Day trips are an excellent idea as the weather warms up and one popular place not far from Bristol is Bourton-on-the-Water. With thousands of visitors each year, the village in the Cotswolds has lots to offer.
If you are looking for beautiful scenery and wildlife, then Bourton is the place for you. What is more, Bourton even has its own model vilage, as reported by Wiltshire Live.
The small village offers something for everyone, and is just over an hour's drive from Bristol. Despite its size it comes with a list as long as your arm of places to visit, all with a backdrop of the beautiful River Windrush.
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Described as "the Venice of the Cotswolds", Bourton-on-the-Water is famous for its honey-coloured stone architecture and idyllic waterside location. As its website suggests, "Bourton is not a theme park, it does not open and close nor is there an entry fee", but it is definitely a great day out, with activities to suit everybody's tastes.
It offers a wealth of attractions and shops, restaurants, cafes and tea rooms, or you can simply enjoy some restful moments by the crystal clear waters of the River Windrush. Although you might also find plenty of kids splashing around, described in high season "as bustling as any seaside resort".
Not one to be missed is Bourton's model village which is a scaled replica depicting its beautiful Cotswold features. The tiny village is a one-ninth scale replica of the real one, and shows all its buildings from the Old Water Mill down to the Old New Inn and the ford.
It took local craftsmen five years to build, and is so accurate it even features a model village within the model village as well as a flowing river with water wheel.
For the car fans, the Cotswold Motoring Museum is also popular with visitors to the village. Full to the brim with with classic and vintage cars, caravans, motorcycles and other motoring curiosities it takes you on a journey through time to explore the history of 20th-century motoring. And Brum, the BBC's superhero car whose adventures start and end at the museum can be found there every day.
If you want to meet England’s only breeding group of King Penguins and African Penguins, Bourton-on-the-water is your place. Birdland Park and Gardens is set in nine acres of gardens and woodland and houses over 500 birds including some very rare species. You might spot flamingos, pelicans, cranes and waterfowl that all live in the riverside habitat.
For something to eat Gloucestershire Live recommend Bakery on the Water, for their indulgent morning pastries and freshly brewed coffee. It has a charming riverside position, and "you have the option to eat in the café, the Riverside Garden or you could take one of our picnic baskets to eat by the River".
This article was first published in May 2023 and was updated in May 2024.
