to be having second thoughts about my planned trip to Bourton on the Water (Cotswolds..?)

[Esme69]

Have just read the Cotswolds thread! My friend has just pursuaded me to fly over to heathrow with my two dd's (9 and 10) from Northern Ireland for a few days with her and her kids in a house she is renting in Bourton on the Water. She has been there before and says it is gorgeous, and I have always heard the Cotswolds are divine. However, after reading the Cotswolds thread I am now having serious doubts, especially as someone particularly mentioned Bourton O. W. as being hellish.

I havent booked the flights yet... should i not bother?? Its going to cost us quite a bit to fly and if it is madly expensive when we get there i am not sure if it is going to be worth the money to go...

I've been to BoW several times - loved it every time. And if it's rest/reading/rambling you're looking for you won't find better. It's really pretty and there are so many similar but different villages around there too. I really would give it a try if I were you.

Chipping Campden is lovely - so is Blockley - and all within a short drive of BoW - so many lovely places to explore

Bourton is lovely (although as others have pointed out, it does get v busy on weekends/holidays). I recommend Birdland

I was on the other thread and I live 20 odd minutes from Bourton, my parents are obssessed by it so have been a fair few times over the years. I've just got bored with it so do groan when visitors to us want to go

However I was there last month but for business and we arrived around 5.30pm, was a lovely sunny evening and still a few people out lazing around on the grass and it was rather nice. All the tourists had gone home, all the shops where shut and it was very chilled. DS even had a paddle

we stayed in bourton this weekend at a friend's holiday cottage and had the best time; yes its overcrowded in a small area of the river - but didnt stop dd having a wonderful time paddling in it and racing her boat. there are some lovely restauarants with excellant food but make sure you book! and the farm park etc are great days out. Its a tourist town so of course it gets busy, but it takes 10 steps to find the quiet river walk, walks to the slaughters, etc. I wouldnt chose to live in bourton but its was a truely lovely weekend

Getorf - Dont worry, i have taken all the advice in perspective and went ahead and booked the flights today, i am looking forward to it.

I know what you mean though. I live in a very pretty coastal town which from this time of the year onwards is totally hellish as it is overrun by tourists. I know that I shouldnt complain, they are good for the local economy and it is nice that they are so interested in our part of the world, but you cant move for the traffic and you can never get a seat in a cafe, you do get a bit jaded by it all!

Would welcome any recommendations for nice places to go or eat either in B.O.W or villages nearby.

Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm park is a great place to go - nearest largish place is Stow on the Wold although the address is Guiting Power - lots of cuddly animals and you might even see Adam himself - he of Countryfile fame. Good cafe and lot of the smaller animals are under cover - easily spend most of the day there See www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk/