Bourton on the Water Things to Do – Attractions & Must See

Bourton-on-the-Water Things to Do

Bourton-on-the-Water, a village in Gloucerstershire England, is a beautiful waterway with accessible arched stone bridges and unique communities. The area offers many things to do while visiting the river and this beautiful part of England.

Birdland/Dragon Fly Maze

Birdland is 9 acres of parkland, complete with exotic birds and a penguin area. Birds run the gamut from parrots to owls and other indigenous species. Visit the interactive Discovery Zone, which houses all varieties of reptiles. Many visitors enjoy the Rebus style yew maze, known as the Dragon Maze.

Village Center

Take a walk through the historic village or enjoy your time by the river. Bring along your camera to take pictures of the lovely English buildings and cottages. A walk through the Village Center streets will take you back to old England and its history. While there,enjoy lunch time in Village Center at one of the great river side cafes or enjoy a picnic lunch along the riverbank.

Model Village

The Model Village is a one-ninth scale replica of the village that was opened in 1937 by then King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. The model village is complete with a miniature River Windrush, bridges and even includes a replica of the Church of St Lawrence. The little ones enjoy touring the mini ‘kid size’ village.

Cotswold Motoring Museum

Tourists enjoy the Cotswold Motoring Museum and the 50 restored vehicles from the past 90 years. Any auto buff will enjoy the museum with its motoring memorabilia, bicycles and motorbikes. The collection is completed with a newly added exhibition of toys and pedal cars. Children will enjoy seeing a replica of  Brum, made famous by the British cartoon show for kids.

River Windrush/Bridges

The River Windrush winds its way through Bourton on the Water and is highlighted by walkway bridges at several points.  The walkway bridges have a history of their own, with the earliest being the Mill Bridge ( also known as Broad Bridge) that was built around 1654. Walk along the beautiful banks of the river or simply enjoy an afternoon with other tourists, relaxing on its banks.

Model Railway

Don’t forget to visit the model railway , located at the back of the toy store in the village. There are three different models, with mixed British and German train history. Kids are encouraged to participate in the display through the interactive buttons that start and stop all three trains.  Enjoy the over 500 square model railways in this exhibit. The small entrance fee is well worth the price.

Editors Note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about things to do at Bourton on the Water.