This charming Cotswolds village has five stone bridges spanning the River Windrush, with 17th-century limestone buildings and a scale model of itself built in 1937.
Bourton-on-the-Water sits in the Cotswolds, with the River Windrush flowing through its center. Five stone bridges, built between 1654 and 1953, cross the shallow water. You can walk through a 1:9 scale Model Village that replicates the entire town, see classic cars at the Cotswold Motoring Museum, or watch penguins at feeding time in Birdland Park. In summer, you might catch the local football teams playing their annual match right in the river waters.
Walking Along the River Windrush
The River Windrush runs through the village center, with wide grass verges on both sides. You can cross the water on any of the five low arched stone bridges, built over three centuries starting from 1654. Stop on the bridges to watch ducks swim below, or join locals who spread blankets on the grass under the willow trees for lunch in summer.
Exploring the Model Village
The Model Village sits behind the Old New Inn, built in the 1930s using local Cotswold stone. At one-ninth scale, this miniature version includes every building in Bourton-on-the-Water, down to a tiny version of itself within the model. The builders used authentic Cotswold stone and traditional building methods, leading to its Grade II listed status in 2013. Walk between the small buildings and look down into the miniature gardens and streets.
Medieval Football in the River
On August Bank Holiday, Bourton Rovers Football Club continues its tradition of river football. Players from two teams run and splash through the Windrush's shallow water, trying to score between goalposts set up in the river. The referee wades through the water alongside them, while hundreds of people watch from both riverbanks. The match often ends with players and spectators joining in a water splash.
Getting Around Bourton-on-the-Water
Find Bourton-on-the-Water on the A429, four miles south of Stow-on-the-Wold. Take a train to Moreton-in-Marsh or Kingham (90 minutes from London Paddington), then catch a regular bus to the village. Once here, you can walk to most places within 10 minutes from the center.
Best Times to Visit
Visit before 10am or after 4pm to avoid the largest crowds, as the village receives up to 300,000 visitors each year. In spring, cherry trees bloom along the river, while autumn brings red and orange leaves to the surrounding trees. A Christmas tree stands in the river through December, lit up after sunset. Expect more people and limited parking during summer weekends and bank holidays.
