28 December 2023 , 15:27
688
0
A pretty English village that's often hailed as one of the UK's most romantic places is well worth a visit over the winter.
If you are looking to sweep someone off their feet, Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds could be just the place. The idyllic Gloucestershire village is a treat at any time of the year. In the summer it comes alive with people paddling in the cool, shallow waters of the River Windrush, sitting on the banks and bridges. Come the winter time a pleasant afternoon can be spent shutting out the cold by stopping off for a pint of local mild in one of the characteristically quaint pubs.
One of the best is the freehouse Mousetrap Inn, a 19th century pub that is traditional on the outside and characterful on the inside, with 11 individually designed bedrooms and a highly rated restaurant.
For those who can't quite get enough of the beauty, there's more good news as the village was recently named one of the best places to live in the UK for 2024, with Britain's town and villages ranked on everything from schools and shops to the quality of the local pubs.
(Getty Images)While it may not have quite as many canals flowing through it, Bourton-on-the-Water is referred to by some - perhaps slightly with tongue in cheek - as the Venice of the Cotswolds. As many as 1,000 people visit the small village each day during the high season, making it down to the edge of the river which runs through its centre.
You can now vote for your favourite Tourism Superstar for 2023
Visitor numbers fall in the winter months but it's still a great location to explore, with lots to offer day trippers or people staying for a few days.
For those looking to blow away the cobwebs, the village is the starting point for many pretty walks, including the Bourton-on-the-Water and Stow-on-the-Wold Circular, a 15.1-km (9.3 mile) circular trail which takes an average of four hours to complete. The route has attracted positive reviews on website All Trails, but many say it can be a bit muddy in places.
Delivering its judgement on the village's highly romantic status, Rough Guides wrote: "Bourton-on-the-Water is the epicentre of Cotswold tourism. Beside the village green – flanked by photogenic Jacobean and Georgian facades in yellow Cotswold stone – five picturesque little bridges span the shallow River Windrush, dappled by shade from overhanging trees.
"It looks lovely, but its proximity to main roads means that it’s invariably packed with people. Tourist coaches cram in all summer long and the little High Street now concentrates on souvenirs and teashops, interspersed with everything from a Model Village and Motoring Museum to a Dragonfly Maze and Bird Park."