What could be better than finding yourself on a sunny Sunday in the supposed UK summertime, invited into the back gardens of some proper posh countryside houses in the heart of the Cotswolds? That’s what Bibury Open Gardens Festival promised and whilst the title is a bit grandiose and misleading, it was surprisingly fun.

The event was your traditional rural country fete kind of deal, although this in the picturesque village of Bibury, famous for Arlington Row, an archetypal picture postcard vision of ye olde England. There were plenty of tourists with cameras there, milling amongst the festival visitors.

My interest was piqued by the chance to go see that famous row of houses (not that interesting in the flesh, as it turns out) but also have a look at some nearby gardens for inspiration. Seven households in Bibury were opening up their garden gates and allowing people to have a look round - at everything from a large meadow type back yard with a swimming pool, to a tiny courtyard absolutely stacked with pots, hanging baskets and a compact fish pond.

The gardens were the key focus, there was also a band who weren’t to my taste anyway but couldn’t get a look in because of the endless church bells ringing, a small art exhibition within said place of worship, and of course, teas and cakes in the village hall. All very cutesy and nice, and, it turns out, not a bad way to spend a Sunday afternoon.