Bourton on the Water Parking: Car Park, Map & Things to Do
Park once, avoid circling the narrow village centre, and explore the River Windrush, stone bridges, Birdland, The Model Village and the Motoring Museum on foot. This guide compares Rissington Road and Station Road with official links and practical timing tips.
Quick Answer: Where Should You Park in Bourton-on-the-Water?
Use Rissington Road car park, GL54 2BN as the best default for most visitors. It is council-run, close to Birdland and The Model Village side of the village, and gives you a simple walk to the River Windrush without driving around the busiest centre.
Rissington Road GL54 2BN
Council-listed car park with 192 standard bays, 9 disabled bays, motorcycle parking, cycle racks and EV bays. Good for first-time visitors, families and longer stays.
Station Road GL54 2EN
Bourton visitor information lists Station Road as another large pay-and-display car park a few minutes’ walk from the centre. Useful as a backup or different approach.
Arrive early or later
On weekends, school holidays and sunny bank holidays, arrive before the main lunch rush or plan a later afternoon visit. Do not aim vaguely for the village centre.
Choose your car park before you leave, navigate straight there, pay correctly, use toilets early, then explore Bourton-on-the-Water on foot. This is calmer than circling the narrow centre looking for a perfect space beside the river.
Rissington Road vs Station Road Car Park
Bourton-on-the-Water has two large pay-and-display car parks commonly used by visitors: Rissington Road and Station Road. Both are a short walk from the centre, but they suit different visitors.
| Car park | Postcode / use | Best for | Important notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rissington Road | GL54 2BN | First-time visitors, families, Birdland, The Model Village, EV users, longer stays and visitors wanting official council tariff details. | Council page lists PayByPhone location 804760, 192 standard bays, 9 disabled bays, 8 EV bays, motorcycle parking and cycle racks. |
| Station Road | GL54 2EN | A central approach, overflow planning, some motorhomes and smaller buses where guidance allows. | Bourton visitor information lists Station Road as open all year, PayByPhone ID 806323, and says there are no Blue Badge concessions. |
| Village centre / roadside | Avoid as default | Only brief legal parking where signed and permitted. | Do not block residents, private access, narrow roads, bridges, coach routes or emergency access. Always read signs. |
Rissington Road Parking Prices, Payment and Blue Badge Rules
Cotswold District Council lists charges at Rissington Road as applying between 10am and 8pm Monday to Sunday. Always check the machine, app and official page before paying because tariffs and rules can change.
| Stay length | Listed charge | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | £4.40 | Quick river walk, photos, coffee or one short attraction. |
| 3 hours | £5.50 | Comfortable village centre visit plus one attraction. |
| 5 hours | £7.30 | Best balanced option for families doing lunch plus Birdland, Model Village or museum time. |
| 10 hours | £10.60 | Full day, slow itinerary, multiple attractions or relaxed Cotswolds photography. |
How to pay at Rissington Road
The council lists payment by PayByPhone app, PayByPhone website, credit or debit card at the machine, or by calling the mobile payment number. Location number: 804760.
Blue Badge parking
Cotswold District Council says Blue Badge holders may park free for up to 10 hours at Rissington Road. Display the badge and time clock clearly and park within marked bays where required.
EV charging
The council lists 7kW EV chargers at Rissington Road, with Connected Kerb as the provider. Parking charges still apply in EV bays, and charging costs are shown in the associated app.
Motorcycles and larger vehicles
Motorcycles can use Rissington Road free of charge according to visitor guidance. Motorhomes and smaller buses should check Station Road guidance and current signs before travelling.
Bourton-on-the-Water Parking Route Finder
Use this quick tool to choose the safer parking plan before you set off. It does not check live space availability, but it helps you avoid the most common visitor mistake: driving into the busy centre with no plan.
Use Rissington Road GL54 2BN as your default, check official signs, pay by the correct method, then walk into the village.
Bourton-on-the-Water Parking Map
This map is set to Rissington Road car park, the best default for most visitors. If you choose Station Road, enter GL54 2EN separately in your sat nav before leaving.
Do not set your navigation only to “Bourton-on-the-Water centre” on busy days. Set the exact car park postcode, then walk. This reduces slow circling, stress and the chance of ending up on narrow residential roads.
Simple Walking Route After Parking
Bourton-on-the-Water is best enjoyed slowly. The centre is compact, flat in places and photogenic, but pavements, bridges and riverside edges can get crowded.
Park once
Use Rissington Road or Station Road. Pay correctly and photograph your parking location if you may forget which route you walked in from.
Use toilets early
Rissington Road is practical if you start from the Birdland side. Church Rooms is useful once you are near the central village and High Street.
Walk the Windrush
Head toward the River Windrush, low stone bridges, village green and photo spots. Keep children close near water and busy footpaths.
Add one attraction
Choose one paid attraction rather than rushing all of them. Birdland, The Model Village, the Motoring Museum and Dragonfly Maze each need time.
Things to Do Near Bourton-on-the-Water Car Parks
The best plan is not to drive between attractions. Park once, then choose your walking loop based on weather, crowds, children’s energy and ticket availability.
| Attraction / stop | Best for | Parking tip |
|---|---|---|
| River Windrush and stone bridges | Photos, slow strolls, village green, first-time visitors and free sightseeing. | Park first, then walk. Avoid trying to stop directly by the river. |
| The Model Village | Families, photography and classic Bourton-on-the-Water sightseeing. | Easy to combine with Rissington Road and central village walk. |
| Birdland Park & Gardens | Children, birds, penguins, gardens and a longer family stop. | Rissington Road is usually the practical side to start from. |
| Cotswold Motoring Museum | Classic cars, toys, rainy spells and nostalgic indoor time. | Walk in from either main car park and avoid moving the car for this stop. |
| Dragonfly Maze | Families who want an outdoor puzzle-style attraction. | Check opening before paying for long parking purely for this attraction. |
| Salmonsbury Meadows / Greystones area | Quieter nature time and a break from the busiest village centre. | Best for visitors who have time, comfortable shoes and a slower plan. |
Public Toilets, Accessibility and Family Planning
Plan toilet stops early, especially with children. The village can be busy, and doubling back through crowds is the part of the trip nobody photographs.
