The Cotswolds village of Kingham has been named the most beautiful in the region, surpassing traditional favourites such as Castle Combe, Broadway, and Bibury. Journalists Alice Reynolds and Amelia Neath, writing in The Independent, praised Kingham for its thatched cottages, village green, and Norman parish church, describing it as a 'serene retreat'.
Despite its small size, Kingham boasts two highly rated pubs: The Kingham Plough and The Wild Rabbit, the latter having been transformed from an 18th-century inn into a hotel and restaurant. The village also offers useful amenities, including an 'irresistible' village store.
Lifestyle publication Muddy Stilettos previously highlighted Kingham, noting its pubs, shop, good schools, and a train station with a direct line to London. The village is also known for attracting A-listers to the annual Big Feastival, hosted by Blur's Alex James.
In second place was Snowshill, praised for its idyllic and serene atmosphere, with historical connections to King Henry VIII and literary figures J.B. Priestley and Virginia Woolf. Broadway came third, known as the 'Jewel of the Cotswolds', offering gift shops, galleries, museums, and restaurants, including one run by chef James Martin.
