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As autumn approaches, you might be looking for some cute little spots you can visit for a weekend getaway; places where bright orange trees surround thatched roofs and it feels like the bustling streets of London are on another planet. If that sounds ideal, Bibury in the Cotswolds is where you need to be.
This chocolate-box town was recently named the most gorgeous village in the world by Forbes, which called it a ‘watercolour dream’ with its ‘honey-slicked cottages’. It placed higher in Forbes’ list than several spellbinding places, including one Norwegian village where you can actually see the northern lights.
What’s more is that Bibury isn’t too far from London – in fact, the village could easily be done in a day (or weekend) trip from the capital. Here’s how to get there.
RECOMMENDED: Here are 6 pretty villages to visit in the Cotswolds instead of Bibury, chosen by Time Out editors.
How to get from London to Bibury, the world’s most beautiful town
Car
The drive from London to Bibury can be under two hours if traffic is on your side. The fastest route is through the M40, taking exit 8 to join the A40, then basically following that for 45 minutes until you get to Bibury’s local turnoff.
Alternatively, follow the M4 to Swindon until exit 15, then stay on the A419 for about half an hour until you see signs for the town. Either way, it’s a nice, straightforward journey.
Train
There is no train station in Bibury, being the tiny village that it is. Instead, you’ll take the train to Kemble, where you’ll hop off and get a taxi – around 25 minutes – into Bibury.
The train, which goes directly from London Paddington to Kemble, is operated by Great Western Railway, and takes just over an hour. If you book in advance, you will be able to find off-peak tickets for as little as £26 one way without a railcard.
Coach
Bibury has a bit of a complicated relationship with coaches, with some locals wanting to ban them from coming into the village centre. Nevertheless, Pulhams Coaches still operates a service into Bibury.
The fastest coach journey from the capital takes closer to three and a half hours, including one changeover. Get on the National Express service 444 to Gloucester from London Victoria, then get out at Beeches car park Cirencester. Then, walk to the nearby forum and board Pulham's 855 to Bibury.
For somewhere quieter, check out the best villages in Britain ‘untouched by mass tourism’.
Plus: see which British region was named the best ‘slow travel’ destination in the world.
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