One of the most beautiful towns on Earth is just one hour from London

When you’re choosing a place to travel, you’re often deciding based on a number of factors. How good the local restaurants are, how buzzing the nightlife is, how many galleries and museums there are to explore, etc. But sometimes, a place is worth travelling to simply for its sheer beauty.

Luxury travel mag Conde Nast Traveller (CNT) agrees, and has put together a roundup of the 20 most beautiful towns in the world. The list includes a sunbathed coastal town in Italy, a flower-filled town in Japan and a magical snow-topped town in Greenland. It also includes a little town right here in the UK. 

CNT named the Cotswolds town of Burford one of the most beautiful on the planet. It said: ‘Known for its steep High Street lined by Tudor-style buildings, this southern English town is an amalgam of old and new in all senses. Visit historic Church of St John the Baptist, take a four-mile stroll through the Windrush Valley villages, or spend an afternoon exploring quaint shops—including England's oldest pharmacy.’

With medieval architecture, pretty stone cottages and lush surrounding woodland, Burford is often referred to as the ‘Cotswolds gateway’. You can reach it from London by train (via Charlbury) in as little as an hour and five minutes (though most trains take closer to 90 minutes).  

The town’s high street is particularly well-known for its collection of independent shops, artisanal boutiques and antique stores. Three French Hens is a lovely little craft shop full of bits that have been curated to ‘lift the spirits’, Elm of Burford has a range of fancy outdoor attire and Burford Farm Shop has all manner of outstanding produce from the local area. 

CNT recommends staying at Bull Burford, a Michelin key hotel housed in a refurbished Grade II-listed sixteenth century inn. But if you want some more space all to yourself, check into the ‘peaceful, charming and understatedly cute’ Jasmine Cottage, just six miles out of town. 

The most beautiful places in the world, according to Time Out.

Time Out’s guide to alternative places to visit in the Cotswolds.

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