After a few exciting and fast-paced days in the city, we were ready for something quieter and more picturesque—and Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds delivered that and more. Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, this little gem of a village has earned the nickname “the Venice of the Cotswolds,” and I now understand exactly why.

Our day began with a smooth, stress-free taxi ride. I had booked it online ahead of time, and it arrived right on the dot at our hotel. As a solo traveling parent, there’s nothing like the relief of punctual transportation. The driver was friendly, the car was comfortable, and the journey through the Cotswolds countryside was scenic and peaceful. My daughter enjoyed spotting sheep in the fields while I relaxed and took in the rolling green hills and golden stone cottages that are so iconic in this part of England.

The moment we arrived in Bourton-on-the-Water, I was enchanted. The little stone bridges over the River Windrush, the cozy tearooms, the flowers in full bloom along the banks—it all looked like something straight out of a fairytale.

We checked into our Scandinavian Chic cottage, and I can honestly say it exceeded all expectations. Minimalist yet warm, with clean lines, soft textures, and a calming color palette—it felt like a design magazine brought to life. I immediately felt at home, and my daughter, looking around with wide eyes, said, “I would definitely live here—it’s so beautiful.” That about sums it up.

After settling in, we headed into town for a leisurely stroll. The shallow river runs right through the heart of the village, and we had such a peaceful time walking along its edge. My daughter couldn’t resist dipping her feet in and spent ages watching the ducks paddle by. It’s the kind of place where you naturally slow down and just enjoy being present.

We popped into one of the local candy shops—a brightly colored wonderland full of sweets in glass jars and vintage packaging. She picked out Pop Rocks (always a hit), while I decided to try Toxic Waste sour candies for the first time. I’d heard they were intense—and wow, they did not disappoint. Within seconds I was laughing and wincing at the sour punch, and my daughter couldn’t stop giggling at my reaction. It made for a fun little moment of shared silliness, right there among the candy jars.

Next, we visited the Cotswold Motoring Museum, which turned out to be surprisingly fun for both of us. It’s packed with vintage cars, bicycles, and all kinds of quirky motoring memorabilia. But what really made it special was the Easter-themed game they had going: a bunny hunt through all eight rooms of the museum. We had such a great time looking for the hidden bunny in each exhibit—it was part scavenger hunt, part museum tour, and it kept us both totally engaged. At the end, my daughter got a little Easter treat for completing the challenge, which made the experience even sweeter. It was such a simple but creative touch that turned a good visit into a really memorable one.

But the real highlight for both of us was the Model Village. I had heard it was cute, but I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did. It’s a perfectly detailed 1/9th scale version of Bourton-on-the-Water, crafted from the same Cotswold stone as the real thing. You walk through tiny versions of the buildings and bridges you’ve just seen in full size, complete with miniature trees, tiny gardens, and even teeny-tiny people in the windows.

And then came my favorite part: inside the model village… is another model village. Yes—a tiny version of the model village inside the model village. It’s basically a real-life version of Inception, but with quaint English cottages. I could not stop smiling. It was so delightfully detailed and whimsical—I could have stayed there for ages, marveling at all the tiny touches. There’s even a third model inside the second one, which sent us both into fits of laughter.

Before heading back to our cottage, we made one final stop at the Victorian Christmas Shop—a charming little store filled with ornaments, garlands, and festive cheer year-round. I have a tradition of collecting ornaments from places we’ve traveled, and this shop was a must for me. I found a beautiful one that perfectly captures the feel of this trip—cozy, magical, and full of memory-making moments. It might sound small, but choosing that ornament was meaningful. Every time I hang it on the tree back home, I’ll remember our riverside walk, the ducks, the laughter, the bunnies, and that tiny model village inside a model village. It was the perfect way to mark the day.

All in all, it was a near-perfect day. Between the seamless taxi ride, the beautiful cottage, our riverside wanderings, the candy shop giggles, the bunny hunt, and the pure charm of the Model Village and Christmas shop—Bourton-on-the-Water felt like a deep breath for the soul. It’s the kind of place where everything slows down, where you find joy in the small things, and where—even just for a day—you can imagine living a storybook life.

And the best part? We’re just getting started.