Experience Chocolate box villages, gentle streams, and plenty of history when you will visit the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that is the Cotswolds.
Bibury, a short drive from Cirencester, was once described by William Morris as 'the most beautiful village in England'. This picture perfect corner of the Cotswolds, set in a conservation area among wooded hills, remains a prime candidate for this title today.
The village of Bibury is clustered around the Church of St Mary, a Saxon church that dates back to the 8th century. Norman and Gothic additions, including 13th century stained glass, make it well worth a visit although many of the original Saxon artefacts have been removed to the British Museum and replicas put in their place.
Bourton on the Water is a classic Cotswold beauty spot. The River Windrush flows through the centre of this lovely village. The Windrush at this point is a peaceful waterway, scarcely more than a shallow brook flowing at a gentle pace. It is spanned by a series of very low stone pedestrian bridges.
Bourton-on-the-Water is known for its picturesque High Street and the River Windrush that runs through it crossed by five low, arched stone bridges. The village is known as the "Venice of the Cotswolds".