I love visiting Cotswold villages, and I spend a lot of time there. It’s home to some of England’s prettiest villages, but some remain undiscovered by lots of Brits. From Broadway to Burford, Cirencester to Moreton-in-Marsh, there are villages across the region to visit. 

Whilst there are some towns which I’ve never been back to, others I find myself wanting to go back to weekly. Although potentially one of the busiest, if not the busiest, Cotswolds villages, Bourton-on-the-Water, in my opinion, has the most to do and see. For that reason, I recommend it to everyone.

It’s a village known for its low bridges and traditional stone houses, home to the Cotswold Motoring Museum, Model Village, and plenty of eateries.

Dating from between 1654 and 1911, the bridges are constructed from local Cotswold stone and give the village its byname of “Venice of the Cotswolds”.

Bourton-on-the-Water’s most prized feature is its beautiful river. Rising just outside the small village of Taddington, approximately 10 miles away, the river meanders 35 miles until reaching Newbridge in Oxfordshire, where it flows into the River Thames.

There’s lots to do and see, including visiting Birdland Park & Gardens, home to over 130 species of birds. Visitors can also see the only breeding group of King Penguins in the UK.

Located next door to Birdland Park and Garden is The Dragonfly Maze, a classic garden maze and puzzle that’s great for entertaining the kids.

Opposite is the Model Village, a one-ninth scale replica of the beautiful village. It contains all the buildings from the Old Water Mill, now the Car Museum, down to the Old New Inn and the ford.

I absolutely love visiting the Model Village and have done so ever since I was a child, despite it now costing £4.75 for adults.

The Cotswold Motoring Museum is an absolute must if you’re visiting the village too. It’s packed full of cars, quaint caravans and motorcycles. Brum, the BBC TV’s little yellow car, can also be found in the museum.

If you’re into shopping, Bourton-on-the-Water is packed full of artisan stores and independent shops, as well as cafes, pubs and restaurants.

My favourite eateries include Bakery on the Water and The Den. There’s also an impressive sweet shop known as Once Upon a Candy Shop, but I find it to be quite pricey.

It’s an absolute must-see village if you’ve never been before, with so much to do.  I’d recommend getting there early, however, because parking can be hard to find and it gets very busy, especially in the spring and summer months.