Bourton on the Water, Cotswolds

After our relaxed stay in The Rectory Hotel, our next Cotswolds trip was to explore the countryside more. The weather was going to be sunshiny and glorious so we knew it was going to be the most beautiful 4 days away. We decided to stay in Bourton on the Water and this travel guide will mirror our time in this beautiful Cotswolds village.

This trip to the Cotswolds was actually planned as far back as January. It was supposed to be our Easter holiday and as we started to get excited about it, the pandemic struck. So we moved dates from April to June and then to September. Finally, it was here and nothing was going to stop us from going!

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Where to stay in Bourton on the Water, Cotswolds

The best thing about Bourton on the Water is that there are a lot of places to stay. From cottages, to air bnbs to hotels, there is accommodation for everyone.

I was determined to live my Amanda à la The Holiday life so I knew we had to book a cottage.

We stayed in the Fourways Cottage on Rectory road, which was just off the high street. I initially booked a different cottage but when we had to move the trip, the dates of the initial cottage were unavailable. We booked through Holiday Cottages and they were fantastic. They managed to book us into Fourways cottage and even though it was not my initial choice, it ended up being the perfect cottage for us. Fourways Cottage is a charming Grade II listed building with the Cotswold stone. It has 2 bedrooms and came with its own parking space. The best thing was its location, just nestled in a quiet lane off the high street.

Another accommodation that caught my eye was The Dial House 1698. Its tagline is “sleep, wine, dine” and was built in 1698 as the name suggests. The Dial House had an alfresco restaurant just in front and you could tell it was a vibey kind of place.

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Where to Eat in Bourton on the Water, Cotswolds

We stayed in an accommodation that had a kitchen so we actually did not eat out that much. However there are a lot of places to eat on the high street and we tried a few of them. Bourton on the Water is known for its tea rooms – this was everywhere. From the smaller tearooms to those with massive alfresco seating, all lined along the water; it made the sunny afternoons feel like one big alfresco party by the banks.

Some of the more notable restaurants were The Garden Café, The Mousetrap Inn Restaurant and The Chestnut Tree. However, there is a variety of places to eat as already mentioned. Bourton on the Water is one place I recommend trying a new spot every day. Too many fabulous places for you to stick to one! I stumbled on a Cornish Bakery on one of our walks and ended up with a pasty.

The Tea Rooms

We had breakfast dates at Vernes Licensed Restaurant & Tea Rooms and Small Talk Tea Rooms. Both tea rooms were just off the riverbank and were stunning. Vernes was literally on the bank and our seats faced the river so we could watch the ducks with our coffee and hot chocolate (with marshmallows and cream of course).

In Small Talk, we sat in its courtyard and both had a full English breakfast. Again, there are so many tea rooms dotted around so a new one every day is recommended!

What To Do in Bourton on the Water, Cotswolds

Now this is what Bourton on the Water excels in. Of all the Cotswolds villages, this is the one you get the most out of for activities.

Bourton on the Water Model Village – I highly recommend a visit to its model village and it is worth noting that it is the only grade II model village in the country. How cool is that?! The model village was built in 1937 and is the replica of the actual village. 

The DragonFly Maze – Dragonfly Maze opened in 1997 and is a yew hedge maze. There are clues that take you around until you reach the middle of the maze to find the golden dragonfly.

Cotswold Birdland Park & Gardens is one of the biggest bird parks in England and is a family friendly attraction. There are over 500 birds from flamingos to owls to pelicans to cranes; it houses the most exotic birds. The stunning park is set across 9 acres of gardens and woodland. What makes it even more special is that the river windrush flows through it giving it the extra picturesque touch.

Cotswold Motoring Museum – The museum opened in 1978 and was founded by a private collector, Mike Cavanaugh. He had been collecting cars for 20 years and had some vintage cars that dated as far back as 1929. It is a popular stop for car enthusiasts visiting Bourton on the Water. 

Bourton on the Water, Cotswolds – What to Do

Cotswolds Perfumery – The Cotswolds Perfumery in Bourton on the Water was one I stumbled upon as we went on our evening walk. It is located in a 300-year-old Grade II listed building and has been in existence for over 50 years. The Cotswolds Perfumery produces 116 products and if you are interested, you can take some perfume making courses.

Cotswolds Distillery – Visit Cotswolds Distillery for a lesson in Cotswolds gin, spirits and whiskies. It draws in visitors in their numbers who come from all over the country to learn about the distillery. As the team takes you on a tour of their craftsmanship, you are invited to purchase as well. Unsure where to start from? Book an experience for a guided tour!

Getting Around Bourton on the Water and the rest of the Cotswolds

Now this is one I found interesting as a Londoner. To go around in the Cotswolds in general, you will need a car. Via train, Cheltenham is the closest station and then a taxi to your accommodation. However, getting around, from one village to another is difficult without a car. The roads are also quite narrow so a small car is probably a better idea.

Bourton on the Water is more central which means that we were able to visit 7 more villages from there. It was quite close to some Cotswolds villages such as Stow on the Wold, Blockely, Naunton, Lower Slaughter, Upper Slaughter and Birbury. They were approximately all under 15 minutes each. Castle Combe and Malmesbury were just over an hour away. This made Bourton on the Water the perfect location to have a base and commute from.

Final Thoughts: Bourton on the Water, Cotswolds

The afternoons tend to get very busy especially when we were there as the sun was out throughout our stay. The best times to explore are before 10am and after 5pm. We realised that by 10am or so, the tour buses arrived with tourists who flooded the entire high street. But after 4pm, you could see the town centre getting quiet again. This is when the charm of Bourton on the Water is visible. Sitting on the bridge with a snack and a drink and watching the sunset, absolute bliss!

Visiting and staying in Bourton on the Water in the Cotswolds was a lovely treat for Mr E and I. The Cotswolds gave us a lot of beautiful memories that we will carry with us for a very long time to come!

Bisous, ‘Bugo x