Bourton-on-the-Water is a large village in Gloucestershire, England in the Cotswolds area. It is known as the 'Venice of the Cotswolds' because of the bridge-spanned stream that runs through the village. Bourton is still considered a village despite harbouring approximately 4,000 inhabitants. This is roughly equal to the combined population of nearby Stow-on-the-Wold and Burford, both of which are considered as small market towns.