Rissington Road toilets
Useful if you park at Rissington Road or plan to start with Birdland, The Model Village or the eastern side of the village.
Church Rooms toilets
Useful for the central village, High Street and River Windrush area. Check current charges, opening and accessibility before relying on them.
Access and Blue Badge
Rissington Road is the key car park to check for council Blue Badge rules. Station Road guidance says no Blue Badge concessions, so do not assume all parking works the same.
For pushchairs, bring patience. The village is compact, but peak crowds around bridges, greens, shops and the river can slow everything down. Choose one side of the village first instead of zig-zagging.
Getting to Bourton-on-the-Water Without Parking
Public transport can reduce parking stress, but you must check current timetables before travelling. Bourton Visitor Information lists rail-and-bus routes via Moreton-in-Marsh, Cheltenham and other connections.
Pulhams 801 bus
The 801 route links places including Cheltenham, Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Norton. Check current service times.
Moreton-in-Marsh rail route
For many train visitors, Moreton-in-Marsh plus the 801 bus is a practical route into Bourton-on-the-Water.
Kingham plus taxi
Visitor information notes Kingham can work with a pre-booked taxi. This is useful when bus timings do not match your day.
Common Bourton-on-the-Water Parking Mistakes to Avoid
Most parking problems happen before the visit really starts. Avoid these mistakes and the village feels much easier.
Do not do this
Do not drive into the centre first, park on private access, block narrow roads, assume Blue Badge rules are identical everywhere, rely on old tariff screenshots, or leave payment until the app signal becomes poor.
Do this instead
Pick Rissington Road or Station Road before leaving, bring card/app payment, check official signs, use toilets early, choose one main attraction, and keep time for a slow riverside walk.
Official Parking and Visitor Links
Use these links for final confirmation before you travel. Parking tariffs, EV charging, toilet charges, bus times, opening dates and attraction rules can change.
Bourton-on-the-Water Parking FAQs
Short answers for the most common Bourton-on-the-Water parking, car park, map and things-to-do questions.
What is the best car park in Bourton-on-the-Water?
Rissington Road car park GL54 2BN is the best default for most first-time visitors because it is council-run, has official tariff information, disabled bays, EV bays, motorcycle parking, cycle racks and a simple walk into the village.
What postcode should I use for Bourton-on-the-Water parking?
Use GL54 2BN for Rissington Road car park or GL54 2EN for Station Road car park. Choose before you leave so your sat nav does not send you into the busiest village centre first.
How much is Rissington Road car park?
Cotswold District Council lists Rissington Road charges as £4.40 for 2 hours, £5.50 for 3 hours, £7.30 for 5 hours and £10.60 for 10 hours, with charges applying between 10am and 8pm Monday to Sunday. Check the official page and signs before paying.
Can I pay by card at Rissington Road car park?
Yes. The council lists payment by PayByPhone app, PayByPhone website, credit or debit card at the machine, or by calling the mobile payment number. The location number is 804760.
Is Blue Badge parking free in Bourton-on-the-Water?
At Rissington Road, Cotswold District Council says Blue Badge holders may park free for up to 10 hours. Bourton visitor information says Station Road has no Blue Badge concessions, so check the exact car park rules before relying on a concession.
Are there EV chargers at Bourton-on-the-Water car park?
Cotswold District Council lists 7kW EV chargers at Rissington Road and says Connected Kerb provides the charging points. Parking charges apply in EV bays, and the charging cost is shown in the associated app.
Is Station Road or Rissington Road better?
Rissington Road is better as the default for most visitors because the council publishes detailed spaces, prices, EV and Blue Badge information. Station Road is still useful as a second main car park and may suit some larger vehicles where current guidance allows.
Can motorhomes park in Bourton-on-the-Water?
Bourton Visitor Information says motorhomes and 19-seater-or-less buses are able to park in Station Road car park on a first-come, first-served basis. Check current signs, height limits and local guidance before travelling.
What can you do after parking in Bourton-on-the-Water?
After parking, walk to the River Windrush and low stone bridges, then choose attractions such as The Model Village, Birdland Park & Gardens, Cotswold Motoring Museum, Dragonfly Maze or a slower nature walk around Salmonsbury Meadows/Greystones.
What is the best time to visit Bourton-on-the-Water?
For easier parking and calmer photos, arrive early before the main lunch rush or visit later in the afternoon. Weekends, school holidays, sunny days and bank holidays are usually the most pressured times.
Final Parking Recommendation
For a simple Bourton-on-the-Water visit in 2026, set your sat nav to Rissington Road car park GL54 2BN, check the official council page before leaving, bring card/app payment, use toilets early, and walk into the village instead of driving around the centre.
Use Station Road GL54 2EN as your second main option or when it better suits your route. If you are arriving on a sunny weekend, school holiday or bank holiday, plan the parking first and the sightseeing second.
Last updated: July 18, 2026. Parking charges, payment rules, toilet access, EV charging and attraction opening times can change, so always confirm final details with the official council, visitor information and attraction pages before travelling.