Often described as 'quintessentially English', the charming village of Castle Combe is nestled in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has been crowned the 'prettiest village in England'. Not only is it known for its race circuit, but Castle Combe, located in the south westerly county of Wiltshire, has also served as a filming location for big-screen hits like War Horse and Stardust, as well as an episode of the popular TV series Downton Abbey. The village is also a showcase for traditional and historic architecture, all crafted from Cotswold stone.
Remarkably, no new homes have been built here for centuries adding to its beauty. However, it's a unique and quirky B&B that's drawing in visitors from Japan, reports Gloucestershire Live . READ MORE: Top five British beaches to visit on the bank holiday weekend according to Tripadvisor Among its key features are a 13th-century church and a 14th-century manor that has been converted into a hotel.
The village is the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of city life, offering peaceful country walks and a journey back in time, which explains why it attracts so many visitors. But it's Fosse Farmhouse and its owner, Caron Cooper, 60, who has lived there for over three decades, who are offering the areas most unique attraction for tourists. Previously featured in the Kinmoza anime series, the B&B has become so famous that Caron even attended a red-carpet premiere in Japan and hosted members of the Japanese Royal family .
This all started when Caron met a Japanese couple, Shozo and Yasuko Mitani, at a market stall in 1989. The couple revealed to Caron their plans to open a British-themed B&B in Japan, prompting her to invite them over to her farmhouse. Their stay was so delightful that they modelled their own B&B after Caron's.
This led to an influx of Japanese guests at Fosse Farmhouse, culminating in Caron being invited to the Imperial Palace in Tokyo to serve tea and scones to the Japanese Royal family. She even had the honour of hosting them for three nights in 1994. The renowned B&B is situated just outside the village, attracting visitors from across the globe.
Best explored on foot, visitors often discover honesty stalls on residents' doorsteps, offering slices of cake as they walk from the hotel to the village centre. While the original castle no longer stands, there is still plenty to explore. This includes visits to a 14th-century Market Cross, once the site of the weekly market, the 13th-century St Andrew's Church with a medieval faceless clock - one of the oldest working clocks in the country, and the 14th Century Castle Combe Manor, now transformed into a luxury hotel.
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