The 360 Company Blog

A Trip to the Cotswolds

How Business View in Bourton-on-the-Water made the news

Who doesn't love the Cotswolds? One of our favourite parts of the country, the chance to visit Bourton-on-the-Water for Google Business View tours was a great job to get.

For a place which evokes so much of old-fashioned English life, Bourton is clearly populated by forward thinking businesses when it comes to using the latest internet technology. We had a lot of interest in virtual tours, photographing at 17 locations.

Long list of businesses

Well known for its pretty High Street, the wide greens running alongside, and the River Windrush which ambles its way through, Bourton is certainly very lovely. With many buildings dating back to the 17th century, the village is understandably a top tourist location in Gloucestershire.
One of its most famous attractions, the Grade II listed model village, was amongst the first businesses to sign up for a tour.

Street View in miniature

Opened in 1937 as a replica of the heart of Bourton-on-the-Water, it took local craftsmen five years to build the miniature village out of local stone, on a scale of one-ninth of actual size. We've made sure details of the craftsmanship can be clearly seen in the tour by setting our camera tripod lower than normal to take photographs. The internet zoom function also makes it possible to make out really tiny items, like those on display in the Post Office window.

Said co-owner of The Old New Inn and Model Village, Vicki Atherton, "The model village is quite unique, and to be able to see it in detail over the internet is perfect."

Some of the local press picked up on our work at The Model Village, which was covered by both the Cotswold Journal newspaper and BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

Relax by the river

Others we photographed include traditional village inn the Duke of Wellington, where, as well as inside, you can take a virtual walk out into the garden to enjoy the decked area under the willow trees and overlooking the river. Said director Christ Hurst, "By making it possible to see all around the pub our aim is that more people will be inclined to step through the door and pay us a visit."

Locally produced

Bourton's first farm shop, Toast the Cotswolds, opened just last year and was keen to take the opportunity of a tour to showcase all the local produce available. The shop was bursting with plants and flowers, jams and chutneys, meat and vegetables, beers and ales, and even locally made gin and vodka.

Said owner, Anna Maccurrach, "This is a great way to show just how lovely the shop looks, and it adds a new element to our Google My Business page. We've already embedded our tour into Facebook, and we're just about to do the same on our website." Toast the Cotswolds

Nearby towns Such an enjoyable part of the country to work in, we're also currently busy producing tours for nearby Bourton-on-the-Hill and Stow-on-the-Wold. If you've never visited, don't stop at the virtual tours however.

Take a trip and enjoy the beautiful Cotswolds for yourself.

Take a look inside Bourton businesses here with virtual tours of The Model Village (below), Cotswold Sheepskin Ltd, Mary’s Rest Tearoom & Café, Bourton News, Quirky, Bourton China & Cookware, The Bourton Basket, The Duke of Wellington, Toast the Cotswolds, Cotswold Antiques & Tearoom, The Mobility Store, Vernes Restaurant & Tea Rooms, The Village Tea Rooms.
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Date: 23 June 2014
Author: The 360 Company