It rises near Snowshill in Gloucestershire and flows south east for 65 km (40 mi) via Burford and Witney to meet the Thames at Newbridge in Oxfordshire.

It flows for about 35 miles (56 km): through Bourton-on-the-Water, by the village of Windrush, Gloucestershire, into Oxfordshire and through Burford, Witney, Ducklington and Standlake.

[1] The river may still host trout, grayling, perch, chub, roach and dace.

[3] Some decline has been noted, especially in years of release of untreated sewage from plants of Thames Water.

[6][7] The ship HMT Empire Windrush, synonymous with postwar immigration of West Indian people to the UK, was named after the river.