Inside the beautiful UK villages so pretty people travel from Japan to visit

18 August 2023 , 10:33

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Stunning sight of Arlington Row in Bilbury (Image: Getty Images)

There is a village in the UK that is so picturesque that people fly thousands of miles from home to visit it.

We Brits are often down on ourselves - be it our weather, our food, or our footballing record, a self-deprecating gag is never far from our lips. While many of us yearn for the sun and sand of our European neighbours, large swathes of our own country go completely unappreciated. Two such spots are the villages of Staithes and Bibury - which attract visitors from all over the world.

The villages are nearly 250 miles apart with the the former sitting in the Gloucestershire region of the Cotswolds and the latter nestled on the North Yorkshire coast, MyLondon reports. But what they have in common is they are so pretty that both have been named in Faraway Furniture's 'most Instagrammable' places in the world list.

Bibury is 14th, and Staithes is three places below. The number one spot is taken by Cinque Terre, a string of villages on the Italian riviera, that takes the top spot.

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Bibury is in Gloucestershire (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Bibury, Gloucestershire

Perhaps the most stunning sight to see in Bibury is Arlington Row. This upward-sloping jumble of weavers' cottages built from local stone sits just back from the trickling river Coln.

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With ivy and climbing plants scattered across the cottages' weathered exteriors, the timeless scene's beauty needs to be viewed up close to be fully appreciated.

The River Coln flows all the way through the village, a neatly finished stone bridge with three arches offering another gorgeous photo opportunity as it stretches across the water.

Despite the village being so small there are several places to eat with the Catherine Wheel pub serving up hearty meals along with the Swan Hotel. You can also visit Bibury Trout Farm which has its own cafe stocking some delightful locally sourced food.

Bibury is so breathtaking that it even draws tourists all the way from Japan.

Inside the beautiful UK villages so pretty people travel from Japan to visit

Staithes is a seaside village in the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire (Getty Images)

Staithes, North Yorkshire

Nestled in the far top right corner of the North Yorkshire Moors, Staithes was historically one of the largest fishing ports in the North East of England. In the current day, however, it is famed for being the home of one of the best Sunday roasts in the region - which can be found at The Captain Cook Inn. Holidaymakers can even stay in a converted 1920s police station known as the Peeler’s rest cottage.

For dog walkers and avid hikers, the cliffs nearby present are perfect for some tranquil sea views, where you will be accompanied by wildlife including the countless wild birds that are native to the region. The Cleveland Way is a cliff trail that passes through Staithes and heads towards Skinningrove which has the remnants of the once famous alum mines.

There are also a number of museums and galleries to visit, as well as a nearby beach which is perfect for children to explore the rock pools. Every September, the village holds its art festival where local galleries, cottages and public buildings showcase their work in pop-up galleries.

Staithes has a range of highly rated restaurants, tea rooms and pubs. Dotty's Vintage Tearoom comes highly recommended on Tripadvisor and has five stars after almost 1,000 reviews with one commentator branding their scones "the best I've ever had."