Bourton on the Water is a captivating village within the Cotswolds, positioned within the coronary heart of England. With conventional stone buildings, quaint cottages and picturesque countryside, it’s not onerous to see why Bourton on the Water is likely one of the hottest and delightful locations to go to within the Cotswolds. 

The River Windrush flows gently by means of the centre of Bourton on the Water, offering a reasonably focus for the village, alongside the inexperienced. Though the village is small, there are an abundance of retailers, cafes and sights to maintain all ages entertained, making Bourton on the Water an awesome day trip for the entire household. 

Let’s see a number of the greatest issues to see and do in Bourton on the Water in in the future.

Associated learn: Places to Visit in England Other Than London

A day in Bourton on the Water within the Cotswolds

Begin your day in Bourton on the Water with a morning of actions. There are numerous totally different actions to select from to start out your day, whether or not you might be visiting with youngsters, as a pair or group of mates.

Listed here are a number of the greatest sights to go to in Bourton on the Water so that you can select from.

Go to Bourton on the Water’s well-known Birdland Park – good for youths and households

Begin your day in Bourton on the Water with a go to to Birdland Park & Gardens, positioned subsequent to Rissington automobile park. The park is residence to over 500 species of hen and is likely one of the greatest locations to go to in Bourton on the Water. Amongst the five hundred species on the park are flamingos, pelicans and even King Penguins! 

In addition to the acres of gorgeous parkland to stroll round, there are a lot of sights and experiences at Birdland Park, together with the prospect to feed the penguins. For teenagers, there’s a ‘Jurassic encounters’ attraction, discovery zone, out of doors impediment course and play space, making it an awesome possibility for households visiting Bourton on the Water. 

Tickets are £11.95 for adults and £8.95 for youngsters between 3-15 years outdated. It’s advisable to book online to avoid wasting queuing on the day.

Tackle the Dragonfly Maze! – an awesome exercise for mates and households

Positioned subsequent to Birdland Park, the Dragonfly Maze is a good exercise if you’re quick on time. The hedge maze will solely take about 20-Half-hour but it surely’s nice enjoyable for the entire household!

The maze is open 10am – 3pm each day and tickets are £4.50 for adults and £3.50 for youngsters between 4-14 years outdated.

Really feel like a large on the Bourton on the Water Mannequin Village – enjoyable for the entire household

Tucked away behind The Previous New Inn, subsequent to Rissington Highway automobile park is a tiny village. The Model village is an correct illustration of Bourton on the Water because it stood when it was first constructed within the 1930’s, however at 1/ninth of the dimensions! The homes within the mannequin village have been skillfully constructed by native craftsmen utilizing native Cotswolds Stone, while the gardens and environment have been lovingly pruned and landscaped. The mannequin village is a good place to start out your go to to Bourton on the Water.

Entry is £4.50 for adults and £3.50 for youngsters between 3-13 years outdated. 

Go to the Cotswolds Motoring Museum – nice for giant children

The Cotswolds Motoring Museum and Toy collection is one in every of Bourton on the Water’s most well-known, and well-loved sights. The museum homes varied collections of classic automobiles, autos and memorabilia, good for giant children and classic automobile lovers! The museum’s Toy Assortment may even ship you on a visit down reminiscence lane with toys and video games out of your childhood.

The museum is open daily and tickets could be purchased on the door. The associated fee is £7 for adults and £5 for youngsters between 5-16 years outdated. 

The Bourton on the Water Model Village - photo by magda v on unsplash
The Bourton on the Water Mannequin Village – photograph by magda v on unsplash

The place to have lunch in Bourton on the Water?

After a morning filled with actions, it’s time for lunch and you’ve got a number of choices to select from! Bourton on the Water has an awesome vary of locations to eat, to suit all budgets.

  • The Rose Tree restaurant is a well-liked alternative in order for you one thing extra upscale. It’s barely dearer however has a stunning environment and is ideal for an important day.
  • The Croft and Kingsbridge pubs which face the river are each nice choices in order for you a pub lunch, or for one thing lighter, the Bourton Riverside cafe does nice moderately priced sandwiches.
  • One other fashionable tearoom is the Chestnut Tree on the excessive avenue. If the tea rooms alongside the inexperienced and excessive avenue are busy, there’s one other three nice choices on Moore Road which are usually rather less busy.  

Visiting Bourton on the Water on a funds? Don’t fear, you’ll be able to decide up one thing to remove from The Cornish Bakery or the Chip Shed, positioned subsequent to one another on the excessive avenue. Or, on a dry day, top-of-the-line issues to do for lunch is to carry a picnic and decide a spot on the village inexperienced, alongside the River Windrush.

It’s price noting that most of the cafes, tea rooms and eating places do get very busy round lunchtime, particularly on weekends in the summertime months and within the holidays. Subsequently, you probably have a particular place you need to dine for lunch, attempt to reserve a desk beforehand. 

Bourton on the Water - photo by debbiemg on pxhere
Bourton on the Water – photograph by debbiemg on pxhere

Get pleasure from a extra relaxed afternoon in Bourton on the Water

After a busy morning, spend the remainder of your day in Bourton on the Water at a extra relaxed tempo. Take a stroll alongside the River Windrush, or into the encircling Cotswolds Countryside, or just take pleasure in a leisurely stroll across the village, visiting the retailers and boutiques.

Benefit from the strolling trails in Bourton on the Water

The Cotswolds is an space of excellent pure magnificence and there are a lot of strolling trails in and round Bourton on the Water, with stunning countryside and village views. 

