The Cotswolds are one of the most famous regions in the UK, attracting thousands of tourists to marvel at their collection of fairy-tale villages and storybook towns. One particular village is dubbed the 'Venice of the Cotswolds', thanks to its sparkling waterway and charming stone bridges, but locals say tourists always miss one of its finest areas.
Bourton-on-the-Water is one of the most popular places to visit, frequently hailed as one of the 'prettiest Cotswolds villages' and attracting around 300,000 visitors each year. Even when I visited the idyllic village on a Wednesday afternoon, it was packed with people wandering along its narrow paths, sitting on its pristine lawns and posing for photos with the iconic backdrop of quintessential stone cottages.
The crystal-clear River Windrush that gently meanders through the village is certainly a major draw, with several stone bridges crossing to either side of Bourton-on-the-Water and an immaculate lawn that invites visitors to take in the serene setting. Low-hanging trees provide ample shade, while its award-winning chippy, The Chip Shed, and Cotswold Ice Creams, served from an authentic cart, offer a tasty summer treat.
There are traditional tearooms for that sought-after cream tea from Mrs Rolt's Tea Rooms or Green & Pleasant Tea Rooms, alongside cosy coffee houses, like The Den and Bourton Riverside Café, that sit at the heart of the action. It's also home to a selection of pubs, including The Old Manse and Kingsbridge, which offer that refreshing pint or pub grub while sitting along the riverside.
There is an array of attractions, such as the Cotswold Motoring Museum & Toy Collection and The Model Village, along with a plethora of shops. The Once Upon a Candy Shop stands out on the high street with its eccentric and colourful display, which easily compares to Disney's classic water ride, 'It's a Small World', while the Victorian Christmas Shop is a close second, with its store brimming with festive ornaments year-round.
Bourton-on-the-Water feels more like a town than a village, and it's easy to get caught up in its idyllic setting, which has even left visitors wondering whether they need to pay to enter just to marvel at its beauty. With the village divided by the river, and offerings in every direction, some tourists have missed out on a major part of the village without even realising.
During my visit, I spoke to local shopkeepers and one revealed: "A lot of people just tend to stick to one side of the river, and they don't understand that there are shops behind the river as well.
"There are a lot of really good places, little bespoke shops like The Cotswolds Perfumery, the Cotswold Candlemakers, where they make all their own candles, and the crystal shop, The Lodestone. That's all on the other side of the bridges."
The resident added: "They don't realise those shops are there, which I think is a shame because they're really good. But unfortunately, people just tend to stick to one side, sit on the green, and that's it. There's also The Cotswold Pottery shop that people don't know about."
Allan Hymers, who cheerfully declared to me, "I'm the famous ice cream man", had another piece of advice for visitors and urged them to wander a little off the beaten track. "I encourage people to take a walk and look at our houses, where we live, as it's not just about the cafes and pubs."
Serving up scoops from the Cotswolds Ice Cream cart, Allan added: "There are little alleyways and a big house with a wheel, it's just lovely, and you'll only see it then. I call it the ice cream walk, do a circle around the back of the houses and come back for an ice cream."
There's also a lot more beyond the Cotswolds village that can go unnoticed, as tourists stick to the main drag or what they see on social media. Rebecca Olivia, who works at Bourton's Little Sweet Shop, recommended a nearby hidden gem worth exploring.
"Lower Slaughter is a little village, a 10-minute walk from here. It's quite hidden away, but it's beautiful," she said. Additionally, there's the hilltop market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, just a short drive from Bourton-on-the-Water, that Rebecca noted is the place for shopping and eating.
"It's very different, there's no river, and it used to be a market town for sheep, but if you want to go shopping or eat out, Stow is the place to go," she shared.
So next time you're in the Cotswolds, look for those local recommendations, and during a trip to Bourton-on-the-Water, make sure you cross the river and wander a little further - you never know what you might stumble upon.
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