Bourton-on-the-Water is one of the most popular places to stay in the Cotswolds, thanks to its scenic setting on the River Windrush and attractions like the Cotswold Motoring Museum, Model Village and Birdland Park and Gardens. But Bourton’s central location in the North Cotswolds also means it’s perfectly placed if you want to visit other towns and villages around the region.
Although it’s easiest to explore the Cotswolds from Bourton-on-the-Water by car, if you don’t drive or prefer not to, you can also use public transport. Bus services in the Cotswolds don’t always run very frequently or connect well though, so you need to pick your destinations carefully.
We’ve chosen nine towns and villages around the Cotswolds which are easy to reach from Bourton-on-the-Water without a car. Each journey takes less than an hour and you don’t have to coordinate multiple connections, so they make ideal day trips from Bourton-on-the-Water.
Each trip uses local bus services – which makes them great value as most single bus fares in England are capped at a maximum of £2 until the end of 2024, then £3 until the end of 2025.
And if there’s a different Cotswold town or village you’re looking to visit, we’ve also listed other places you can reach by public transport from Bourton-on-the-Water at the end of the post. Though limited services or more complex connections mean these are more suited to a longer visit.
For links to all bus timetables, see our guide to the Cotswolds by public transport. And if you’re travelling by car instead, our town and village guides give details of parking.
Getting to Bourton-on-the-Water
Bourton-on-the-Water doesn’t have a train station, so if you’re visiting without a car you’ll need to catch a train to a nearby station first and then take a bus from there.
The easiest option is to take a train to Moreton-in-Marsh and then catch the Pulhams 801 bus from the train station, which takes 30 minutes and stops near the Edinburgh Woollen Mill in Bourton. The 801 runs around once an hour Monday– Saturday and every two hours on Sundays.
The 801 also connects Bourton with Cheltenham in 45 minutes, which has more frequent train services. Or you could take a train to Kingham and catch the Pulhams 802 bus from there to Bourton. This takes 40 minutes, but has fewer services than the 801 and doesn’t run on Sundays.
Map of day trips from Bourton-on-the-Water
9 easy Cotswold day trips from Bourton-on-the-Water without a car
1. Upper and Lower Slaughter
With their traditional stone cottages and the River Eye trickling past, the neighbouring villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter are bursting with timeless charm. No new building work has taken place in either since 1906, and despite their popularity they’ve kept a peaceful feel.
There’s just over a mile between them, via a gentle path along the river. Both have medieval churches you can visit and elegant manor house hotels to stop off in for lunch or afternoon tea – the Lords of the Manor in Upper Slaughter and the Slaughters Manor House in Lower Slaughter.
How to get there: It’s a 1.5-mile walk from Bourton-on-the-Water to Lower Slaughter. Or you can visit both villages on our 5.4-mile Bourton-on-the-Water to the Slaughters circular walk.
If you don’t fancy walking all the way, the Pulhams 801 bus runs from Bourton-on-the-Water to Slaughter Pike on the A429, a 10-minute walk from Lower Slaughter (30 minutes to Upper Slaughter). The 801 runs around once an hour Monday–Saturday and every two hours on Sundays.
2. Stow-on-the-Wold
At nearly 800 feet, Stow-on-the-Wold is the highest town in the Cotswolds. Fifteenth-century St Edward’s church is best known for its Yew Tree Door, a much-photographed door flanked by ancient trees thought to be the inspiration for the ‘Doors of Durin’ in The Lord of the Rings.
Stow’s Market Square was an important centre of the medieval wool trade and still hosts a monthly farmers’ market. You can also shop for antiques and collectables, or visit one of the town’s historic pubs – like the Porch House, which is reputed to be one of the oldest inns in England.
How to get there: Stow-on-the-Wold is four miles north of Bourton-on-the-Water. The Pulhams 801 bus stops next to the library in Stow and takes 13 minutes. The less-frequent Pulhams 802 bus also runs from Bourton to Stow (excluding Sundays) and takes 28 minutes.
You could also walk between Bourton and Stow, or vice versa, and then catch the bus in the other direction. The route covers 4.2 miles and takes 1.5–2 hours one way.
