In my opinion, you simply cannot miss Bourton-on-the-Water off your Cotswolds itinerary. This pretty spot spans the River Windrush, and is known affectionately as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ due to the wealth of bridges traversing the River Windrush which meanders through the village centre.

Bourton-on-the-Water succeeds in retaining its slow-paced charm, with a sense that you’ve come to a totally unique place.

What to see and things to do

For its size, it is packed with things to do and interesting things to see. But don’t underestimate how much you’ll simply want to unwind and relax here.

Bourton has a lovely selection of independent shops, and also has several places of interest to its name. I’d recommend a visit to the Model Village, which is a scaled replica and dates from the 1930s.

Families will be in their element at Birdland, where both kids and adults can fawn over the likes of owls, parrots and King penguins.

Bourton is also home to the Cotswolds Motoring Museum, with its displays of vintage and toy vehicles.

Once a year, during summer, the village hosts a football match played in the shallow waters of the river. It’s a local tradition that has been followed for well over a century and I think it's such a quaint event!

Parking in Bourton-on-the-Water

There are two large car parks open to anyone, both of which are pay and display. One is on Station Road and the other can be found on Rissington Road.

You can easily walk to the centre of the village in just a few minutes from either of these car parks. 

There is a small amount of parking in the village centre, but this is often full. There are some Blue Badge spaces within the village too, but the bulk of disabled parking in Bourton-on-the-Water is in Station Road car park.

You should be aware that coaches and motorhomes are very much not welcome in the village. You cannot enter via Lansdowne and must not travel down the High Street in these vehicles. Dedicated parking for both is available in the Station Road car park. 

Many walks and cycle routes take you through Bourton-on-the-Water, if you’re feeling more active.