By Ryan Merrifield, Ann Yip and Stephen Mather

BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER

BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER is something of a tourist Mecca, with thousands of people visiting every year from all over the world to enjoy everything from duck races to football in the river.

Lying on a wide, flat vale within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the busy High Street is flanked by long, wide greens as well as the River Windrush.

The numerous low arched stone bridges which cross the river are a popular choice for photos – and have led to Bourton being nicknamed the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’.

The river is always buzzing with activity in the summer, including the world-famous football match, which is played with goalposts set up in the river itself. Crowds line the banks, with players aiming not just to score goals but also to get the spectators as wet as possible.

Other tourist favourites include Birdland, the Cotswold Motoring Museum and the Model Village.

Where to eat:

There are 22 tea rooms and fast food outlets in the centre of the village – including fish and chips and ice cream – along with six pubs and hotels, all within 200 metres.

The Chestnut Tree Tearooms is well-known for its cream, afternoon and celebration teas along with its breakfasts, cakes, pastries and ice creams.

Other favourite places to lunch and dine include The Mousetrap Inn and The Croft restaurant at Chester House Hotel.

Where to stay:

Bed and breakfasts include Broadlands Guest House, Manor Close Bed and Breakfast, The Lansdowne, The MouseTrap Inn, The Lawns, and Whiteshoots Cottage Bed & Breakfast.

Getting there:

There is no train station in Bourton, so use the nearest station in Moreton-in-Marsh. From there, catch the Pulhams Coaches 801 bus service.

The Pulhams 855 bus also runs services that take you to and from the Bourton.

By car, you can take the A429 from Cirencester or the A436 from Cheltenham.

MORETON-IN-MARSH

DURING her travels around the country in the 17th century, writer Celia Fiennes described Moreton-in-Marsh as a “little neate stone built towne with good innes for the traveller”.

Ideally located on the Roman Fosse Way and served by the main railway from London Paddington, for nearly 2,000 years it has served as a traveller’s town.

First for coaches, then the railways – albeit initially horse drawn ones – Moreton still has plenty of old-time coaching inns scattered about.

On top of that, however, it is also one of the principle market towns in the northern Cotswolds, having been granted its market charter in 1227.

Growing up in the 13th century, Moreton is characterised by a wide main street, narrow burgage plots and winding back lanes.

Returning from London on horseback in thick fog, it is said Sir Robert Fry used the bell of The Curfew Tower, the town’s oldest building, to guide his way home.

The White Hart (Royal) Hotel was used by King Charles as a shelter during the English Civil War following the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644, with his unpaid bill commemorated on a plaque in the entrance lobby.

In more recent years, the local historical society claim The Bell Inn was the inspiration for The Prancing Pony in J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings books.

Where to eat:

Try the Horse and Groom pub, The Marshmallow Restaurant and Tea Room or the Indian eateries Sitara Restaurant and Hassan Balti.

Where to stay:

White Hart Royal, The Manor House Hotel and The Swan Inn are all close to the town centre.

Getting there:

You can get to Moreton easily by taking a train from London’s Paddington Station to the town or by taking the 801 Pulhams Coaches bus.

By car, you can take the A429 from Cirencester or the A436 from Cheltenham.

STOW-ON-THE-WOLD

STOW is a beautiful gem of a town in the north Cotswolds. It is popular with visitors but benefits from escaping the hoards of tourists in some Cotswold towns.

The town square acts as a perfect centrepiece with plenty of interesting shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants dotted around it.

These include the Huffkins café which is on the opposite side of the square to the town’s famous stocks.

A short walk from the square is the Porch House which claims to be one of the oldest pubs in the world. It is now a very popular pub and restaurant having been reopened a few years ago after undergoing a modern refurbishment.

In days gone by Stow was famous for its wool trade, hosting annual fairs where thousands of sheep would be sold at a time. There are still plenty of wool references in today’s town.

It is also known as the site of the Battle of Stow in 1646 which was the last battle of the first phase of the English Civil War.

Where to eat:

Stow offers plenty of food and drink options, with a variety of tea rooms, restaurants and pubs.

Restaurants include The Vine Leaf, The Old Stocks, The Kings Arms, The White Hart Hotel and The Slaughters Manor House.

If you are looking for a place to enjoy an afternoon tea, Lucy’s Tearoom is a traditional English family run tearoom with specialities including home baked cream teas and cakes.

Where to stay:

There are a number of places for visitors and holidaymakers to stay by Stow town centre.

Bed and breakfast inns include Cross Keys Cottage, Chure House and Number Nine.

Hotels include Hyde House, The Old Stocks Inn, Stow Lodge Hotel and The Kings Arms.

Getting there:

To get to Stow by train, get off at the nearest station in Moreton-in-Marsh and take the 801 Pulhams bus to the town.

By car, drive along the A429 from Cirencester or the A436 from Cheltenham.