Cotswold Model Village | Mini replica of Bourton-on-the-Water |

The Cotswold Model Village is a miniature replica of the Cotswold village of Bourton-on-the-Water, located in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire, England. It was opened in 1937 and covers an area of approximately one acre.

The village is made up of around 1/9 scale models of the buildings and houses in Bourton-on-the-Water, including the church, the bridges, and the village green. The models were built from local Cotswold stone, which gives them an authentic look and feel. The village is surrounded by landscaped gardens and a stream, and there are also model figures and animals throughout the village, adding to the overall charm.

Visitors can explore the Cotswold Model Village and learn about the history and architecture of the Cotswolds. There is also a gift shop and a tea room on site. The village is open daily from March to November and admission fees apply.

The Model Village in Bourton on the Water is the only grade II listed model village in the country.

Built of Cotswold stone it is a one-ninth scale model of the actual village, complete with model village within the model village!

The River Windrush flows under Bourton's famous bridges providing a beautiful backdrop to the miniature beeches, cherries and chestnut trees. You'll also hear music in the tiny model church and can wander the lanes peering into all the different buildings.

Due to narrow paths and steps there is limited access for wheelchairs, and pushchairs, walking frames, rollators and mobility scooters will not be able to access the Model Village.


Bourton-on-the-Water is a village in the Cotswolds area of Gloucestershire, England. It is known for its picturesque beauty, with the River Windrush flowing through the village and several low bridges spanning the river.

The village has a number of attractions, including the Cotswold Motoring Museum and Toy Collection, which features vintage cars, motorcycles, and toys from the 20th century. There is also the Model Village, which is a one-ninth scale replica of the village itself.

Other popular attractions in Bourton-on-the-Water include the Birdland Park and Gardens, which is a wildlife park featuring a variety of birds and other animals, and the Dragonfly Maze, which is a hedge maze that visitors can explore.

The village also has a number of shops, cafes, and pubs, as well as several hotels and guesthouses for visitors who want to stay overnight. Bourton-on-the-Water is a popular destination for tourists and is often referred to as the "Venice of the Cotswolds" due to its numerous low bridges over the River Windrush.

The Cotswolds (/ˈkɒtswoʊldz/, /-wəldz/[1]) is a region in central-southwest England, along a range of rolling hills that rise from the meadows of the upper Thames to an escarpment above the Severn Valley and Evesham Vale.

The area is defined by the bedrock of Jurassic limestone that creates a type of grassland habitat rare in the UK and that is quarried for the golden-coloured Cotswold stone.[2] The predominantly rural landscape contains stone-built villages, towns, and stately homes and gardens featuring the local stone.

Designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1966,[3] the Cotswolds covers 787 square miles (2,038 km2) making it the largest AONB.[4] It is the third largest protected landscape in England after the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales national parks.[5] Its boundaries are roughly 25 miles (40 km) across and 90 miles (140 km) long, stretching southwest from just south of Stratford-upon-Avon to just south of Bath near Radstock. It lies across the boundaries of several English counties; mainly Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, and parts of Wiltshire, Somerset, Worcestershire, and Warwickshire. The highest point of the region is Cleeve Hill at 1,083 ft (330 m),[6] just east of Cheltenham.

The hills give their name to the Cotswold local government district, formed on 1 April 1974, which is within the county of Gloucestershire. Its main town is Cirencester, where the Cotswold District Council offices are located.[7] The population of the 450-square-mile (1,200 km2) District was about 83,000 in 2011.[8][9] The much larger area referred to as the Cotswolds encompasses nearly 800 square miles (2,100 km2),[10] over five counties: Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, and Worcestershire.[11] The population of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was 139,000 in 2016.[12]

History
The largest excavation of Jurassic period echinoderm fossils, including of rare and previously unknown species, occurred at a quarry in the Cotswolds in 2021.[13][14] There is evidence of Neolithic settlement from burial chambers on Cotswold Edge, and there are remains of Bronze and Iron Age forts.[15] Later the Romans built villas, such as at Chedworth,[16] settlements such as Gloucester, and paved the Celtic path later known as Fosse Way.[17]