: There’s no shortage of exquisite country houses in the Cotswolds and, like Lower Slaughter Manor, several have been transformed into hotels. In addition, Upper Slaughter is where one finds the Lords of the Manor Hotel – a grand former rectory dating from the 17th century. All of these and other accommodation options are listed at the village’s entry at Booking.com
Miserden, Gloucestershire
Only a few miles to the north east of Stroud, much of the village is owned by the Miserden Estate (including a splendid 17th century manor). Map
Places to stay: Unfortunately, we are unaware of any accommodation within Miserden or the immediate outlying areas. However, anyone wishing to explore the village and the other delightful hamlets nearby might be interested in Painswick where one finds The Falcon Inn, and St. Michael’s Bistro. Details for these and others can be found at Painswick’s entry at Booking.com
Only a few miles to the north east of Stroud, much of the village is owned by the Miserden Estate (including a splendid 17th century manor). Map
Places to stay: Unfortunately, we are unaware of any accommodation within Miserden or the immediate outlying areas. However, anyone wishing to explore the village and the other delightful hamlets nearby might be interested in Painswick where one finds The Falcon Inn, and St. Michael’s Bistro. Details for these and others can be found at Painswick’s entry at Booking.com
Hill View Cottage, Snowshill
Snowshill, Gloucestershire
During the summer months the overwhelming majority of visitors to this delightful Cotswold settlement head for Snowshill Manor and its remarkable collection of artefacts built up by Charles Paget Wade (1883-1956). However, the village’s charms have not gone unnoticed by filmmakers, with some scenes from the Bridget Jones films starring Rene Zellweger having been shot here. Map
Places to stay: Those seeking hotel or inn accommodation are best served by the larger (and more famous) village of Broadway a short distance down the hill and across the border into Worcestershire. Here the heritage enthusiast and period property connoisseur will find plenty of options. These include Mill Hay Country House which provides luxury bed & breakfast accommodation on Snowshill Road, and The Dormy House Hotel near Broadway Golf Club (both can be found at Broadway’s page at Booking.com).
Also see our specific pages for the world famous Lygon Arms (whose connections to the English Civil War are well documented), and the historic gem that is Abbott’s Grange. However, there are plenty of self-catering options in the village (a number being operated by the National Trust).
During the summer months the overwhelming majority of visitors to this delightful Cotswold settlement head for Snowshill Manor and its remarkable collection of artefacts built up by Charles Paget Wade (1883-1956). However, the village’s charms have not gone unnoticed by filmmakers, with some scenes from the Bridget Jones films starring Rene Zellweger having been shot here. Map
Places to stay: Those seeking hotel or inn accommodation are best served by the larger (and more famous) village of Broadway a short distance down the hill and across the border into Worcestershire. Here the heritage enthusiast and period property connoisseur will find plenty of options. These include Mill Hay Country House which provides luxury bed & breakfast accommodation on Snowshill Road, and The Dormy House Hotel near Broadway Golf Club (both can be found at Broadway’s page at Booking.com).
Also see our specific pages for the world famous Lygon Arms (whose connections to the English Civil War are well documented), and the historic gem that is Abbott’s Grange. However, there are plenty of self-catering options in the village (a number being operated by the National Trust).
Stanton village
Stanton, Gloucestershire
If Hollywood set designers were given carte blanche to create a vision of a medieval English village it would almost certainly look rather like Stanton, near Broadway. Indeed, only the most extreme modernist could fail to be impressed by its aesthetics. Together with Stanway two miles away, its visual charm is particularly noteworthy in an area already awash with architectural gems. In fact, to underline the deep history of the area one can see numerous examples of early medieval ridge and furrow field systems in the surrounding countryside. Map
Places to stay: As with Snowshill, those seeking hotel accommodation are best served by Broadway. Also nearby is the historic little town of Winchcombe where there are a number of bed & breakfasts including Wesley House (see our specific entry for Wesley House). Also worthy of note is the castle’s former hunting lodge, now called Westward at Sudeley Lodge, which was built in 1730. Also worthy of note is The Mount inn at Stanton which serves good food.
If Hollywood set designers were given carte blanche to create a vision of a medieval English village it would almost certainly look rather like Stanton, near Broadway. Indeed, only the most extreme modernist could fail to be impressed by its aesthetics. Together with Stanway two miles away, its visual charm is particularly noteworthy in an area already awash with architectural gems. In fact, to underline the deep history of the area one can see numerous examples of early medieval ridge and furrow field systems in the surrounding countryside. Map
Places to stay: As with Snowshill, those seeking hotel accommodation are best served by Broadway. Also nearby is the historic little town of Winchcombe where there are a number of bed & breakfasts including Wesley House (see our specific entry for Wesley House). Also worthy of note is the castle’s former hunting lodge, now called Westward at Sudeley Lodge, which was built in 1730. Also worthy of note is The Mount inn at Stanton which serves good food.
Avebury, Wiltshire
Although an attractive village in its own right, the overwhelming majority of those who visit are, of course, drawn by its famous stone circle. However, there are many other beautiful structures beside the extraordinary prehistoric monument, with the Church of St. James featuring a rare example of a Rood-Loft from the medieval period. Map
Places to stay: Avebury possess several period property accommodation options including The Red Lion, Manor Farm, and The New Inn (details on all at TripAdvisor). Also worth mentioning is the White Horse at nearby Compton Bassett. Dating from the early 1700’s, it offers highly-rated B&B accommodation which is within easy reach of both Marlborough and Bath.
