Bourton at Christmas 500 piece puzzle by Terry Harrison
Bourton-on-the-Water is a village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England that lies on a wide flat vale within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village has a population of about 3000 at the 2011 census making it a somewhat large village since its population is greater than those of nearby Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford, both of which are considered small market towns. Like many villages in the Cotswalds it is an entirely charming location but what makes Bourton so popular with visitors is that there is a small stream running through the centre of the village.
The village of Bourton-on-the-Water is known for its picturesque High Street, flanked by long wide greens and the River Windrush that runs through them. The river is crossed by several low, arched stone bridges. These arched bridges have led to Bourton-on-the-Water being called the "Venice of the Cotswolds". Bourton-on-the-Water often has more visitors than residents during peak times of the tourist season.