Just like the photo below, these cottages are really low and people actually still live in them (We saw a couple working in the backyard). Arlington Row and Cotswolds are like fairytales, but how does one live in such low ceiling homes??
Arlington Row is about an hour drive from Bristol. Cotswold is right next door, 15-minute drive. Built in the 14th century, Arlington Row was a wool store, but is now owned by the National Trust and it's named the most beautiful village in England.
So what makes these tiny cottages famous? Because of its historical charms and it has appeared in many films: Downton Abbey, Stardust, Bridget Jone's Diary, etc. People in Bibury is a really quiet village. Most travelers drive there just to walk around taking a few photos. There is a Bibury Trout Farm nearby that offers a beautiful landscape and "probably the world's best ice cream" - according to the sign out front.
Parking was easy. Just park alongside the river, if not, on main street. Just not in front of the hotel. Those are for guests.
After Arlington Row, we drove to Cotswolds AONB. What in the world is AONB? Honestly, I did not know till later. So it means Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. I guess that was why my sister added Cotswolds to the itinerary.
Cotswolds is famous for its honey coloured stones that built the town's stores and houses all those years ago. It really was cute. Kinda regret that we did not stay there. They did have some really cute hotels.
And of course, just like Arlington Row, the ceilings.... in Cotswolds stores were really low. We walked around for a little bit and had lunch at a local pub for a pint and some sausages. I don't remember the name of it, though it was probably my first pub experience in England.
I would visit these two places again and perhaps stay for a night to experience the low ceiling and walk the forest where Star Wars was shot.
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