Bourton-on-the-Water is an idyllic village in Gloucestershire. It lies on a vale within the Cotswolds area of natural outstanding beauty and much of the village itself is a designated conservation area. Flanked by the River Windrush, which can be crossed by 5 stone bridges, it’s nicknamed the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’.
The village history can be traced all the way back to Neolithic times and Bourton-on-the-Water has also been occupied by Romans and Saxons in the past. Due to its history and picturesque beauty, tourism to the area started getting popular in the 1920s and 30s.
Despite a small population of less than 3,500, Bourton-on-the-Water receives up to 300,000 visitors a year. The architecture of the village offers a lot to look at – a lot of houses are made of the characteristic Cotswold stone, ashlar yellow limestone. Another building of interest is the St Lawrence Church of England, which is Grade II listed and still has a part of the original 14th century building intact.
The area surrounding the village is one of natural beauty, which draws in outdoorsy people and hikers. As well as the Birdland park and gardens, there are many walking paths out into the nearby countryside. One of the most famous paths is the Heart of England Way, which runs north for 100 miles.
Some other draws to Bourton-on-the-Water include the Cotswold Motoring Museum (where the original Brum car is housed), the 1:9 replica model village, the model railway, and the Farmer’s Market which runs on the 4th Sunday of every month.
It’s a charming, quaint place to visit. But, due to its remote location, finding somewhere to park when you’re there can be difficult and expensive. On this page, we explore several options for free or cheaper parking for your trip.
Dear Parking Scout visitor,
While taxpayers can legally park their vehicles on the side of the road where no restrictions apply, it’s always important to be considerate when parking on the kerb. Bourton-on-the-Water, like many other small villages in the UK, has narrow streets that locals have to traverse daily. As such, we ask that you keep the following in mind when using our parking guide:
● Never park in a manner that would encumber passing emergency vehicles.
● Don’t squish your car into the smallest space and make it difficult for everyone to leave later.
● Be mindful of not hitting people’s walls or gates. Never block a driveway.
Free Parking in Bourton-on-the-Water
Table of Contents
Free Car Parks in Bourton-on-the-Water
• Rissington Road GL54 2BN – free from 6pm-7am Mon-Sat & 6pm-9am Sundays
• Co-op, Station Road GL54 2BQ – customers only, up to 90 minutes
Residential Streets
The best option for free parking in Bourton-on-the-Water is to make like a local and park on residential streets. This can be difficult if you’re unfamiliar with the area, and a lot of the main roads have double yellow lines and similar parking prohibitions. We’ve made a list of all of the roads we could find with parking opportunities. Some of the roads, particularly the Melville estate, are very long and have several offshoots – some segments have yellow lines and then stop again, so be sure to check the whole road.
To add to the trouble of parking in Bourton-on-the-Water, a lot of roads in the village are quite narrow, so you will also need to use your judgement when deciding where to park. Be sure not to obscure junctions, entrances, or driveways. Double-check that there aren’t any signs restricting parking nearby. Be courteous and respectful of residents, and keep noise to a minimum. All of the residential streets listed are within a mile of the centre of the village, and we’ve included postcodes for your GPS.
- Ryeclose GL54 2EB
- Rye Crescent GL54 2EL
- Lamberts Field GL54 2PT
- Rissington Road opposite The Old New Inn GL54 2BH – note that there is only a small space here which only fits 2 or 3 cars
- Rissington Road near Southlands B&B GL54 2AY
- Lansdowne outside of Paula’s GL54 2BH
- Green Lake Close GL54 2PR
- Roman Way GL54 2EW
- Folly Field GL54 2HH
- Bourton Link GL54 2HQ
- Meadow Way GL54 2GF
- Croombe Gardens GL54 2GD
- Barnsley Way GL54 2GJ
- Hidcote Close GL54 2GE
- Melville Estate GL54 2ET
- Springfield GL54 2DF
- Clapton Row GL54 2DN
- Springvale GL54 2ES
When you park on-street outside of dedicated parking bays, you do so at your own risk. For people who would rather have the security of an official parking spot, there are bays around the village for that purpose.
On-Street Parking Bays
There are several sets of on-street parking bays in Bourton-on-the-Water, but they can often fill up very quickly and are all subject to time restrictions. Double-check any signage to make sure you know how long you can use a space for before leaving your car. Also be sure that you’re not parking in one of the many bays or car parks that are reserved for patrons, disabled people, and business owners only.
• High Street GL54 2AP – 9am-6pm up to 90 mins, no return within 2 hours
• Station Road near Baptist Church GL54 2EP – up to 90 mins, no return within 2 hours
• Sherborne Street near Rose Cottage GL54 2BY
• Victoria Street near Cotswold Perfumery GL54 2BU – 8am-10pm, up to 4 hours
Cheapest Paid Parking Options in Bourton-on-the-Water
There are a couple of paid parking options in the village, if you would prefer the security of an official car park. You may be luckier in finding a space quickly in one of these, making them more convenient than driving around looking for a suitable spot.
• Bourton Vale Car & Coach GL54 2EP – £3 for 2 hours
• Rissington Road Car Park & Bourton Vale Cricket Club GL54 2BN – £5 for all-day parking
The village of Bourton-on-the-Water is historical and pretty, and not one to miss if you’re looking for quaint country charm. We hope the information we’ve found will help you find a free or cheaper parking solution when you visit, giving you more time and money to enjoy your day out in this little Cotswolds gem.
