Planning a trip to Bourton-on-the-Water

Trains go from London's Paddington Station to nearby Moreton-in-Marsh, a trip of 1 1/2 hours. For information, call tel. 0845/748-4950 or visit www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk. From here, take a Pulhams Bus Company coach (tel. 01451/820369; www.pulhamscoaches.com) 9.5km (6 miles) to Bourton-on-the-Water. Trains also run from London to Cheltenham and Kingham; while somewhat more distant than Moreton-in-Marsh, both have bus connections to Bourton-on-the-Water.

National Express buses run from Victoria Coach Station in London to both Cheltenham and Stow-on-the-Wold. For schedules and information, call tel. 0871/781-81-81 or visit www.nationalexpress.co.uk. Pulhams Bus Company operates about four buses per day from both towns to Bourton-on-the-Water.

If you're driving from Oxford, head west on the A40 to the junction with the A429 (Fosse Way). Take it northeast to Bourton-on-the-Water.