Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water: history & character

Bourton-on-the-Water, nicknamed the "Venice of the Cotswolds", grew up along the River Windrush that runs through the middle of the village, crossed by five low 18th-century stone bridges and lined with a broad grassy green. A medieval wool village turned Cotswold tourism landmark, it is built in the region's typical honey-coloured stone and remains one of the most visited villages in England. A deep British dog-walking culture sits on top: dogs are welcome in most of the pubs and cafes, several with a dog menu, and near-level, stile-free footpaths lead to the storybook villages of Lower and Upper Slaughter. The long-distance Warden's Way runs through the village, and the Greystones Farm nature reserve borders its eastern edge. This is a working landscape, with grazing cattle and ground-nesting birds in spring. One practical note: since Brexit, a GB Animal Health Certificate is required for dogs arriving from the EU.