Bourton-on-the-Water is often referred to as the ‘Venice of the Cotswolds’ because the River Windrush runs right through the centre. The combination of this clear sparkling water and the attractive low bridges crossing it create a charming scene, best enjoyed in the quieter times of day and quieter months of the year. Bourton has many visitor attractions, suitable for visitors of all ages. Its tourism promotion has grown around the Model Village (a mini replica of the village itself) opened in 1937 and Birdland, opened twenty years later. St Lawrence’s Church is of several periods, and is notable for its domed tower, unique in the Cotswolds. Salmonsbury Meadows has recently been saved as a wildlife reserve, and the Iron Age site of Salmonsbury Camp can be traced in outline.