Bourton-on-the-Water Tourist Information Guide

Bourton-on-the-Water Tourist Information Guide

Bourton-on-the-Water is only 4 miles from
Stow-on-the-Wold and straddles the river Windrush with its series of elegant low bridges beside neat tree-shaded greens and tidy stone banks. Standing back from the river are traditional Cotswolds buildings, many of which are now tourist shops for the day-trippers and visitors.

Bourton-on-the-Water has been described as the 'Little Venice' of the Cotswolds and is one of the most popular tourist spots in the region being serviced by the many shops, cafe's, and attractions.

Bourton-on-the-Water Attractions

Birdland - Is an authentic zoo for birds, with a remarkable collection of penguins, some of which have come from the owner's islands in the South Atlantic. Established by the late Len Hill and is also home to a huge variety of exotic birds.

Model Village - Excellent miniature of Bourton using authentic building materials depicting Bourton-on-the-Water as it was in 1937 at 1/9th scale.

The Cotswolds Perfumery shop & factory - made personalised scents for the Queen herself.

Model Railway Exhibition - on the High Street with some of the finest operating indoor model railway layouts in the country, covering over 500 feet of track.

Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection - Overflowing with vintage car collections, classic cars and motorcycles, caravans, original enamel signs and an intriguing collection of motoring curiosities also home to Brum, the adventurous four-wheeled hero of children's TV.

Dragonfly Maze - which comprises a yew maze with a pavilion at the centre. The object is not only to reach the pavilion, but to gather clues as one navigates the maze. Correctly interpreting these clues when one reaches the pavilion allows access to the maze's final secret.Constructed by Kit Williams of 'golden hare treasure hunt' fame.

Greystones Nature Reserve

Greystones is a cattle farm managed along organic principles with grazing, silage and hay cutting making up the principle farming system. Located 300 metres from the main Pay & Display car park.

The Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust took over Greystone’s Farm in 2002. They aim to restore grassland fields across part of the farm to species-rich neutral meadows by using seed collected from the Salmonsbury Meadow Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which is contained within the boundaries of the farm and which they also manage.

For more information about see -  Greystones Farm Cotswold Nature Reserve.

Visiting Cotswold Famous Gardens

There are several famous gardens within 20 minutes car journey of Bourton on the Water village including Hidcote Manor, Snowshill Manor, Bourton House, Sezincote, Kiftsgate Court and Batsford Arboretum.

See full information of gardens see - Cotswold Gardens and for their location see -
North Cotswold Gardens Map and Driving Directions.

Filming Locations

Die Another Day (2002) - Part of the Ice Chase scenes were filmed in the car park at Bourton-on-the-Water and on the ex-RAF nearby aircraft runway at Upper Rissington. At one point Bond in his Aston Martin was chased across the car park in a Jaguar sports coupe; the car park was covered in artificial snow.

For full details of  - filming locations in the Cotswolds.

Bourton-on-the-Water is the home of Giffords Touring Circus - animals and artists from the circus fill many Cotswold village greens with wonderment during the summer months. Toti and Nell Gifford started Giffords Circus in 2000.

Their vision was of a miniature village green circus, packed, rowdy, glamorous - birds and horses and motorbikes bursting from a fluttering white tent - a show for rural families, farmers and filmstars.

Bourton-on-the-Water Walking Route 4 miles approx 2 hours

Three small rivers, a nature reserve and a maze in a church. This easy walk through meadows to the unspoilt village of Wyck Rissington can be muddy, so come prepared.

For comprehensive walking guide see -https://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/MWS-Bourton-Wyck-FINAL-1.pdf

Bourton-on-the-Water Tourist Information and Travel Guide Cotswolds England