Located just 15 miles east of Cheltenham is the village of Bourton on the Water, also known as “The Venice of the Cotswolds” due to its several stone bridges which cross the River Windrush.
The village, which is home to more than 4,100 people, also features a lot of shops, restaurants and art galleries, making it perfect for an easy day trip from Cheltenham. If you’re buying a property in Cheltenham or nearby, a visit to Bourton is a good way to get to know the area.
Bourton on the Water has lots to offer visitors
Despite its small size, Bourton on the Water has lots to see and do. A firm favourite with visitors from the local area and from overseas is the Bourton Model Village located behind the Old New Inn pub. There’s also Birdland Park and Gardens on Rissington Road and Bourton Model Railway Exhibition on the village’s High Street.
For nature fans, there’s the Salmonsbury Meadows Nature Reserve, which is a 44-acre biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and for car enthusiasts, there’s the Old Mill on Sherbourne Street.
Bourton on the Water is full of history
There’s been a church in Bourton on the Water since 709CE and visitors to the village can visit the chancel in St Lawrence’s Church on Lansdowne Street. Walter de Burhton (who also lent his name to the village) commissioned this church and the oldest part of it dates back to 1328.
Bourton on the Water’s bridges
The village’s nickname “The Venice of the Cotswolds” might be something of an exaggeration as there are only five of these low footbridges compared to Venice’s 435!
However, they add a lot of character to the place and are popular photo spots for locals and tourists alike. Made from the characteristic Cotswold stone found in the area, the bridges are thought to date between 1654 and 1911.
