Bourton on the Water is a captivating village within the Cotswolds, situated within the coronary heart of England. With conventional stone buildings, quaint cottages and picturesque countryside, it’s not arduous to see why Bourton on the Water is without doubt one of the hottest and exquisite locations to go to within the Cotswolds.
The River Windrush flows gently by the centre of Bourton on the Water, offering a fairly point of interest for the village, alongside the inexperienced. Though the village is small, there are an abundance of outlets, cafes and sights to maintain all ages entertained, making Bourton on the Water an incredible day trip for the entire household.
Let’s see among the greatest issues to see and do in Bourton on the Water in someday.
Associated learn: Locations to Go to in England Different 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 lots of totally different actions to select from to start out your day, whether or not you’re visiting with youngsters, as a pair or group of mates.
Listed here are among 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 teenagers and households
Begin your day in Bourton on the Water with a go to to Birdland Park & Gardens, situated subsequent to Rissington automobile park. The park is residence to over 500 species of chook and is without doubt 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 lovely parkland to stroll round, there are a lot of sights and experiences at Birdland Park, together with the possibility to feed the penguins. For teenagers, there’s a ‘Jurassic encounters’ attraction, discovery zone, outside impediment course and play space, making it an incredible possibility for households visiting Bourton on the Water.
Tickets are £11.95 for adults and £8.95 for kids between 3-15 years outdated. It’s advisable to e-book on-line to save lots of queuing on the day.
Tackle the Dragonfly Maze! – an incredible exercise for mates and households
Situated 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 nevertheless it’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 kids between 4-14 years outdated.
Really feel like an enormous on the Bourton on the Water Mannequin Village – enjoyable for the entire household
Tucked away behind The Outdated New Inn, subsequent to Rissington Highway automobile park is a tiny village. The Mannequin 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 kids between 3-13 years outdated.
Go to the Cotswolds Motoring Museum – nice for large youngsters
The Cotswolds Motoring Museum and Toy assortment is certainly one of Bourton on the Water’s most well-known, and well-loved sights. The museum homes varied collections of classic vehicles, automobiles and memorabilia, good for large youngsters and classic automobile fanatics! 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 day by day and tickets might be purchased on the door. The fee is £7 for adults and £5 for kids between 5-16 years outdated.
The place to have lunch in Bourton on the Water?
After a morning stuffed with actions, it’s time for lunch and you’ve got numerous choices to select from! Bourton on the Water has an incredible vary of locations to eat, to suit all budgets.
- The Rose Tree restaurant is a well-liked selection in order for you one thing extra upscale. It’s barely costlier however has a beautiful environment and is ideal for a special 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 in style tearoom is the Chestnut Tree on the excessive road. If the tea rooms alongside the inexperienced and excessive road are busy, there’s one other three nice choices on Moore Avenue which are usually rather less busy.
Visiting Bourton on the Water on a funds? Don’t fear, you possibly can decide up one thing to remove from The Cornish Bakery or the Chip Shed, situated subsequent to one another on the excessive road. Or, on a dry day, among the finest issues to do for lunch is to carry a picnic and decide a spot on the village inexperienced, alongside the River Windrush.
It’s value noting that lots 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, in case you have a selected place you need to dine for lunch, attempt to reserve a desk beforehand.
Take pleasure in 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 encompassing Cotswolds Countryside, or just get pleasure from 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 nice quick stroll, which requires no map, stroll in direction of the Conflict Memorial and Cotswold Motor Museum within the centre of the village and comply with the River Windrush alongside the Windrush Manner. You’ll be able to stroll a brief distance alongside the riverside path till you’ve had sufficient, after which flip round and are available again the identical means.
If you happen to’re feeling energetic, you possibly can comply with this 10 mile stroll from Bourton on the Water, strolling to the picturesque villages of Decrease Slaughter, Higher Slaughter and Naunton, stopping at The Slaughters Nation Inn in Decrease Slaughter on the best way.