3. Moreton-in-Marsh
Moreton-in-Marsh is another town with links to JRR Tolkein – he used to drink in The Bell Inn and his favourite table is marked with a map of Middle Earth. Moreton’s long High Street is lined with historic 16th to 18th-century buildings, including Redesdale Hall and the Curfew Tower.
Its open-air market Tuesday market is the biggest in the Cotswolds, and carries on a trading tradition dating back to the 13th century. There’s also the Wellington Aviation Museum, and the gardens at Basford Arboretum and Bourton House are both within walking distance.
How to get there: Moreton-in-Marsh is eight miles north of Bourton-on-the-Water. The Pulhams 801 bus stops at Moreton-in-Marsh railway station and takes around 30 minutes.
4. Cheltenham
With its elegant Regency buildings and landscaped gardens, Cheltenham has been a favourite with visitors since the 18th century, when mineral springs were first discovered here. Although it’s just west of the Cotswolds boundary, it makes an easy day trip from Bourton-on-the-Water.
Cheltenham has a busy calendar of annual events, including its jazz, classical music, science and literature festivals, as well as the famous Gold Cup horse racing. It’s also known for its shopping, eating and drinking – head to Montpellier and the Suffolks for some of the best spots.
How to get there: Cheltenham is 15.5 miles west of Bourton-on-the-Water. The Pulhams 801 bus connects Bourton with Cheltenham Royal Well Bus Station in around 45 minutes.
5. Chipping Norton
The Oxfordshire market town of Chipping Norton is another Cotswold destination which grew up around the wool trade. You can find out more at the Chipping Norton Museum of Local History, or admire the impressive Bliss Tweed Mill on the edge of town, built in 1872 to weave fabric.
The world ‘Chipping’ comes from an old English word for market, and the town still holds a market every Wednesday in the Market Place. ‘Chippy’, as it’s affectionately known, is a relaxed, friendly place with some great independent shopping as well as a popular theatre and cinema.
How to get there: Chipping Norton is 13 miles northeast of Bourton-on-the-Water. It’s also on the route of the Pulhams 801 bus, with hourly services Monday–Saturday. But there are no services to Chipping Norton on Sundays. The journey from Bourton to Chipping Norton takes 40 minutes.
6. Northleach
Northleach is a small market town with a rich history. Its grand 15th-century Church of St Peter and St Paul is considered to be one of the finest wool churches in the Cotswolds. Don’t miss the memorial brasses and impressive stained-glass windows inside. You can also shop the Wednesday market or visit the town’s old prison, which is now a café as well as offering guided walking tours.
How to get there: Northleach is 5.5 miles south of Bourton-on-the-Water. They’re connected by the Pulhams 855 bus, which takes 15 minutes to reach Northleach Market Place. But there are only two–three services a day in each direction Monday–Saturday, and none on Sundays.
7. Bibury
The 14th-century stone cottages on Arlington Row in Bibury were originally built alongside the tranquil Rack Isle water meadows as wool stores, before later being used to house cloth weavers. They’re so quintessentially British they used to be pictured inside UK passports.
You can also try to catch your own fish (or pick up one ready cooked) at Bibury Trout Farm, the oldest working trout farm in the country. Have lunch at the Swan Hotel Brasserie or Catherine Wheel pub. Or head out into the countryside on our 6.7 mile circular walk to Coln St Aldwyns.
How to get there: Bibury is 12 miles south of Bourton-on-the-Water. It’s also on the route of the Pulhams 855 bus, but services are quite limited. There are two departures from Bourton to Bibury in the morning and one bus back in the late afternoon (excluding Sundays), so you could make a day trip of it. The journey takes 35 minutes and the bus stops in The Square in Bibury.
8. Cirencester
Cirencester was once Roman Britain’s second-largest town, and you can still see the remains of its 2nd-century amphitheatre on the edge of town and Roman artefacts at the Corinium Museum. Or discover a more modern take on Cotswold crafts at the New Brewery Arts centre.