Although an attractive village in its own right, the overwhelming majority of those who visit are, of course, drawn by its famous stone circle. However, there are many other beautiful structures beside the extraordinary prehistoric monument, with the Church of St. James featuring a rare example of a Rood-Loft from the medieval period. Map
Places to stay: Avebury possess several period property accommodation options including The Red Lion, Manor Farm, and The New Inn (details on all at TripAdvisor). Also worth mentioning is the White Horse at nearby Compton Bassett. Dating from the early 1700’s, it offers highly-rated B&B accommodation which is within easy reach of both Marlborough and Bath.
Biddestone, Wiltshire
Situated close to Chippenham, Biddestone is a settlement of Saxon origins, but whose church is Norman. It was recently the recipient of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England’s best-kept medium-sized village in Wiltshire award. Map
Places to stay: For those seeking hotel or inn accommodation, the closest option is the White Hart at Ford – a genuine 16th century coaching inn. Alternatively, the Chippenham area boasts several historic hotels including the prestigious Lucknam Park country house.
Situated close to Chippenham, Biddestone is a settlement of Saxon origins, but whose church is Norman. It was recently the recipient of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England’s best-kept medium-sized village in Wiltshire award. Map
Places to stay: For those seeking hotel or inn accommodation, the closest option is the White Hart at Ford – a genuine 16th century coaching inn. Alternatively, the Chippenham area boasts several historic hotels including the prestigious Lucknam Park country house.
The Castle Inn, Castle Combe
Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Is this England’s most beautiful village? Although there are numerous others that could vie for the title, few who visit will fail to appreciate its aesthetic qualities (and especially in the evening when most of those who come to admire its rustic architecture by day have left). Situated on the southernmost fringes of the Cotswolds, Castle Combe is chock-full of picturesque cottages and other historic buildings. Often used as a film set, the village recently featured in part of Steven Spielberg’s epic War Horse. Map
Places to stay: Castle Combe boasts several notable old places to stay including The Manor House Hotel – a truly stunning building with a reputation for excellent hospitality (see our main entry for Manor House Hotel). The Castle Inn, meanwhile, has 12th century origins and offers 12 en suite rooms.
Is this England’s most beautiful village? Although there are numerous others that could vie for the title, few who visit will fail to appreciate its aesthetic qualities (and especially in the evening when most of those who come to admire its rustic architecture by day have left). Situated on the southernmost fringes of the Cotswolds, Castle Combe is chock-full of picturesque cottages and other historic buildings. Often used as a film set, the village recently featured in part of Steven Spielberg’s epic War Horse. Map
Places to stay: Castle Combe boasts several notable old places to stay including The Manor House Hotel – a truly stunning building with a reputation for excellent hospitality (see our main entry for Manor House Hotel). The Castle Inn, meanwhile, has 12th century origins and offers 12 en suite rooms.
King John's Hunting Lodge, Lacock
Lacock, Wiltshire
If you visit Lacock and are overcome by a sense of déjà vu, worry not. The truth is you will most likely already be very familiar with the place given the number of films and television series filmed largely or in part in this glorious Cotswold village.
These include the BBC series Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and The Other Boleyn Girl starring Scarlet Johannsen. Map
Places to stay: Dating from the Georgian period, The Red Lion offers bed & breakfast accommodation, while the exquisitely titled Sign of the Angel dates from the 15th century and oozes history from every beam. Older still, though, is King John’s Hunting Lodge which might well have been frequented by the monarch during the early 13th century. See our main entry for King John’s Hunting Lodge.
If you visit Lacock and are overcome by a sense of déjà vu, worry not. The truth is you will most likely already be very familiar with the place given the number of films and television series filmed largely or in part in this glorious Cotswold village.
These include the BBC series Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and The Other Boleyn Girl starring Scarlet Johannsen. Map
Places to stay: Dating from the Georgian period, The Red Lion offers bed & breakfast accommodation, while the exquisitely titled Sign of the Angel dates from the 15th century and oozes history from every beam. Older still, though, is King John’s Hunting Lodge which might well have been frequented by the monarch during the early 13th century. See our main entry for King John’s Hunting Lodge.
Monkton Farleigh, Wiltshire
This picturesque village near Bath is a designated conservation area and possesses more than its fair share of listed buildings. These include the Grade-II* Church of St. Peter and the Grade-I Monkton Farleigh Manor. Map
Places to stay: The King’s Arms is within Monkton Farleigh itself, while also of merit is the beautiful Clifton House a few miles to the south in Bradford–on-Avon. Indeed, this historic town offers several period hotels and inns, including The Swan (15th century).
This picturesque village near Bath is a designated conservation area and possesses more than its fair share of listed buildings. These include the Grade-II* Church of St. Peter and the Grade-I Monkton Farleigh Manor. Map
Places to stay: The King’s Arms is within Monkton Farleigh itself, while also of merit is the beautiful Clifton House a few miles to the south in Bradford–on-Avon. Indeed, this historic town offers several period hotels and inns, including The Swan (15th century).