🇬🇧United Kingdom · Places to discover

What to see in Bourton-on-the-Water?

27 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.

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Map of places in Bourton-on-the-Water, numbered like the cards below
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Landmarks & heritage

7 places

  • Wyck Rissington Church of St Laurence1Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

    Landmark

    Wyck Rissington Church of St Laurence

    Tiny Norman church in an all-but-deserted hamlet, with a maze of clipped grass in its churchyard — laid out by composer Gustav Holst, who lived here. A place of rare tranquillity.

  • Great Rissington Village and St John the Baptist Church2Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

    Landmark

    Great Rissington Village and St John the Baptist Church

    Village perched on the plateau's edge with a medieval church and sweeping views across the Windrush valley. The churchyard holds graves of RAF pilots killed during local training operations in the Second World War.

  • Naunton Village and Fulling Mill3Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

    Landmark

    Naunton Village and Fulling Mill

    Forgotten valley village overlooked by tour groups, with golden stone cottages arranged ribbon-like along the Windrush. Remains of the medieval fulling mill recall how wool built the wealth of these valleys.

  • Icomb Village and St Mary's Church4Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

    Landmark

    Icomb Village and St Mary's Church

    A remote hamlet off the main roads, home to a perfectly preserved 12th-century church. No tourist signage, no formal car park — precisely the sort of place known only to locals.

  • Little Rissington Airfield Memorial5Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

    Landmark

    Little Rissington Airfield Memorial

    Former RAF aerodrome, now repurposed, with a memorial to the airmen trained here. The main runway remains visible from the road — a poignant reminder of the British wartime effort.

  • Upper Slaughter Manor and Church6Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

    Landmark

    Upper Slaughter Manor and Church

    An even more unspoilt village than its neighbour Lower Slaughter, designated a 'Doubly Thankful Village' with no losses in either world war. Norman church and Elizabethan manor set in absolute tranquillity.

  • Lower Slaughter Village and Mill7Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

    Landmark

    Lower Slaughter Village and Mill

    Limestone hamlet 1.5 km away, regarded as one of England's most beautiful villages. The 19th-century water mill remains operational and houses a small bakery.

Nature

9 places

  • Village Green and River Windrush8Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

    Nature

    Village Green and River Windrush

    The living heart of Bourton-on-the-Water, where the Windrush meanders through verdant meadows beneath diminutive Cotswolds stone bridges. An authentically bucolic tableau, particularly enchanting in early light before the crowds descend.

  • Greystones Farm Nature Reserve9Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

    Nature

    Greystones Farm Nature Reserve

    Nature reserve managed by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust on former Windrush floodplain meadows. Wild orchids in spring, water birds in winter — a little-known gem ten minutes' walk from the centre.

  • 10

    Nature

    Nature

    Bourton-on-the-Water Recreation Ground

    A local play area and green space cherished by families, well away from the tourist bustle of the village centre. Bowls pitch, tree-shaded benches — the everyday rhythm of village life on full display.

  • 11

    Nature

    Nature

    Bourton-on-the-Water Primary School Meadow Path

    Country path skirting the school meadows north of the village, favoured by local families in late afternoon. Car-free access to open fields, with views of limestone stone-tiled roofs.

  • 12

    Nature

    Nature

    Aston Farm Bridleway toward Clapton

    Bridleway and footpath heading south from the village towards Clapton's heights, offering gradually expanding views across the Windrush valley. Barely marked on tourist maps, so rarely crowded.

  • 13

    Nature

    Nature

    Sherborne Brook Footpath

    Path following Sherborne Brook north-east through open pasture typical of the Cotswold plateau. Quiet and perfect for spotting rabbits and red kites.

  • 14

    Nature

    Nature

    Windrush Valley Footpath toward Lower Slaughter

    3 km walking trail connecting Bourton to Lower Slaughter along the Windrush. One of the finest stretches in the Cotswolds, featuring watermills, meadows and honey-coloured stone hamlets.

  • 15

    Nature

    Nature

    Rissington Road Meadow Walk

    Meadow path following the Windrush towards Great Rissington, little marked on tourist maps. Sweeping views across the Cotswolds hills, ideal in late afternoon for golden light.

  • 16

    Nature

    Nature

    Bourton-on-the-Water, Windrush Springs Trail

    Walking upstream along the Windrush from Bourton, you quickly leave the crowds for damp meadows inhabited by lapwings and plovers. The contrast with the tourist village is striking from the first bend.

Parks & gardens

1 place

  • Sherborne Village and Park17Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

    Park

    Sherborne Village and Park

    National Trust hamlet with an 18th-century landscaped park threaded by Sherborne Brook. Open footpaths, herds of deer, and an atmosphere of private estate that welcomes all.

Viewpoints

1 place

  • 18

    Viewpoint

    Viewpoint

    Clapton-on-the-Hill Viewpoint

    Hill 4 km north offering exceptional panoramic views over Windrush valley and the Cotswolds. Accessible on foot via Wolds Way trails, rarely crowded.

Activities

6 places

  • Donnington Brewery19Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

    Activity

    Donnington Brewery

    One of England's smallest and oldest breweries, operating since 1865 within a 13th-century mill at Stow-on-the-Wold. External visits possible; its ales appear in every respectable local pub.

  • Folly Farm Adventure Park & Zoo20Wikipedia · CC BY-SA

    Activity

    Folly Farm Adventure Park & Zoo

    Farm zoo and adventure park 2 km from the centre, featuring rare farm animals and outdoor play structures. Popular with local families rather than tour groups.

  • 21

    Activity

    Activity

    Windrush Trout Farm

    Trout farm on the Windrush offering day-ticket fishing and direct sales of smoked fish. An authentic rural experience, ideal for understanding how the river is managed and valued locally.

  • 22

    Activity

    Activity

    Croft Farm Waterpark

    Water sports facility on the River Eye at Lechlade Road, offering kayaking, paddleboarding and swimming in unspoilt natural surroundings. Predominantly frequented by local residents.

  • 23

    Activity

    Activity

    Birdland Park & Gardens

    Intimate ornithological park on the Windrush's banks, home to penguins, flamingos and parrots within naturalistic enclosures. Lesser-known than heavyweight attractions, yet thoroughly rewarding for an hour's amble.

  • 24

    Activity

    Activity

    Bourton-on-the-Water Birdland Watermill

    15 km from Bibury, Birdland is an ornithological park set on the banks of the Windrush with a remarkable collection of flamingos, penguins and parrots. Less showy than the village itself and hugely popular with local families.

More to discover

3 places

  • 25

    Place

    Place

    Farhill Farm Shop

    Family farm on the village fringe selling seasonal vegetables, local meat and Gloucestershire cheeses direct to customers. The local alternative to supermarkets, prized by residents.

  • 26

    Place

    Place

    Naunton Village and Black Horse Inn

    Valley-bottom village often overlooked by the tourist trail, with golden stone cottages lining the infant Windrush. The Black Horse Inn is an unpretentious country pub, patronised by local farmers.

  • 27

    Place

    Place

    Bourton Vale Football Club Grounds

    Amateur football pitch on the village outskirts, a symbol of local community life. Attending a weekend match offers an authentic glimpse of Bourton away from the tourist trail.

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