Bourton-on-the-Water is known as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds' — a large, beautiful Cotswold village where the shallow River Windrush flows beneath a series of elegant low stone bridges through the centre of the village green. In summer the river is filled with children paddling and visitors picnicking on the banks — an idyllic English scene that draws over a million visitors annually.
The village has an unusually rich collection of small attractions — the Cotswold Motoring Museum, the Birdland tropical bird park, the Dragonfly Maze and the famous Model Village (a 1:9 scale replica of the village itself, built in 1937). The surrounding villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter, just 3 miles west, are among the most beautiful in England.
Housing & Property Prices
HM Land RegistryAverage Price
£420,000
All property types
Detached
£620,000
Average sold price
Semi-detached
£375,000
Average sold price
Terraced
£305,000
Average sold price
Flat / Maisonette
£218,000
Average sold price
Annual Change
+2.9%
vs previous year
Schools & Ofsted Ratings
OfstedOutstanding
1
schools
Good
2
schools
Requires Improvement
0
schools
Inadequate
0
schools
- Outstanding
Crime Statistics
Police.ukCrime Rate
18
per 1,000 residents
vs National Avg
Well below average
England & Wales
Most Common
Anti-social behaviour
crime category
Broadband & Connectivity
OfcomAverage Download
52 Mbps
median speed
Superfast Coverage
84%
30 Mbps+
Ultrafast Coverage
36%
100 Mbps+
Full Fibre (FTTP)
18%
premises
Health & NHS Access
NHS DigitalNearest GP Surgery
Bourton Vale Medical Centre
0.3 miles away
NHS Trust
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS FT
responsible trust
Nearest Hospital
Cheltenham General Hospital
14.8 miles
Environment & Green Space
DEFRA / ONSAir Quality Index
Good
annual average
Green Space
72%
of local area
Flood Risk
Low
Environment Agency
Transport & Connectivity
DfT / National RailNearest Station
Moreton-in-Marsh Station
8.4 miles
To London
1h 35m
approx by rail
Nearest Motorway
A429
0.4 miles
Nearest Airport
Bristol Airport
62 miles
Bourton-on-the-Water at a Glance — Area Scorecard
TownData.co.ukOverall
8.6
Excellent
Family Life
9.0
Excellent
Schools
9.0
Excellent
Transport
4.0
Poor
Nightlife
4.0
Poor
Value for Money
5.0
Average
Safety
10.0
Excellent
Green Space
9.0
Excellent
Scores calculated from official data sources including ONS, Police.uk, Ofsted and Ofcom. Rated out of 10.
Who is Bourton-on-the-Water Good For?
TownData.co.ukFamilies
✅ Great for families
Commuters
❌ Poor transport links
Students
❌ Limited student life
Retirees
✅ Peaceful & well-served
Young Professionals
❌ Limited for young pros
First-Time Buyers
❌ High house prices
Outdoor Lovers
✅ Excellent green space
Nightlife Seekers
❌ Better options elsewhere
Things to Do & Local Attractions
VisitBritain- River Windrush & Village GreenThe crystal-clear Windrush flows beneath stone bridges across the wide village green. Paddling, picnicking and simply watching the world go by is the quintessential Bourton experience.
- Bourton Model VillageA 1:9 scale replica of Bourton itself built in 1937 in Cotswold stone — complete with a miniature River Windrush. A delightful and uniquely Cotswold attraction.
- BirdlandA wonderful tropical bird park beside the Windrush, home to penguins, flamingos, pelicans and over 500 birds from 130 species. The penguin feeding is a highlight for children.
- Cotswold Motoring MuseumA fascinating collection of vintage cars, motorcycles and motoring memorabilia in a converted watermill. Home of Brum, the children's TV car.
- Upper & Lower SlaughterTwo of the most beautiful villages in England lie just 3 miles west — the clear Eye Brook flows through these unspoilt Cotswold settlements in a setting of perfect tranquillity.
Nearby Towns & Villages
ONS / Ordnance SurveyWeather & Climate
Met OfficeJan
7°C
Feb
7°C
Mar
9°C
Apr
11°C
May
14°C
Jun
17°C
Jul
19°C
Aug
19°C
Sep
16°C
Oct
12°C
Nov
9°C
Dec
7°C
Annual Rainfall
740mm
mm per year
Sunshine Hours
1520 hrs
per year
Warmest Month
July/Aug
avg high 21°C
Coldest Month
January
avg low 1°C
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bourton-on-the-Water a nice place to live?
Bourton-on-the-Water is a settlement in Gloucestershire. It has 100% of schools rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, average house prices of £420,000, and crime that is well below average the national average. Use the sections above to explore the full data profile.
What is the average house price in Bourton-on-the-Water?
The average house price in Bourton-on-the-Water is £420,000 according to HM Land Registry. This covers all property types. See the housing section above for a full breakdown by property type and annual price change.
Is Bourton-on-the-Water safe to live in?
Bourton-on-the-Water's crime rate is well below average the national average. See the crime section above for a full breakdown by category.
What are the schools like in Bourton-on-the-Water?
100% of schools in Bourton-on-the-Water are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. See the schools section above for a full list with individual Ofsted ratings.
How fast is broadband in Bourton-on-the-Water?
Average broadband download speeds in Bourton-on-the-Water are 52 Mbps according to Ofcom. See the broadband section above for superfast and full-fibre coverage figures.
Data sourced from official UK government datasets. All figures are for informational purposes only. TownData.co.uk is an independent website and is not affiliated with any government body.