📍 Bibury
Bibury Trout Farm
England's oldest trout farm in a Cotswold village, with trout feeding, seasonal catch-your-own fishing, a playground and crazy golf.
✦ We visited
The fish pellets trigger an immediate surge of trout at the surface, which absorbs even very small children completely. Time it around the Catch Your Own season if you can, and factor in the separate parking charge.
Bibury Trout Farm sits on the banks of the River Coln in what has long been called one of England's most beautiful villages, and has been operating as a working trout farm since 1902. Thousands of trout fill the historic stone-edged pools and raceways, and the moment children lean over the rail with a bag of pellets the water erupts in a silver frenzy that draws even the most easily distracted toddlers into focused attention for several minutes at a time.
From late March through to October a Catch Your Own fishery opens at weekends, bank holidays and through the Gloucestershire school holidays. Children can try their hand at fishing with rod and line, keeping what they catch, and staff are on hand to help beginners. No experience is needed and the stocking levels are generous, so a successful afternoon on the bank is well within reach for most children who give it a go. The fish are cleaned and bagged to take home or cook on one of the bookable barbecue spots on site.
Beyond the water there is a playground and a round of crazy golf to stretch the legs between feeding sessions, and the on-site Farm Cafe turns out sandwiches, light meals and cakes in a relaxed setting with outdoor seating. The village of Bibury itself is worth a short walk — Arlington Row, the National Trust-owned weavers' cottages, is five minutes on foot and makes a good pairing with the farm on the same visit.
Good for: animals, water, outdoors. Ages: 0–2, 3–4, 5–7, 8–11, 12+.
Good to know
Is the Catch Your Own fishery open all year?
No, it runs seasonally from late March to October on weekends, bank holidays and during Gloucestershire school holidays. Trout feeding and the rest of the farm are open all year.
Do children need experience to fish at Bibury?
No experience is needed. Staff guide beginners, the fish are plentiful and a successful catch is realistic for most children who try.
Is there parking at Bibury Trout Farm?
Yes, there is an on-site car park, though it is charged separately from admission — check the website for current prices.
