Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection

The focus is on 20th-century motoring, so you'll see everything from early Austin Sevens and classic sports cars to the everyday vehicles that ordinary people actually drove—which means the displays tell a real story about how people got around rather than just celebrating expensive rarities.

There's a toy collection running alongside the cars, which broadens the appeal considerably if you're travelling with younger children. The building itself is a converted mill, so it has real character without ever feeling overcrowded or overwhelming.

Bourton-on-the-Water is worth exploring in its own right while you're here. The River Windrush runs right through the high street, and you'll find independent shops and cafes dotted about, plus good walking country along the water meadows. If you're based anywhere in the wider area—Moreton-in-Marsh, Cheltenham, or near the Cotswold Water Park—this makes a sensible two-hour stop-off, or a perfect plan when the weather isn't playing ball.