The village was at the centre of Harry Styles and Taylor Swift’s whirlwind romance
Great Budworth in Cheshire, known as one of Cheshire’s prettiest village with period cottages and cobbled walkways(Image: MEN)
A picturesque village near Merseyside is known for its stunning countryside scenery and a handful of welcoming pubs that draw in visitors. Despite having a population of just over 300 residents, Cheshire’s Great Budworth has attracted some of the world’s most famous faces.
Just an hour’s drive from Liverpool, the village has long been regarded as one of the “most beautiful” in the county, thanks to its cobblestone pathways, timber-framed cottages and gardens brimming with vibrant flowers
Its charming streets have also become recognisable to television audiences, serving as filming locations for both nature programmes and science fiction dramas. Scenes depicting 19th-century Hastings in the BBC’s War of the Worlds were shot there, while the broadcaster’s Our Zoo featured camels making their way along the village’s High Street.
Music fans may recognise the village from Harry Styles and Taylor Swift’s whirlwind 2012 romance. The pair were snapped enjoying each other’s company in The George & Dragon Hotel – a country pub serving up traditional pub grub – during the height of their relationship.
Great Budworth in Cheshire(Image: MEN)
Harry is reportedly a devoted admirer of the Great Budworth Ice Cream Farm, and according to locals “pops by for a cone whenever he’s in the area”. The ice cream farm is situated just on the outskirts of the village on Heath Lane, and was originally established as a secondary venture for the dairy farming Wilkinson family 33 years ago.
The farm boasts a mini-golf track, soft play areas, a gemstone cove for treasure hunters, gaming arcade, and as the name would suggest, as much ice cream you can handle.
Despite its showbiz draw, the village still boasts buildings with a rich history for locals and tourists to enjoy. The village church, St Mary and All Saints, is a stunning sandstone structure with a remarkable tower, once overseen by Reverend John Bracegirdle, who baptised William Shakespeare’s children.
Great Budworth in Cheshire, known as one of Cheshire’s prettiest villages with period cottages and cobbled walkways.(Image: MEN)
The village’s narrow lanes are also dotted with rhymes penned by the landlord Warburton, including one above the door of The George & Dragon Hotel, which reads: “As St. George in arm’d array did the fiery dragon slay, /So might thou, with might no less, slay the dragon drunkenness.”
Cobbled pathways remain throughout much of the village, complemented by attractive flower displays and neatly trimmed topiary. Head along School Lane and you’ll discover a magnificent avenue of lime trees forming an archway, providing spectacular vistas across the Cheshire plains towards the Northwich salt works and further afield.
Great Budworth in Cheshire(Image: MEN)
A well-loved three-mile ramble across the countryside to the historic Arley Hall estate is also available. Two pump houses that once provided the village’s water supply can be found near the Arley Hall estate, with the lower one associated with a well-known local tale. Legend has it that couples who drink from the water will receive ‘blessings in never-ending love’.
As along as it’s not raining, you’ll probably see cyclists on Great Budworth’s beautiful countryside trails. The village’s perimeter is decorated with black metal bridges, river views and woodland paths, with the 6.8 mile circuit primarily paved and manageable within an hour.
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