Bourton-on-the-Water Village Guide for Families

Bourton on the Water is a beautiful Cotswold village with the beautiful feature of the River Windrush, wide and shallow, flowing through the centre.

It’s one of the Cotswold most well known villages and receives a lot of visitors who come to appreciate the classic Cotswold charm and beauty of this village on the water, browse the trinket and souvenir shops, have an ice cream watching the willow trees swaying branches over the glistening water. The place is perfect for wandering, window shopping or picnicking and paddling in the summer.

Tips from a local; be an early bird!

Where to park?

If you want a parking spot, and to see the stunning village centre and take some family pics without crowds of tourists, then arrive before the coaches do! The earlier the better, but we aim for 830 am/ 9am. Another option would be to visit later afternoon once the coaches have stopped but this schedule doesn’t seem to work for us with our kids, so we stick to the morning. There are tow main car parks in Bourton on the Water, but as previously mentioned, they do fill up quickly. They are Station Road Car Park, GL54 2NT, and Rissington Road Car Park, GL54 2DT. both Car parks are very conveniently located for the village centre, we do prefer Station Road as we find it just that bit closer and is also near the start of some of our favourite walks.

Where to eat?

Bourton has many wonderful cafes, restaurants, and country pubs to choose from, so just take a stroll down the high street and stop wherever takes your fancy! If you want some ideas, try The Kingsbridge Inn, offering traditional British dishes and a children’s menu, while The Mousetrap Inn provides cozy dining and outdoor seating. For riverside views, The Duke of Wellington is a great choice, and The Old Manse Hotel offers a comfortable setting with a diverse menu for both adults and children.

‘We nearly always take out/ picnic with our kids as we find it suits their energy better! We recommend the Bakery on the Water; pick out some treats and picnic on the green with your delicious purchases! There are also several great gelaterias in the village as well. ‘We nearly always take out/ picnic with our kids as we find it suits their energy better! We recommend the Bakery on the Water; pick out some treats and picnic on the green with your delicious purchases! There are also several great gelaterie’s to chose from in the village as well.

Where to take the kids?

We often take the kids to villages where there is nothing to do but walk the streets, admire the buildings and gardens and maybe get a coffee and a babycino! However nice that can be, sometimes we feel like changing it up and taking the kids on a day out and something geared especially for them. Bourton on the Water is great for this, it has there are loads of attractions in the village that are perfect for children and families, as well as the simple charms we all love from a visit to Cotswold Village.

Paddle on the River Windrush. The Shallow River running through the heart of the village and the village green is the perfect spot for paddling, pooh sticks and admiring the ducks!

Escape the crowds and let nature’s playground entertain them on a countryside stroll. Check out our family friendly countryside walks that start in Bourton on the Water; Bourton to Wyck Rissington, or perhaps Bourton on the Water to the Slaughters.

Get lost in the Dragonfly Maze. Looking for something with more structured activities? Try the dragonfly maze. Kids will love the traditional yew hedge maze with gravel paths through for half a mile. Find 14 clues dotted around the maze and solve the puzzle at the centre to find the golden dragonfly hidden at the centre of the maze. Great fun for all. Visit the website here.

Visit Birdland. Birdland is a wildlife park which specialises in, you guessed it, Birds! Every type of exotic and tropical bird can be found here, as well as a brilliant café and adventure playground so its a really good day out for kids. Have a look at the website here.

The Model Village. Bourton ‘s model village is actually built from Cotswold stone by highly skilled stonemasons, and is an exact replica of the village as it was in 1930’s. This charming model village is small but it is a novel place to visit with the kids on your day out in Bourton on the Water.

The Motor Museum. The motor and Toy Museum at the far end of the village green in Bourton has classic car collections from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and also the talking car Brum from the classic kids TV show from way back when (I remember it! I am showing my age!) It does host a few exhibitions through out the year. It is a small museum but good for a wander, especially for any kids (or adults!) who love cars, this is probably going to be a good call. Visit the website here.

Have you visited Bourton on the Water? What was your favourite part? Let us know in the comments!

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