Things to do
around Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water sits on the River Windrush, with low stone bridges crossing the water and greens on either bank, and it draws people in for exactly that reason. It's a place built around walking pace: you'll find 23 places to eat and drink within about two miles, along with 17 places to stay, nine shops, five things to visit, three services and one activity provider, so a day here rarely runs short of options. Come early or late in the day and the village feels quieter; come in the middle of a summer afternoon and you'll be sharing the riverside with plenty of others, which is part of its character rather than a drawback.

A good few hours might start with a coffee at Coffee Hub before the pavements fill, followed by the Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection, where the vintage vehicles and old advertising signs hold the attention of adults as much as children. Browse The Cotswold Shop afterwards for something to take home, then settle in at Green & Pleasant when you need to sit down properly. If you're staying overnight, Chester House Hotel keeps you within easy reach of the river.