Beautiful village seeing explosion of home searches despite houses costing £510,000

A lovely little-known village in the Cotswolds is exploding in popularity after it was recenly named as the most beautiful in the whole world. Bibury, with its quaint houses and natural charm, topped Forbes' list of the most stunning villages worldwide, and it's not difficult to see why.

It turns out that many people are keen to see what this village has to offer in terms of actually living there. According to new data from Rightmove, searches for homes for sale in Bibury surged by a whopping 273% last week compared to the previous week. However, homes here are far from cheap, with the average house costing more than half a million pounds.

Homes in Bibury's postcode district, GL7, have an average asking price of £510,899 - almost £150,000 more than the national average asking price of £370,247. So, while it's officially the most beautiful village in the world, living here definitely comes at a price.

Famous for its stone houses, winding streets and quintessential British atmosphere, Bibury left the Forbes judges hugely impressed. But don't just take their word for it - the poet and textile designer William Morris even once hailed it as the 'most beautiful village in England'.

One of Bibury's most famous spots is Arlington Row, a selection of historical cottages that are lined up along the river, often decorated with colourful flowers and lush green plants.

The 'quaint and beautiful' street has a stellar rating of 4.4 stars on Tripadvisor, with one happy visitor penning: "The quaint cottages and cobblestone paths were enchanting. We spent hours wandering and snapping photos, soaking in the charm. While it's a bit touristy, the scenery is worth it. Grab a coffee nearby and enjoy the peaceful vibe as you take it all in!"

Bibury is also home to a trout farm which you can tour, plenty of lovely walking trails, and a huge array of traditional pubs including The Catherine Wheel, ELEVEN and The Twig, all offering up delicious food and drinks to enjoy after your adventures.

Bibury's popularity isn't just a new trend. This village, as well as the Cotswolds in general, have long been popular with buyers. The latest snapshot of Rightmove's data shows the five most in-demand Cotswold hotspots overall are Cirencester, Moreton-in-Marsh, Tetbury, South Cerney, and Stow-on-the-Wold.

Last year, Rightmove recorded a 63% increase in searches for homes for sale in Burford after Jeremy Clarkson opened 'The Farmer's Dog' pub nearby.

Steve Pimblett, Chief Data Officer at Rightmove, said: "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 crowned most beautiful village in the world must be like, we've seen visitors flock to check out what's for sale in the area."