Things to do
in Bourton-on-the-Water

The River Windrush is the reason Bourton-on-the-Water is so distinctive, and it naturally becomes the focus of any visit: walk beside it, cross its low stone bridges, and in warm weather you'll see people paddling at the river's edge alongside the high street. Greens on either bank give you somewhere to sit once you've had enough of the crowds, and the whole village is built around this kind of unhurried, on-foot exploring.

For something more structured, the Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection on the High Street brings together vintage vehicles and old advertising signs for adults and children alike. History further back is covered just outside the village at the Salmonsbury Neolithic Causewayed Enclosure, tentatively identified as a Neolithic causewayed enclosure, and the Salmonsbury Iron-Age Enclosed Oppidum, an Iron Age fortification and later Roman settlement, which together show how long this stretch of the valley has been settled. Greystones Farm nature reserve, on the quieter edge of the village, takes in the ancient meadows around the Salmonsbury site and is worth the short walk out if you want space away from the main street.

Bourton also has a strong run of independent shops for browsing between stops: The Cotswold Shop, Box of Delights, Boho House, Quirky, Small Talk Gifts, The Little Nook, The Victorian Christmas Shop, Cedars Bourton and the boutique High Bridge are all close to the water. The Visitor Information Centre is a useful first stop if you want a steer on what to prioritise.

With a large choice of cafes, restaurants, pubs and bakeries packed into the village, Bourton rarely leaves you short of somewhere to sit down. For a proper start to the day, Coffee Hub, The Den, A'more Coffee House, Box Bush and Bourton Riverside Café all do the job, while The Cornish Bakery and Bakery on the Water cover something to eat on the move.

For a sit-down meal, the village has a wide spread: The Rose Tree, Venezia, The Chip Shed, The Chestnut Tree, Cor Blimey, The Croft, De la Haye's Fish & Chip shop and Chalo India between them run from Italian and Indian to classic British cooking, including fish and chips if that's what a day by the river calls for. Waterfront Tea Room and Eatery and Small Talk Tea Room are geared more towards a slower pace, with tea and something sweet rather than a full meal.

For a drink or a pub lunch, the Duke of Wellington, The Kingsbridge Inn, The Old New Inn, The Old Manse and The Mousetrap are the village's traditional pubs, each within easy walking distance of the water. Green & Pleasant is a good option when you want somewhere to rest properly rather than keep moving.

Bourton-on-the-Water has a good spread of places to stay, so an overnight visit doesn't mean travelling far from the river. Chester House Hotel and Dial House both put you within easy reach of the water, while HF Holidays' Harrington House, with additional accommodation including Windrush Cottage and Jubilee Cottage, provides a base aimed squarely at guests planning to explore the surrounding countryside on foot.

For bed-and-breakfast options, Broadlands, Manor Close B&B, The Red House, Sycamore House and Lansdowne Villa are all within a short walk of the centre.

A short drive away, Lower Slaughter Manor and The Slaughters Country Inn in Lower Slaughter, and Lords of the Manor in Upper Slaughter, offer a quieter, country-house or manor-style stay if you'd rather base yourself outside Bourton itself while still being close to it.

Bourton's position in the Windrush valley makes it a workable starting point for walks of very different lengths. The Windrush Way follows the river's route through the surrounding countryside and gives a good sense of how the landscape shapes the villages along it; the stretch listed here is one section of a longer path that runs from the hills near Cutsdean down to Bourton. The Donnington Way is a shorter, moderate day's walk, while the Gustav Holst Way between Guiting Power and Wyck Rissington is a moderate route that passes through the village.

If cycling suits you better, Fosse2 is a short, easy ride on quiet lanes, a reasonable option if you want to cover ground without committing to a full day out. For serious walkers, Bourton also lies on the much longer Oxfordshire Way, which forms part of European walking route E2, while the Gloucestershire Way passes through the wider area. These are long-distance paths rather than short village walks, so treat the sections listed here as a dedicated day's walking rather than an add-on to a village visit.

Bourton-on-the-Water sits close to several smaller villages that make sensible additions to a longer visit. Lower Slaughter, a little over a mile away, is one of the more visited villages nearby and pairs well with Bourton for a day that takes in two contrasting settlements, one built around a wide, open river and one known for its quieter stone-built stream. The walk out to Lower Slaughter and on to Upper Slaughter is a well-trodden circuit of around four miles.

Wyck Rissington and Little Rissington lie a mile or two to the east, and both offer a calmer alternative if Bourton's crowds aren't to your taste; the Oxfordshire Way runs from Bourton through Wyck Rissington. Clapton-on-the-Hill and Upper Slaughter complete a loop of villages within a couple of miles of Bourton, whether you reach them on foot along the footpaths or by car. None of these are far enough away to need a full separate trip, so they work well as an extension to a Bourton visit rather than a destination in their own right.