Bourton-on-the-water with kids

[Scottishgirl85]

We're about to go on holiday staying in BoW for 1 week. Any recommendations for things to do in the area with primary schools aged children please? Thanks!

There is Birdland and a model village in Bourton on the Water that are good for children.
You are also close to the Cotswold Farm Park.

There was a maze with a hunt the fish I think as you went through it. The best bit was the banter of the guy on the kiosk before we started though. I was crying with laughter. My son had a great time finding the model villages inside the model
village. Plus it’s just generally a lovely place.

There's a steam railway nearby plus Puzzle Wood is very Lord of the Rings and well worth a visit.

Oh yes yes to PuzzleWood. When I went there were lots of children but it’s delightful for adults too. Really otherworldly.

You're about half an hour from Cirencester which has a great Roman museum

Stow on the Wold is nearby if you want a change of scene for an afternoon. It has a book shop and a couple of decent-sized secondhand/low grade antique shops that are good for a pocket money rummage for treasure. Small cars, costume jewellery, buttons, old comics etc. If you like Tolkien, the churchyard has Durin's door from LOTR which is pretty cool.

In Bourton itself paddling (in wellies) and feeding the ducks (everywhere sells duck food) is good. And there is a little shop that sells rocks and stones which is worth a nosey around (again, there is pocket money treasure to be found, but just looking is fascinating). The toy shop with the model railway has sadly closed down.

Go and feed the fish at Bibury Trout Farm.

What about a TREASURE TRAIL?

And Chedworth Roman villa

Cotswold wildlife park, as no one has mentioned it yet

And you're under an hour from Warwick Castle, which is brilliant for kids.

The Motoring & Toy Museum in Bourton is really great and much bigger than it looks from the outside. Loads of exhibits which they let small children scramble on and IIRC activity packs/a trail to follow. Afterwards sit next to the river and have ice-creams or afternoon tea.

One of my happiest memories as a child was paddling in the river at Bourton.
There are lots of lovely tea rooms, the perfumery and if you fancy a change of scenery you can walk to The Slaughters via Clarksons' Brewery. I don't know if you can see anything there? ( the brewery) but Tgr Slaughters are very picturesque and have a lovely pub garden.

Cotswold farm park is a good day out.
(Vested interest as DD works in the restaurant)

Snowshill Manor (NT) is packed full of the bonkers sort of stuff that appeals to children collectables. It's about 10 miles away.

The Valley just outside Evesham has a high ropes course, crazy golf, mini railway and a free splash pad and play area

Cotswold wildlife park and Crocodiles of the world - both near Burford

Echo the above
and Broadway has a great adventure playground. Evesham riverside has a nice playground and splash pads.
Cirencester and Cheltenham have Lidos
Someone has already mentioned Warwick, so echo that and St Nicholas Park has loads to do for kids, including boat and pedals hire
Stratford has loads too, including the MAD museum and a lovely riverside with a big wheel and park (and paddling pool)
Cotswold country park and beach

it’s a lovely place to stay, you’ll have a great time :)

Pedalo hire! Daft phone 🤣

We were in the area at the weekend and went to All Things Wild, brilliant day! www.allthingswild.co.uk

Bourton is lovely. The town itself will be RAMMED on sunny days though, so if you're planning time in town, go early!
Puzzlewood is down near Symonds Yat I think? Quite some way from Bourton.

Broadway is close-ish and you can go up to Broadway tower (big hill, but nice views). There's a steam railway close to there, if that's your kind of thing.

Stratford is closer than Warwick - if you want a town to visit, that would be a good choice (Mad Museum is a non-Shakespeare highlight).

Cotswold Farm Park and Cotswold Wildlife Park are both good (and different from each other).

Batsford Arboretum if you like that kind of thing - they may have child-specific stuff on (and they have a very nice cafe).

If you go to diddly squat expect to queue for at least least 2 hours x

Wow so many ideas, thanks so much everyone! Will take a look at all of the suggestions :-)

We were there for a day and did the bird sanctuary and the maze. I was a bit sceptical about the maze but was actually pleasantly surprised by it.

The village is very pretty but busy.

South Cerney water park