For a pleasing quick stroll, which requires no map, stroll in the direction of the Struggle Memorial and Cotswold Motor Museum within the centre of the village and observe the River Windrush alongside the Windrush Method. You possibly can stroll a brief distance alongside the riverside path till you’ve had sufficient, after which flip round and are available again the identical approach. 

Should you’re feeling energetic, you’ll be able to follow this 10 mile walk from Bourton on the Water, strolling to the picturesque villages of Lower Slaughter, Higher Slaughter and Naunton, stopping at The Slaughters Nation Inn in Decrease Slaughter on the way in which. 

For extra data on the strolling trails from Bourton on the Water and within the wider Cotswolds area, and to buy a route map, go to the Bourton on the Water guests centre in individual, or online

Get pleasure from a paddle within the River Windrush

If all that strolling sounds a bit an excessive amount of like onerous work, then merely take pleasure in slightly stroll alongside the river within the centre of the village. The River Windrush is simply 10 inches deep because it flows gently by means of Bourton on the Water, so it’s an awesome place to paddle your toes, or for youngsters to play, particularly on a scorching summer season’s day. 

Buy groceries

There are many nice little boutiques and unbiased retailers within the village, making Bourton on the Water an awesome place to buy one thing distinctive. You possibly can stroll across the village in a loop, stopping at varied retailers alongside the way in which. Begin alongside the excessive avenue, then cross the river and proceed down Victoria avenue, earlier than crossing again over the river and again to the excessive avenue. 

Lining the excessive avenue are a number of cute present retailers, promoting handmade crafts, candles, homeware and jewelry. Additionally on the excessive avenue is the Victorian Christmas store, the place you should purchase stunning hand painted Christmas decorations and baubles all yr spherical. 

You probably have a candy tooth, be sure you cease at Candy Reminiscence sweet store, or Bourton’s Little Candy store, to refill on quaint candies and sweets to take residence with you. 

Deal with your self to an ice cream

The day is coming to an finish and also you’ve performed lots of strolling, so it’s time to deal with your self! There are two nice ice cream retailers within the village, each positioned alongside the river: Bourtanicals Marsfield Farm Ice Cream and Cotswolds Ice Cream

If it’s too chilly exterior, swap the ice cream for a cream tea or espresso and cake in one of many cosy tea rooms as an alternative. 

Lower Slaughter
Strolling alongside the River Windrush by means of Decrease Slaughter

The best way to get to Bourton on the Water

The easiest way to journey to Bourton on the Water within the Cotswolds is by automobile. 

  • Parking: There are two giant pay and show automobile parks positioned within the village at Station Road (GL54 2EN) and Rissington Road (GL54 2BN). The machines at each of those automobile parks solely settle for playing cards, nevertheless you should utilize the PayByPhone app at Rissington Highway. Each of those automobile parks are just some minutes stroll away from the primary centre of the village, nevertheless they do get extraordinarily busy, particularly on financial institution holidays and on weekends in the summertime months. Should you journey a bike, you’ll be able to park freed from cost at Rissington Highway automobile park. Word that motorhomes and caravans can solely park on the Station Highway automobile park and you’ll solely enter and exit the village from Station Highway. 
  • Public transport: The easiest way to succeed in Bourton on the Water utilizing public transport is to journey by bus or practice to Cheltenham Spa, then from Cheltenham, you’ll be able to catch the 801 bus to Bourton on the Water. The bus journey takes roughly 20 minutes. (Word that the practice station and bus station in Cheltenham are a 20 minute stroll away from one another)

Native facilities

Other than the quite a few retailers, tea rooms and cafes in Bourton on the Water, you have to to know some sensible data concerning key facilities within the village. So, what amenities can you discover in Bourton on the Water?

The Bourton on the Water customer centre

The Bourton on the Water customer centre is the place to go to to select up maps of the native space and strolling trails in addition to data on native sights. The customer centre is located on Victoria Road, behind Victoria Village Corridor. It is just open at chosen occasions and days, relying on the time of yr:

  • Between April – October, the customer centre is open 10:00 – 17:00, Monday to Saturday. (Within the peak season of Might – September, additionally it is open on Sundays 10:00 – 14:00).
  • Between November – March the customer centre is simply open Monday to Saturday 10:00 – 16:0

Comfort Store

There’s a small Londis comfort store on the excessive avenue within the centre of the village, which is ideal for choosing up some snacks or a bottle of water in your day trip. Should you want a bigger retailer for picnic provides, there’s a Coop grocery store on Station Highway, which is subsequent to the Station Highway automobile park and only a 6 minute stroll from the excessive avenue within the centre of the village. 

Public bogs

There are bogs positioned in Rissington automobile park, and in addition by the church, on the different finish of the excessive avenue. The bogs are 30p per entry and you’ll pay with money or by contactless card. 

When is the very best time to go to Bourton on the Water?

Bourton on the Water is likely one of the greatest locations to go to within the Cotswolds and due to this fact it’s fashionable year-round. Nevertheless, it’s notably busy on the weekends through the summer season months and in the summertime holidays. Parking could be tough throughout this time and plenty of cafes and eating places have lengthy ready occasions at lunch. 

The very best time to go to Bourton on the Water is exterior of the summer season holidays and through mid-week. While the hotter summer season months attract a lot of the guests, additionally it is an awesome place to go to within the autumn and winter, because the village tends to be much less crowded through the cooler months. Additionally it is an awesome place to buy Christmas presents! If you’re desirous to go for Sunday lunch in Bourton on the Water, nevertheless, be sure you guide forward. Sunday lunch within the Cotswolds is extremely fashionable anytime time of the yr! 

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