Getting to Bourton-on-the-Water
How to reach Bourton-on-the-Water by train, bus, or car.
Nearest railway stations
Bourton has no railway station. It had one on Station Road, on the line between Cheltenham and Moreton-in-Marsh, until it closed in 1962, as the Old New Inn's Model Village notes record. The nearest stations are Kingham (KGM) and Moreton-in-Marsh (MIM), both on the Cotswold Line with trains from London Paddington. Kingham is the closer in a straight line, about 9km away and roughly 12km by road, but there is no bus from it to Bourton; the village visitor site says a pre-booked taxi is needed and takes about 20 minutes. Moreton-in-Marsh is about 13km away by road and is the station with the bus: the Pulhams 801 stops at 'Moreton-in-Marsh Rail Station', about 70 metres from the station, and runs via Stow-on-the-Wold to Bourton. Cheltenham Spa is the other option, with the 801 from Royal Well bus station in the town centre.
- Nearest station by distance
- Kingham (KGM), about 9km in a straight line and 12km by road; no bus to Bourton, pre-book a taxi
- Station with a bus link
- Moreton-in-Marsh (MIM), about 13km by road; Pulhams 801 from the stop outside the station
- From London
- Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh or Kingham on the Cotswold Line; the village visitor site gives about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours
- 801 from Moreton station
- On the timetable from 3 May 2026, buses leave Moreton-in-Marsh Rail Station roughly hourly and reach the village in around 30 to 40 minutes; the last Monday to Saturday bus leaves at 9.40pm, the last Sunday bus at 6.45pm
- Via Cheltenham
- Train to Cheltenham Spa, then a bus or taxi to Royal Well bus station and the 801 to Bourton, about 45 minutes
Tips
- •Pulhams says the 801's evening journeys, added from 3 May 2026, are timed for people coming off later trains at Moreton.
- •Kingham is closer but has no bus; book a taxi before you travel.
- •Check the Pulhams timetable before you travel; school-day-only journeys are marked on it.
Buses
The Pulhams 801 is the village's bus. Pulhams is based in Bourton, and the village visitor site says a Mr Pulham first brought visitors over the hills from Cheltenham by horse-drawn charabanc. It runs between Cheltenham, Andoversford, Bourton, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Norton, roughly hourly in the daytime, Monday to Saturday, with an hourly Sunday and public holiday service all year. In the village the timetable names stops at the Edinburgh Wool Shop and the Newsagent on the High Street, the Moore Hospital, the Cotswold Academy and the Pulhams depot. Coaches are not allowed on the High Street at any time.
- 801
- Cheltenham to Bourton, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Norton; Pulhams; daily, roughly hourly
- 855
- From Cirencester to Northleach, to change onto the 801 for Bourton, according to the village visitor site
- Village stops
- Edinburgh Wool Shop and Newsagent (High Street), Moore Hospital, The Cotswold Academy, Pulhams Depot
- To Cheltenham
- About 45 to 50 minutes to Royal Well bus station; the bus calls at Cheltenham General Hospital A&E on the way
Tips
- •Stow-on-the-Wold is 15 to 20 minutes away on the 801 and makes an easy car-free half day.
- •Sunday buses stop earlier: the last from Moreton station on a Sunday is 6.45pm on the 2026 timetable.
Useful Links
Driving and parking
Bourton is just east of the A429 Fosse Way between Stow-on-the-Wold and Cirencester. The village visitor site says to turn off at the traffic lights onto Station Road (ignoring the satnav if you come up from the south) and follow the signs to the car parks. There are two large pay and display car parks open all year: Station Road (GL54 2EN), with coins, card or PayByPhone, and Cotswold District Council's Rissington Road (GL54 2BN), card or PayByPhone only, which has Blue Badge spaces, 14 electric vehicle bays and free motorcycle parking. Both fill quickly on bank holidays. Use them rather than residential streets: the visitor site asks visitors to be thoughtful to residents and to avoid parking fines. There is no left luggage in the village.
- Route
- A429 Fosse Way, then Station Road at the traffic lights
- Station Road car park
- GL54 2EN; coins, card or PayByPhone (806323); no Blue Badge concession
- Rissington Road car park
- GL54 2BN; card or PayByPhone (804760); Blue Badge holders free; 14 EV bays; motorcycles free
- Coaches
- Not allowed on the High Street at any time; drop-off and parking arrangements are published by the village visitor site
Tips
- •Arrive before 10am on a summer weekend or bank holiday; the car parks fill fast.
- •Download the PayByPhone app before you arrive; signal can be patchy.
- •Kingham station to Bourton is about 12km by road and Moreton-in-Marsh about 13km if you are collecting someone from a train.
Useful Links
From the Airport
Live options for reaching the village from the nearest airports. Times and fares are a guide and can change with traffic or operator schedules.
Birmingham AirportBHX
79 km away- Duration
- About 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cost
- Fuel and parking
Distance and time are a routing estimate.
- Duration
- About 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cost
- Quoted by the firm
Ask your hotel or inn to recommend a firm; none was verified for this guide.
London Heathrow AirportLHR
118 km away- Duration
- About 1 hour 45 minutes
- Cost
- Fuel and parking
Distance and time are a routing estimate; allow longer at peak times.
- Duration
- Allow at least 3 hours 30 minutes end to end
- Cost
- Rail and bus fares
The route the village visitor site describes; check connections with a journey planner.
Operator: Heathrow Express, Great Western Railway and Pulhams
- Duration
- About 2 hours 30 minutes to Cheltenham, then about 50 minutes on the 801
- Cost
- Coach and bus fares
Times from the village visitor site; check the coach timetable.
Operator: National Express and Pulhams
Bristol AirportBRS
111 km away- Duration
- About 1 hour 35 minutes
- Cost
- Fuel and parking
Distance and time are a routing estimate.
EV & Essentials
Practical infrastructure on the ground: charging, water, and accessibility facilities worth knowing about before you arrive.
EV Charging
Rissington Road car park
Cotswold District Council car park
Rissington Road, Bourton-on-the-Water GL54 2BN. The village visitor site counts 14 electric vehicle bays; connector types and tariffs are not published there, so check the bay signage or the council's parking pages.
Accessibility Facilities
Blue Badge parking, High Street
Blue badge parking · High Street, village centre
Six disabled parking spaces, according to the village visitor site.
Accessible toilets
Accessible toilet · High Street and Rissington Road car park
A RADAR key may be required (village visitor site).
Changing Places toilet, Birdland
Changing Places · Birdland Park and Gardens, Rissington Road
Birdland lists a Changing Places toilet among its facilities; it is inside the park.
Parking
Parking options in and around Bourton-on-the-Water. On busy weekends, arriving early is recommended.
Rissington Road car park
Check the tariff board or the PayByPhone app (car park 804760); charges apply every day including bank holidays. Cotswold District Council car park, GL54 2BN, a few minutes' walk from the centre and next to Birdland and the Dragonfly Maze. Card or PayByPhone. Free for motorcycles; Blue Badge holders park free; 14 electric vehicle bays; public toilets. Height restrictions apply. The village visitor site advises downloading the app before you arrive.
Station Road car park
Check the tariff board; coins, card or the PayByPhone app (car park 806323). GL54 2EN, behind the petrol station on Station Road and the nearest car park to Greystones nature reserve. No Blue Badge concessions. Takes minibuses of up to 19 seats and motorhomes.
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