Bourton-on-the-Water, a picturesque village in the heart of the Cotswolds, attracts around 300,000 tourists each year. Known as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds' for its crystal-clear River Windrush and honey-hued cottages, the village feels like a storybook come to life. However, residents reveal they are often asked the same peculiar question: how much it costs to enter the village.
During a sunny afternoon visit, I spoke with locals who shared their experiences. One resident, who works in the car park, said: 'A lot of people don't realise that the village itself is free, and a lot of people ask me how much it costs. They ask, how much it is to enter the village. They don't realise that it's not somewhere you need to pay for.'
Another common question is about closing times. The same resident added: 'I get asked, quite regularly, 'What time do you close?', as in the village. I say, 'Well, the village itself doesn't, but the shops do'. There's no opening or closing of the village, no.'
Life in a Tourist Hotspot
Despite the constant queries, locals feel fortunate to live in such a beautiful place. 'We are very lucky to live here, because it is simply beautiful. It's no wonder that people come to visit, and if I didn't live here, it would be one of the places I would want to come and visit,' one resident told me with a smile.
Allan Hymers, the village's famous ice cream man, shared his love for the community: 'I love living here, it's great. Everyone knows me, I know everyone in the village, I love it, and it's the best job I've ever had in my life.'
With a small population of around 4,000, tourists often outnumber residents on busy days. However, locals acknowledge that visitors are essential to the village's economy. 'We wouldn't have all this without visitors, we have five pubs, cafes, restaurants and really nice places. There are some amazing places in the Cotswolds, but there's nothing to do, but we have this, so it's there to be had,' Allan said.
Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Path
Residents urge tourists to explore beyond the main riverfront. '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,' one local explained.
'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.'
Nearby Attractions
For those looking to extend their trip, Rebecca Olivia, who works at Bourton's Little Sweet Shop, recommended Lower Slaughter, a hidden village just a 10-minute walk away. 'Lower Slaughter is a little village, a 10-minute walk from here. It's quite hidden away, but it's beautiful,' she said.
Rebecca also noted that Stow-on-the-Wold, a hilltop market town a short drive from Bourton-on-the-Water, is the place to eat and shop. '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.'
A punter at the Kingsbridge pub echoed the importance of tourism: 'There are a lot of independent shops in Bourton-on-the-Water, but without most of the tourists, would they survive? If we didn't have visitors, there might just be two pubs, one newsagent's and a chip shop, that's it.'
Despite the odd questions, residents welcome visitors and hope they will discover the village's full charm. As one local summed up: 'It does look like someone's going to shut the gates and close, but luckily, those eager to visit can travel to and from the pretty Cotswolds village at any time.'
