A recent global ranking has shone a spotlight on one idyllic corner of the United Kingdom, naming it home to the most beautiful village in the world and sparking a significant surge in buyer interest for the region.
Cotswold’s village named most beautiful village in the world
The ranking of villages from across the world published in Forbes asked the team at Unforgettable Travel to compile their definitive list of the world’s most beautiful villages. The resulting article features 50 stunning locations, with Bibury, in the Cotswolds, taking the crown as ‘The Most Beautiful Village in the World’.
The Cotswolds is a picturesque region in south-western and south-central England, characterised by rolling hills, dry-stone walls and charming villages built from distinctive, golden-coloured oolitic limestone (known as Cotswold stone). With over 3,000 miles of public footpaths and bridleways, including the 102-mile Cotswold Way National Trail, the area is a haven for holidaymakers from the UK and further afield.
Bilbury’s newfound fame saw searches for the village spike by 273 per cent in the week following the announcement, according to researchers at Rightmove.
Properties within the GL7 postcode, which encompasses Bibury, already command a significant premium, with the average asking price for a property there standing at £510,899, nearly £150,000 above the current national average asking price (£370,247).
Further data from the Office for National Statistics reveals the average house price across the wider Cotswold district as £443,000 as of July 2025 – the highest average price across the South West, while average private monthly rents were £1,181 as of August 2025.
Steve Pimblett, Chief Data Officer at Rightmove, commented: “Our real-time data has captured the latest spike in interest for Bibury & the Cotswolds as its beautiful landscape is recognised on the global stage.
From serious buyers to those who are just curiously imagining what living in the most beautiful village in the world must be like, we’ve seen visitors flock to check out what’s for sale in the area.”
The Cotswolds’ global appeal
Bibury’s success is a reflection of the appeal of the wider Cotswolds property market. The region has long been a magnet for discerning investors, celebrities and high-net-worth individuals seeking quality of life and premium assets.
For example, last year, Rightmove recorded a 63 per cent increase in searches for properties for sale in Burford after Jeremy Clarkson opened ‘The Farmer’s Dog’ pub nearby. Other UK celebrities who have properties in the area are believed to include The Beckhams, Hugh Grant and Kate Moss. The region’s popularity also extends to the US, with celebrities Ellen and her wife, Portia de Rossi, renovating a property in the Cotswolds, while music icon Beyoncé and Jay-Z have reportedly bought a large estate there.
Rightmove’s data also highlights the region’s current most in-demand hotspots: Cirencester, Moreton-in-Marsh, Tetbury, South Cerney and Stow-on-the-Wold.
While Bibury secured the coveted top spot in Forbes’ list of The World’s 50 Most Beautiful Villages 2025, the ranking from Unforgettable Travel identified several outstanding global locations with Hallstatt in Austria, Reine in Norway, Giethoorn in the Netherlands, Gásadalur in the Faroe Islands, Oia in Greece, Bourtange in the Netherlands, Kotor in Montenegro, Shirakawa-go in Japan and Batad in the Philippines all featuring in the top 10.
