Things To Do

Enjoy a pint of award-winning Hawkstone Lager or Cider at the brewery’s relaxed taproom, open daily with food trucks serving delicious local bites throughout the week. For a deeper dive, join a guided tour of the brewhouse — complete with generous tastings and a behind-the-scenes look at the brewing process.

Hook Norton Brewery is one of the Cotswolds’ oldest independent breweries, still using traditional methods in its Victorian tower brewery. Take a guided tour to see the brewing process in action, meet the iconic Shire horses, and sample a range of award-winning ales. Afterward, enjoy a pint in the on-site Malthouse Kitchen or browse local produce, gifts, and beer in the brewery shop.

Wood Brothers Distillery crafts premium small-batch spirits on their Oxfordshire family farm, from field to bottle. Join a guided tour to discover how their award-winning gin and vodka are made, explore the copper stills, and learn about their sustainable grain-to-glass approach. For a hands-on experience, take part in their gin school, where you can create and distill your own bespoke bottle to take home.

Photo credit: @woodbrosdistilling

Dunkertons Park is the ideal place to savour their award-winning organic ciders, including a farm shop showcasing Daylesford products and La Boulangerie’s artisan bakery. Enjoy a rotating selection of ciders in the taproom, while various eateries serve delicious seasonal dishes. The venue regularly hosts live music and streams sports events, making it a vibrant spot for friends and family. Don’t forget to visit the shop for bottles, hampers, and gifts to take home.

Photo credit: @dunkertonspark

Uley Brewery produces distinctive, traditionally crafted ales in the heart of the Cotswolds. While the brewery itself doesn’t offer regular tours, you can enjoy their award-winning beers at a variety of local pubs and bars. Use their online pint finder to easily locate the nearest spots serving fresh Uley pints, making it simple to experience their unique flavours wherever you are in the region.

Photo credit: Uley Brewery

North Cotswolds Brewery is a family-run craft brewery established in 1999, located on the Fosseway near Moreton-in-Marsh and Shipston-on-Stour. They offer award-winning ales including Windrush Ale, Moreton Mild, and Green Man IPA. Visit their brewery shop for bottles, draught, cask ales, and gifts.

Photo credit: North Cotswold Brewery

The award-winning Cotswolds Distillery offers a fantastic range of experiences for spirit lovers, from guided tours and tastings to hands-on whisky and gin blending masterclasses where you can craft your own unique creation. If you’d like to take a little piece of the Cotswolds home, you’ll also find their dedicated Cotswolds Distillery Shop right here in Bourton-on-the-Water, just a five-minute stroll from The Mousetrap Inn.

Set across nine acres of riverside gardens, Birdland is home to over 500 exotic and rare birds, including flamingos, cassowaries, and England’s only breeding group of King Penguins. Explore over 50 aviaries, wander through themed zones like Out of Africa and Pandemonium of Parrots, and spot life-sized dinosaurs in the woodland on the Jurassic Journey.

Step back in time at Cotswold Motoring Museum, a nostalgic journey through vintage cars, retro memorabilia, and classic toys. Housed in a 17th-century watermill, the museum features seven galleries filled with motoring history, from the 1920s to the 1970s. Don’t miss Brum, the beloved children’s TV car, who calls the museum home.

Cotswold Farm Park offers a fun and educational day out for all ages. Founded by farmer and TV presenter Adam Henson, the park is home to a wide range of rare breeds, interactive animal encounters, and seasonal farm activities. Kids can enjoy indoor and outdoor play areas, while grown-ups can relax with food and drink from the café or farm shop.

Photo credit: Cotswold Farm Park

Located in Stretton-on-Fosse, Cotswold Goat Yoga offers a joyful and relaxing countryside experience. Enjoy gentle yoga sessions surrounded by playful, home-bred Pygmy goats in a peaceful rural setting. Whether you’re new to yoga or a seasoned pro, it’s a light-hearted and restorative way to connect with nature, and share a mat with a few furry friends.

Located just outside Burford, Cotswold Wildlife Park & Gardens is one of the UK’s most loved wildlife attractions. Set in 160 acres of landscaped parkland, it’s home to over 250 animal species, from giraffes and rhinos to lemurs and penguins. A fun-filled day out for families, nature lovers, and anyone looking to get up close with the wild side of the Cotswolds.

Challenge yourself in this traditional yew hedge maze with a clever twist. At The Dragonfly Maze, your goal isn’t just to reach the centre, it’s to solve 14 hidden clues along the way. Only by finding them all can you uncover the secret of the Golden Dragonfly hidden in the central pavilion.

Step into a charming miniature world at The Model Village, the only one in the UK to faithfully recreate its own village in 1/9th scale. This unique attraction, awarded Grade II listed status by English Heritage in 2013, offers a rare glimpse into Bourton-on-the-Water as it stood in the 1930s. Wander among meticulously crafted buildings, stone bridges, and gardens.

Around a 30-minute drive from Bourton-on-the-Water, Diddly Squat Farm Shop, made famous by Jeremy Clarkson’s Clarkson’s Farm , is a quirky and much-loved countryside stop. Browse shelves stocked with bold local produce, including Hawkstone Lager, farm-fresh milk, and seasonal goods straight from the fields.

Photo credit: @diddlysquat.farmshop

The Farmer’s Dog is Jeremy Clarkson’s country pub and a destination in its own right. It offers a full day out with a seasonal restaurant, a one-stop butcher, and a bottle shop and bar serving Hawkstone Lager, fine wines, and local spirits.

Photo credit: The Farmer’s Dog

The Den is a little family-run café in the heart of Bourton-on-the-Water, where you can enjoy a great coffee and a proper catch-up. It’s the kind of place where the barista might know your name by the second visit, and where you can settle in and watch the village wake up at its own leisurely pace.

Daylesford Organic is a destination for food lovers and wellness seekers alike. Explore the award-winning farm shop, organic café, garden centre, and homeware store, all set on a beautiful working farm. Enjoy seasonal dishes made from fresh, locally grown ingredients or unwind with a treatment at the Bamford Wellness Spa.

Known as the “Gateway to the Cotswolds,” Burford is a charming medieval town filled with stone buildings and bustling high street shops. Stroll along the quaint streets lined with independent boutiques, tearooms, and traditional pubs. Visit the stunning 12th-century St. John the Baptist Church and soak up the town’s rich history.

Often called “the prettiest village in England,” Castle Combe is a beautifully preserved medieval village nestled in the southern Cotswolds. With its stone cottages, quiet lanes, and a 14th-century market cross, it feels like stepping into a storybook. Popular with photographers and film crews alike, the village is also home to cosy pubs and tearooms, perfect for a peaceful afternoon stroll or a traditional lunch.

Just a short walk from Bourton-on-the-Water, the twin villages of Lower and Upper Slaughter offer timeless Cotswold charm. Highlights include the 19th-century water mill in Lower Slaughter and scenic countryside paths between the two. Enjoy a leisurely meal at The Slaughters Country Inn or a fine dining experience at Lords of the Manor.

Famous for its bustling market square, Stow-on-the-Wold is a vibrant market town just a short drive from Bourton-on-the-Water. Discover charming antique shops, art galleries, and cosy cafés nestled among historic buildings. Don’t miss the impressive St. Edward’s Church with its iconic door surrounded by ancient yew trees.