Described as an area of outstanding beauty, the Cotswolds should be on everyone’s bucket list. We chose to stay in the quintessential English village, Bourton on the Water. This charming riverside settlement is often referred to as the “Venice of the Cotswolds,” as it truly presents an idyllic escape from the craziness life can bring you sometimes, especially if you live in the capital like us.
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1. The Scenery
What drew us to visit Bourton on the Water over other Cotswolds villages was its sheer beauty. Rolling hills, serene meadows, and honey-hued stone cottages surround this beautiful village. We spent most of our time photographing the iconic low bridges and the mesmerising reflections they create.
A sight which cannot go unmentioned is River Windrush, which lazily winds its way through the centre of town adding to the unspoiled natural beauty of Bourton on the Water. We stumbled across an array of beautifully preserved stone cottages, quaint tea rooms, and independent boutiques. This village offered us the chance to truly immerse ourselves in the region’s rich history and quintessentially English countryside ambience.
2. Breakfast in Bourton on the Water
When it comes to any sort of getaway, Melissa and I would do intensive research when it came down to where to eat, we almost always have something in mind. However, on this trip, we wanted to be spontaneous and just go with the flow.
We came across The Croft, nestled right next to River Windrush. A waiter was bringing out breakfast for a customer and the smell was divine, we headed straight in. The Croft is walk-in only on weekends for breakfast and lunch.
The Croft was extremely busy but we were seated within 5 mins. The atmosphere was cosy and unpretentious with an enticing breakfast menu. It would have been a crime NOT to order the Full English Breakfast, the sausages were out of this world and we could have eaten 20 of their hash browns. We ordered tea which arrived in this beautiful teapot and a refreshing, cloudy apple juice, both of which were delightful.
We learnt this after our visit but The Croft has an apartment above the restaurant, so if you were looking for somewhere very central to stay, this would be an ideal option. For more information, click here. Overall, The Croft offers great meals using high-quality produce at a fair price.
The Croft – Victoria St, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cheltenham GL54 2BX
Opening Hours: Mon-Wed (8:30am-4:30pm), Thur-Sun (8:30am-8:30pm)
3. You Deserve A Treat
Bourton on the Water is full of bakeries, it felt almost impossible to choose. We peeked into each one to see what was on offer and La Reine was by far our favourite. All the cakes are homemade using Polish recipes to reflect the owner’s heritage. The spread looked delectable and we left with a handful of treats, our favourites being the honey caramel slices and the raspberry cheesecake – they were the perfect sugar rush we needed for our next adventure.
No wonder they are called La Reine, French for ‘The Queen’ – they truly are the queens of homemade cakes and treats!
La Reine – High St, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cheltenham GL54 2AE
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (8:00am-4:00pm)
4. Fancy Paying To Get Lost?
Just 4 mins walk up the road, you will find the Dragonfly Maze.
We hadn’t done a maze since we were kids so we couldn’t contain our excitement when we found out there was a local, classic garden maze. It has 14 hidden clues with a dragonfly in the centre, this really had our brains tingling! The maze takes an average time of 20-50 minutes, it took us half an hour.
Without saying much more or giving anything away, this is fun for everybody!
Prices can be found here. There is no online/telephone booking system and only a certain amount of tickets are sold from the kiosk window on the day, so don’t leave it too late in the afternoon to avoid disappointment.
The Dragonfly Maze – Bourton-on-the-Water, Cheltenham GL54 2BNe-Water, Cheltenham GL54 2AE
Opening Hours: Mon-Sun (10:00am-4:00pm)
5. Conclusion
For those seeking a truly restorative and picturesque Cotswolds experience, there is simply no better place to visit than this enchanting riverside gem.
Great food, friendly locals and unique things to do – Bourton on the Water is a bucket list adventure waiting to be explored by you.
That’s All 23 Travellers! Thank you for reading. We hope you enjoyed reading through ‘Why visiting Bourton on the Water in the Cotswolds should be on your bucket list.’
23 Travels are Personal Travel Planners who have been creating bespoke travel itineraries for many years. If you would like us to plan your trip to The Cotswolds, or any other worldwide destination for you, please visit 23 Travels Itinerary Services.
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