Bourton-on-the-Water Hotels

Venice of the Cotswolds

Due to its numerous arched stone bridges that cross the River Windrush, Bourton is sometimes called the Venice of the Cotswolds. After a summer's afternoon spent on the lush riverbank, you won't find it hard to see why the two places are mentioned in the same breath.

A relaxing picnic spent by the Windrush is a wonderful thing. However, if you're after something a bit more substantial, Bourton has plenty of excellent restaurants and pubs in which to while away the hours. Smith's of Bourton is a local favourite. A lovingly kept tea room with great homemade cakes, sandwiches and proper cups of tea.

For later on in the evening, to compliment the sugary scones you ate earlier, head to The Mousetrap Inn. This cosy pub not only has great beer and wine but also top quality grub. The Kingsbridge is also a popular drinking spot with good fish and chips to boot.

A model village

When you feel as though the weight and size of the world is getting too much for you, there is a place in Bourton that will put everything in to perspective. Bourton Model Village is a one-ninth scale replica of the old centre of the village.

Such is the painstaking detail to which the craftsmen who built it went, that the model village is made with the same honey coloured stone as the real Bourton-on-the-Water. There is even a flowing river with a water mill and, for true surrealists, there is, of course, a model village within the Model Village.

After you are done mapping out your day from the bird's eye perspective, there is also the amazing Miniature World exhibition. England's best miniaturist craftsmen were all involved in the creation of these unique detailed miniature scenes. The exhibition will bring you hours of marvel.

Birdland

On a beautiful day you do not necessarily want to be indoors staring at tiny expertly carved rocking chairs, as fun as this is. There are not many better ways to enjoy this, admittedly hypothetical, sunshine than at Birdland. This may sound like some multi-coloured fantasy world inhabited by strange and exotic birds, and it basically is.

Just a few hundred metres outside of the village, Birdland is set in luscious woodland, rivers and gardens and is home to over 500 birds. Some of the delightful creatures you can see here are flamingos, pelicans, penguins, storks and even a cassowary, a rare ostrich-like beast from Australia. The whole family will enjoy Birdland and all of Bourton – a little slice of magic right in the heart of the Cotswolds.