Cirencester’s Charter Markets are some of the oldest in the country, taking place on Mondays and Fridays in front of the Church of St John the Baptist. You can also climb to the top of the church tower for views out across the town to Cirencester Park, which has 3000 acres to explore.
How to get there: Cirencester is 15.5 miles southeast of Bourton-on-the-Water. The Pulhams 855 bus takes around 50 minutes and stops at The Forum or Beeches Car Park in Cirencester. There are two–three services a day in each direction Monday–Saturday, but none on Sundays.
9. Kingham
The small village of Kingham is surrounded by the rural landscapes of the Evenlode Valley. It’s a foodie favourite, with two well-renowned pubs – the Wild Rabbit and Kingham Plough – as well as Daylesford Organic Farm with its popular farm shop, garden centre, restaurants and spa. You can walk there from Kingham in 40 minutes, or take our 5.9-mile circular walk via Bledington.
How to get there: Kingham is 9.5 miles northeast of Bourton-on-the-Water. The Pulhams 802 bus runs to Kingham railway station (which is a 25-minute walk from the village centre) in around 40 minutes. There are four–five services in each direction Monday–Saturday, but none on Sundays.
The Robin
As well as scheduled buses, Bourton-on-the-Water is also covered by the Cotswolds’ bookable minibus service, The Robin. This allows you to pre-book journeys to small towns and villages within the North Cotswolds area. Rides can be requested and booked via their website and cost £2.
From Bourton-on-the-Water you could use this to travel to places like Daylesford, Longborough, Bledington, Snowshill or Guiting Power which don’t have regular bus connections.
How do I get to…?
Is your favourite Cotswold town or village not listed? We’ve included the main Cotswold destinations you can easily reach on day trips from Bourton-on-the-Water without a car. But if you don’t mind a slower and more complex journey with more changes along the way, this is how to visit:
- Broadway: Pulhams 801 bus to Moreton-in-Marsh, then Stagecoach 1/2 bus to Broadway.
- Burford: Pulhams 855 bus to Northleach, then Stagecoach S2 bus to Burford.
- Chipping Campden: Pulhams 801 bus to Moreton-in-Marsh, then Stagecoach 1/2 bus to Chipping Campden.
- Oxford: Pulhams 801 bus to Moreton-in-Marsh, then a direct train to Oxford. Or Pulhams 855 bus to Northleach, then Stagecoach S2 bus to Oxford.
- Painswick: Pulhams 801 bus to Cheltenham, then Stagecoach 66 bus to Painswick.
- Stratford-upon-Avon: Pulhams 801 bus to Moreton-in-Marsh, then Stagecoach 51A or the slower Stagecoach 1/2 bus to Stratford-upon-Avon.
- Tetbury: Pulhams 855 bus to Cirencester, then Stagecoach 882 bus to Tetbury.
- Winchcombe: The Robin bookable bus. Or Pulhams 801 bus to Cheltenham, then Stagecoach W or Pulhams 606 bus to Winchcombe.
Do double-check timetables as services and connections are limited, especially at weekends.
Guided tours from Bourton-on-the-Water to Cotswolds
If time is tight and you want to visit several places around the Cotswolds in one day without hiring a car, another option is a guided day tour – or for groups it may be worth hiring a car and driver.
There aren’t currently any day tours of the Cotswolds from Bourton-on-the-Water, but you could catch an early Pulhams 801 bus to Moreton-in-Marsh and join a tour from the station. There are a few different tours available, which vary in duration and in which destinations they visit:
- Cotswolds Tour:* 7.5-hour minibus tour to Dover’s Hill, Chipping Campden, Snowshill, Stow-on-the-Wold and Bibury – though you do also spend time back in Bourton-on-the-Water.
- Secret Cotswolds:* 7.5-hour minibus tour which visits some lesser-known spots, including the Rollright Stones, Burford, Broadway, Stanton and Guiting Power.
- Cotswolds Walks and Villages Guided Tour:* 7.5-hour minibus tour featuring walks to the Broadway Tower and through the Windrush Valley, plus Broadway village and Burford.
* This site contains affiliate links, where I get a small commission from purchases at no extra cost to you.
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