Things to do near Bourton on the Water
As well as being a picturesque village in its own right, Bourton on the Water is one of the best places you can base yourself for exploring the wider Cotswolds. From ticking off the must-sees, visiting the places you've seen on TV to simply wandering through the beautiful villages and scenery, being based in Bourton on the Water gives you access to lots of things to do.
When planning your trip and looking at the best Cotswolds villages to visit, take a look at our recommendations of places to eat in the Cotswolds to help build your itinerary.
Things To Do In Bourton on the Water
You can easily spend a weekend in Bourton on the Water without ever leaving the village. Our guests receive discounts on their tickets at many attractions, so do let us know where you are planning to visit.
Attractions:
Home to the UK's only breeding group of King Penguins, and many other exotic and rare birds.
Cotswold Motoring & Toy Museum
A beautiful old building full of vehicular history, memorabilia and nostalgic toys - as well as TV's Brum!
Jeremy Clarkson's brewery is a short walk out of the village and open for tours (booking necessary) or drinks at the bar.
Handmade by artisans nearly 100 years ago - see if you can spot The Lansdowne, and the famous model village within a model village!
Walks:
A flat path that follows the river through the village and out into the fields - a great way to see the buildings of the village and the countryside. Takes less than hour and is a good way to get your bearings.
We particularly recommend walking it in the morning (before 10am) or in the evening when it is quieter and you will have the walk to yourself.
A circular walk that takes in the two beautiful villages of Upper & Lower Slaughter. There are places to stop and eat in each village, and you can drop into Hawkstone on the way back.
Things To Do In The Cotswolds
Outside of the village there are lots of things to do and places to visit in the Cotswolds. Here are some of our favourites:
Nature & Gardens:
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Cotswold Lavender, nr Snowshill
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Hidcote Gardens, Chipping Campden
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Rococo Garden, Painswick
Heritage & Craft:
Food & Drink:
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Cotswolds Distillery, Stourton
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Daylesford Organic, Moreton in Marsh
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Diddly Squat Farm Shop, Chipping Norton
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The Farmer's Dog pub & shop, Witney
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Little Oak Vineyard, Chipping Campden
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Wood Bros Distillery, Bampton
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Best Cotswolds Villages To Visit
Visiting the Cotswolds is all about exploring chocolate box villages and quaint market towns - here's our pick of the best within easy reach of Bourton on the Water:
Cotswold Villages:
Small and quaint, most villages will have a pub and cafes for pit stop while exploring.
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Bibury
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Guiting Power
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Lower & Upper Slaughter
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Minster Lovell
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Painswick
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Snowshill
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Winchcombe
Cotswold Towns:
Full of independent shops and lots of options for eating and drinking.
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Broadway
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Burford
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Chipping Campden
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Cirencester
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Moreton in Marsh
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Stow on the Wold
Day Trips:
Travel a little further for a different kind of day out.
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Castle Combe
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Lacock
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Cheltenham
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Gloucester
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Oxford
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Bath
