Hotels in Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water's hotels and guesthouses trade on the village's riverside setting, and the best of them make the most of it. Coaching inns such as the Old Manse and Chester House sit directly on the banks of the Windrush, giving guests a view of the footbridges and grassy banks from their windows, while a scattering of smaller B&Bs occupy converted Cotswold stone townhouses just off the main street, within a few minutes' walk of the shops and attractions. Further out, country house hotels around the neighbouring villages of the Slaughters and Clapton-on-the-Hill offer a quieter, more spread-out alternative, often with their own grounds and restaurants, for guests happy to drive or taxi the short distance into Bourton itself.

Booking ahead is strongly advised for spring and summer, when Bourton is one of the most visited villages in the Cotswolds and rooms on or near the river sell out weeks in advance. Many of the village-centre hotels have limited parking, so it is worth checking availability before arriving by car, and some properties get genuinely lively downstairs in their bars on summer evenings, which suits some travellers better than others. Outside peak season, rates drop and availability opens up considerably, making autumn and winter a good time to find a central room at short notice.