For extra info 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 particular person, or on-line.
Take pleasure in a paddle within the River Windrush
If all that strolling sounds a bit an excessive amount of like arduous work, then merely get pleasure from a little bit stroll alongside the river within the centre of the village. The River Windrush is simply 10 inches deep because it flows gently by Bourton on the Water, so it’s an incredible place to paddle your ft, or for kids to play, particularly on a scorching summer time’s day.
Buy groceries
There are many nice little boutiques and impartial retailers within the village, making Bourton on the Water an incredible place to buy one thing distinctive. You’ll be able to stroll across the village in a loop, stopping at varied retailers alongside the best way. Begin alongside the excessive road, then cross the river and proceed down Victoria road, earlier than crossing again over the river and again to the excessive road.
Lining the excessive road are a number of cute present retailers, promoting handmade crafts, candles, homeware and jewelry. Additionally on the excessive road is the Victorian Christmas store, the place you should buy stunning hand painted Christmas decorations and baubles all yr spherical.
If in case you have a candy tooth, be sure to cease at Candy Reminiscence sweet store, or Bourton’s Little Candy store, to replenish 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 accomplished loads of strolling, so it’s time to deal with your self! There are two nice ice cream retailers within the village, each situated alongside the river: Bourtanicals Marsfield Farm Ice Cream and Cotswolds Ice Cream.
If it’s too chilly outdoors, swap the ice cream for a cream tea or espresso and cake in one of many cosy tea rooms as a substitute.
The 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 situated within the village at Station Highway (GL54 2EN) and Rissington Highway (GL54 2BN). The machines at each of those automobile parks solely settle for playing cards, nonetheless you need to use the PayByPhone app at Rissington Highway. Each of those automobile parks are only a few minutes stroll away from the principle centre of the village, nonetheless they do get extraordinarily busy, particularly on financial institution holidays and on weekends in the summertime months. If you happen to experience a bike, you possibly can park freed from cost at Rissington Highway automobile park. Notice 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 achieve Bourton on the Water utilizing public transport is to journey by bus or practice to Cheltenham Spa, then from Cheltenham, you possibly can catch the 801 bus to Bourton on the Water. The bus journey takes roughly 20 minutes. (Notice 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’ll need to know some sensible info 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 info on native sights. The customer centre is located on Victoria Avenue, behind Victoria Village Corridor. It’s only open at chosen instances 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 Could – 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 road within the centre of the village, which is ideal for selecting up some snacks or a bottle of water in your day trip. If you happen to 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 road within the centre of the village.
Public bathrooms
There are bathrooms situated in Rissington automobile park, and in addition by the church, on the different finish of the excessive road. The bathrooms are 30p per entry and you’ll pay with money or by contactless card.
When is one of the best time to go to Bourton on the Water?
Bourton on the Water is without doubt one of the greatest locations to go to within the Cotswolds and due to this fact it’s in style year-round. Nonetheless, it’s notably busy on the weekends through the summer time months and in the summertime holidays. Parking might be tough throughout this time and plenty of cafes and eating places have lengthy ready instances at lunch.
One of the best time to go to Bourton on the Water is outdoors of the summer time holidays and through mid-week. While the hotter summer time months attract many of the guests, additionally it is an incredible place to go to within the autumn and winter, because the village tends to be much less crowded through the cooler months. It’s also an incredible place to buy Christmas presents! If you’re desirous to go for Sunday lunch in Bourton on the Water, nonetheless, be sure to e-book forward. Sunday lunch within the Cotswolds is extremely in style anytime time of the yr!
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Curious Goose
I am Helen, a British travel-addict with a curious streak, who likes to discover, hike and go to new locations.
I’ve all the time cherished travelling and on the age of 20 I moved to the USA for a yr’s work placement, which ignited my ardour much more. Since then, my need to journey to new locations has grown.
