Bourton on the Water vs Stow on the Wold?

They are both quaint and scenic, but I would have to say Bourton is more so.

Bourton-on-the-Water has a scale model of itself that you can walk around in. I really like that sort of thing, so that would clinch it for me.

There is a charge to see that model

My husband and I will be staying in Bourton-on-the-Water in May. We stayed in Stow-on-the-Wold several years ago. We really enjoyed Stow, enjoyed the pubs and area walks. Our big walk was down to Bourton. We found Bourton packed with people but it still felt really enjoyable and we knew that as the day went on, the tourists would go and we could enjoy a quieter town into the next morning. So we always wanted to stay there and do walks in that area.
The pandemic postponed a few attempts, but we are almost there! We're also going to squeeze in one night in Chipping Campden as we really want to get more walking in.
I'd say both are great choices, so don't worry about getting it right!

While Bourton on the Water has the stream running through it, I think Stow on the Wold has more shops and restaurants. Both are overrun with tourists.

Edited: Ok, a wide and shallow river running through it.

Bourton-on-the-Water

I agree with Robin. It would be Bourton-On-The-Water for me. It's a much smaller and quieter town than Stow-on-the-Wold.

I recommend the Volunteer Inn at Chipping Campden, they have large affordable rooms with the best pub in town and a great Indian restaurant.

While Bourton on the Water has the stream running through it,

Stream?

It is a river. The River Windrush. It is 40 miles long and is a tributary of the River Thames. At Bourton-on-the-Water it is near the beginning of the river which rises in Broadway (another beautiful village by the way) near Snowshill (a wonderfully eccentric property).

By the way, the Model Village at Bourton-on-the-Water contains, in the right place of course, a model of the model village. It has a model of the model of the model (very small).

Aw, Nigel, the model within a model within a model has me chortling delightedly.

For just one night I would choose Chipping Campden. I visited the Cotswolds last fall without a car. I took a day tour from Bath which included Castle Coombe & Lacock and later in the trip spent several nights in Chipping Camden and took a day tour which included both Stow on Wold and Bourton on the Water plus Snowshill and Bibury. Of all the villages I visited or stayed in (we stayed in Stow on Wold on the R. Steves' tour I was on in the middle of my trip) just for beauty Chipping Camden was my favorite. Bourton on the Water had SO many tourists it was my least favorite. After I saw the river I wanted to get back in the bus and head out. Loved the river, but all the restaurants and shops were SO crowded I have friends who live in Broadway and they drove me around their lovely village and I loved it, too. If you have already narrowed down what you want to see to these two of the villages I would vote for Stow on Wold, but I was glad I got to see more Cotswold villages because each had something to see I wouldn't have wanted to miss.