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Stow-on-the-Wold

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About Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold is the kind of picturesque market-town that you only see on postcards. Perched atop an 800ft hill in the Cotswolds, it is the picture of a charming rural idyll and is the perfect place for a romantic getaway or a countryside escape. With an impressive array of boutique shops, hearty English pubs and tearooms, the town itself is easy (and lovely) to get lost in. And as you venture further afield, across the pleasant green hills and pasture, you come face-to-face with medieval castles, battlefields and Roman villas. Our collection of the best places to stay in Stow-on-the-Wold offer an authentic Cotswolds feel, with roaring fires, creaking floorboards and exposed beams.

Stow has a long history. Standing on an 800ft hill, it was originally an Iron Age settlement. After the Norman Conquest, it was officially founded, owing to its position near certain trade routes that the Normans were eager to exploit. It was even the site of several battles during the English Civil War, and St. Edward's Church housed Royalist prisoners after the Battle of Stow in 1646. Like much of the Cotswolds, its wealth comes from its wool industry, and its vast market square is a testament to this - the site of nationally-renowned annual wool fair, where some 20,000 sheep were traded on a single day. The farmer's market is still held monthly, on the second Thursday of every month. The square is a marvellous place, with its feet still stuck firmly in the past. On one end is an ancient cross and on the other is the town's stocks, used traditionally for pelting local miscreants with rotten tomatoes or dung, while around the square stand old Cotswold townhouses, as if in a time warp. And some of these have now been converted into some of the best places to stay in Stow-on-the-Wold,

The best places to stay in Stow-on-the-Wold are also convenient for sampling the shopping charms of Stow. Maybe you're not in the market for a sheep, but what about antiques? art? or high-end fashion? Stow-on-the-Wold also has a number of tearooms, high-end restaurants, and excellent pubs - some which also offer rooms, and some of the best places to stay in the Cotswolds. Stow-on-the-Wold also has a museum dedicated to a classic Cotswolds pastime: cricket.

The Best Places to Stay in Stow-on-the-Wold

Best Pubs-with-Rooms

  • There are a handful of British inns on Hotel Guru claiming to be the oldest, and The Porch House is one of them, it’s been an inn since 947. Which is certainly impressive whether it’s the oldest or not! Inside the Heritage Listed building are 13 stylish guest rooms with exposed stone walls, and huge oak beams, but a contemporary colour scheme and all the mod. cons., including lovely bathrooms, some with fancy roll-top baths. The pub and restaurant have been sympathetically updated too, and while there are still low beams and cosy nooks and crannies, the effect feels comfortably historic, rather than ancient.
  • The Sheep on Sheep Street is a top notch gastro-pub with rooms, 22, in fact. All of the rooms and suites are upstairs, with some in the pointed rafters. All of the rooms are simply decorated in classic hotel style, and have king-sized beds and spacious ensuites. There’s just the one dog-friendly room, so that’s one that will need to be booked in advance.
  • Made of Cotswold stone, The Bell at Stow is an easy going and comfortable inn, with a great pub and restaurant, and 13 rooms and suites above. The decor is simple and cosy, with feature tartan and soft lighting. Downstairs the pub is welcoming, ideal for a relates Sunday afternoon, or a couple of pints of an evening after your explorations. And the food is delicious.

For Families

  • The Old Stocks Inn is a charming old inn, right on the market square. Its 16 individual rooms and suites are chicer than the building looks from the outside, with statement headboards and retro styling to compliment the original features - our favourites have roll top baths. The restaurant is very good. Families have a couple of choices, including a three bedroom self-catering cottage. Dogs are welcome in all of the Garden Rooms.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

  • If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

  • Stow-on-the-Wold’s closest airports are Birmingham, which is well connected to the rest of the UK and Europe, and Bristol Airport. From Birmingham Airport, Stow-on-the-Wold is about an hour away by car or taxi, or three and a half by train via Oxford. Bristol Airport is about an hour and twenty minutes away by car or taxi, or just under four hours by public transport. If you’re travelling via London, the quickest way to travel via public transport is by train, from Paddington via Moreton-in-Marsh.
  • If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
  • Summer is the most popular time to visit Stow-on-the-Wold, but’s partly because of the school holidays, and the fact that many people visit the UK as a whole during the summer. But there are reasons to escape to Stow-on-the-Wold in every season: in winter it’s quiet, perfect for bracing walks and sitting by a roaring fire in the local pub. In spring you’ll see the daffodils, in summer there’s sunshine and plenty of buzz, and in autumn the changing colours are spectacular.

Still not sure where to stay?

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Best Hotels in Stow-on-the-Wold

  • The Sheep on Sheep Street Stow-on-the-Wold (Gloucestershire) 22 rooms from $115

    Local exploring  -  The Sheep on Sheep Street is a great base from which to explore the quaint Cotswolds!
    Romantic Break  -  Chic accommodation and top-notch grub make this an ideal spot for a romantic break
    Local markets  -  Be sure to check out the town's Farmers' Market-held every second and last Thursday of the month
    Great walks  -  Go for a lovely long walk through the gorgeous Batsford Arboretum
    RestaurantGardenParking

    The Sheep on Sheep Street is set in the historic market town of Stow on the Wold. This property boasts chic renovated interiors and spacious accommodation featuring king sized beds and en suites. Only one dog-friendly room so be sure to check in advance! Locally sourced food. A lovely unfussy stay! See More

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  • The Porch House Stow-on-the-Wold 13 rooms from $127

    Historic  -  C.947A.D. England's oldest Inn.
    Value chic
    Restaurant  -  Gastropub style menu featuring locally sourced produce.
    Outstanding location  -  In the Cotswolds: Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
    RestaurantGardenPet friendlyParking

    Britain's Oldest Inn (c.947AD) offers thirteen comfortable and stylish rooms in its English Heritage listed building. Think exposed beams, exposed stone walls, roll top baths and Nespresso coffee machines as standard. The perfect base for exploring the Cotswolds and great value for money. See More

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  • The Bell at Stow Stow-on-the-Wold (Stow on the Wold) 13 rooms from $127

    Local exploring  -  A great base from which to explore Stow and the surrounding Northern Gloucestershire countryside.
    Great walks  -  The surrounding area is full of wonderful walking routes such as the Cotswolds Way.
    Restaurant  -  Recommended.
    RestaurantParking

    Easy-going and comfortable, The Bell at Stow ticks all the boxes. Great rooms, excellent food served in the restaurant and an atmospheric pub combine to make it a great base for a weekend away in the Cotswolds. See More

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  • The Old Stocks Inn Stow-on-the-Wold 16 rooms from $199

    Short break  -  With the Cotswolds an easy 2 hour drive from London (there's a train too), this is a great option for a quick weekend away
    Families  -  The Bunker family suite offers a separate room for parents, three bunk beds, and a games console to keep kids occupied
    Groups  -  Down the road is Parson's Barn, a three-bedroom self-catering cottage ideal for a group of friends
    Local exploring  -  A great location for exploring the Cotswolds
    RestaurantGardenPet friendlyParking

    A honey-coloured Costwold house, turned boutique hotel, set in the Market Square of the Stow-on-the-Wold. Each room is individual but all have statement headboards, geometric patterns, and original features. The best have roll-top baths. Complete with a superb restaurant; an ideal weekend getaway. See More

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