Bourton on the Water is a gorgeous village located in Gloucestershire, within the North Cotswolds. The River Windrush flows gently through the middle of the village, making it known as the Venice of the Cotswolds. Due to its quaint beauty, plus its many shops and attractions, it is a popular destination and well-worth a visit. In this article I will help highlight ways to get the most from a day, or even better a weekend, in one of the Cotswolds’ most attractive locations:
Parking:
There is plenty of parking in Bourton! You will find two large car parks in the village. Both can be paid for via apps on your phone or by card at the payment kiosks. Both also have public toilets. The first is Bourton Vale Car Park near the Co-Op on Station Road. It is only a few minutes’ walk to the centre of town. The second is Rissington Road Cark Park, next to Birdland on Rissington Road. Although slightly further from the centre of town, it is still a short walk and you get the benefit of walking alongside the peaceful River Windrush to guide you in. If you’re willing to gamble, there are also a few smaller car parks as well as streetside parking in places but be aware they fill quickly and are usually short-stay.
Breakfast:
No matter your breakfast preferences, you will find something to suit in Bourton! You will have your choice of cafes, restaurants, tearooms, and coffee shops serving everything from croissants, bagels, and cakes, to a full English with all the trimmings. If you’re looking to stroll along taking in the sights with a coffee in hand, I recommend The Den on the corner of the High Street – their coffee is rich and flavourful! But be warned – it will be difficult to leave without one of their awesome cakes.
Attractions:
There are a few quirky attractions to visit in Bourton that are all worth checking out, particularly if you are spending the weekend here. Please allow me to guide you through them!
- Birdland. I mean it does what it says on the tin. There are over 500 birds of various sizes and species. Here you will find everything from Penguins to Flamingos, Parrots, Owls, and Pelicans. The keepers here do regular talks about the Penguins while feeding them. There is also a Jurassic Trail with many enormous dinosaurs to spot if you have any dino lovers in your group! There is a café, indoor learning centre, and toilets on site. We spent a good few hours here, taking our time to take photos, read info boards, and listening to a bit about the penguins as well. A great place for children and adults! They are generally open 10am – 4pm daily, but check their website on the link above to be sure before you go!
- The Model Village. If you are not from the UK, you may ask yourself “What the heck is a model village?” I was bewildered by their existence when I moved here. A model village is a scale model, created in great detail, of the village in which it sits. We enjoyed walking the tiny streets, finding inconsistencies between the model and real village, and of course snapping some photos! It happens to be the only Grade II listed model village in the country… and it actually contains a model village within the model village. They are open 10am – 3.45pm daily, but again, please click the link to confirm for yourself.
- Cotswold Motoring Museum and Toy Collection. If you have a car lover in your group, this is a must-stop in Bourton! Inside you will find several classic cars and it is home to Brum from the children’s show from the 1990’s of the same name. There is also plenty to see in the form of vintage memorabilia, Airfix models of all sorts, and many vintage toys that each have a story of their own to tell. Although it seems small at first, it soon becomes apparent that the museum really is bigger than you’d think and it is easy to get lost in the nostalgia of it all! Check the link above for opening times and more information.
Lunch:
If you’re ready for some lunch and the weather is nice, you can’t beat grabbing some chips and having an impromptu picnic on the grass alongside the river! If fish and chips isn’t your thing, there are several pubs with outdoor seating down by the river. The Old Manse has an especially enviable position on the river. They also have a great selection of dishes, you won’t have difficulty finding something for everyone here. This also includes several vegan and gluten free offerings.
Shopping:
After lunch, get yourselves up and moving about again by checking out the variety of shops that Bourton has to offer. Although there are several gift shops, they are worth checking out as they each have rather unique items. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, there are 2 sweets shops to visit for sweets, candy floss, chocolates, homemade fudge, ice cream and more. In addition to a boutique or two, you will find a perfumery, toy shop, pet supply shop, and the Victorian Christmas Shop as well. There is a much larger variety of shops packed into this village than you might expect.
Nearby:
Hawkstone Brewery: Just outside of Bourton you can find the Hawkstone Brewery where they brew some of our personal favourite beers and ciders. Love him or hate him, Jeremy Clarkson provides barley for brewing from his Diddly Squat Farm located nearby. If you have time, they offer a brewery tour. But most importantly they now have a bar onsite so you can stop in and grab a pint. On a Friday and Saturday afternoon/evening they also have food trucks onsite as well.
The Slaughters: Before heading back from whence you came, I highly recommend stopping in to see Lower Slaughter and Upper Slaughter. There is not much to do in either place other than stop in the pub but they are a couple of gorgeous villages, especially Lower Slaughter. The River Eye cuts through them, making for a very quaint walk past traditional English cottages and gardens. You can see more here: Beautiful walk around the Slaughters
Planning a trip to Bourton? Or have you just visited? Let me know what your favourite bit was!