   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 3,297 inhabitants (2009 est), making it a rather large village as its population actually exceeds those of nearby stow-on-the-wold and burford, both of which are considered small market towns. ==description== 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. bourton-on-the-water parish is bounded by the fosse way along the northwest, while the eastern boundary is defined by a series of streams, namely: slaughter brook, the river dikler, and the river windrush; the southern boundary is associated with a watercourse that runs between bourton hill and broadwater bottom. ==history== the earliest evidence of human activity within the bourton-on-the-water area was found in the slaughter bridge gravel-spread, where neolithic pottery (dated c. 4000 b.c.) was discovered. moreover excavations of the salmonsbury camp give evidence of almost continuous habitation through the neolithic period, the bronze age and throughout england's roman period (c. 43 to 410 a.d.). ancient roman pottery and coins discovered in th
Cotswold_(district) Villages_in_Gloucestershire Visitor_attractions_in_Gloucestershire