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As one of the most popular market towns in the Cotswolds, a weekend in Stow-on-the-Wold is a weekend well spent, with antique shops, art galleries and a variety of tea shops.
A Weekend in Stow-on-the-Wold
Stow-on-the-Wold is a picture perfect place to explore, steeped in history, the town is centred around a market square, with the main roads meandering off. It’s a an easy town to navigate but with narrow streets and alleyways veering off in a multitude of directions you’ll be kept busy exploring them all.
Getting to Stow-on-the-Wold
Stow-on-the-Wold doesn’t have its own railway station, so if you want to travel from Oxford it requires a little bit of planning. Trains run from Oxford to Moreton-in-Marsh every hour (the journey takes just under 40 minutes) there is then a bus (No. 801) that takes you from the train station directly to Stow-on-the-Wold, the journey only takes around 20 minutes but is not the most regular service so you will need to check the timetable for details.
Tip: The Sunday bus service only runs three times a day between May and September, so you’ll need to check this or get a taxi. You’ll also need to check train times as the train back to Oxford only runs every 2 hours.
Shopping in Stow-on-the-Wold
There is an abundance of independent shops and businesses in Stow-in-the-Wold which is something I love about the Cotswolds in general. There is a pride and determination to support small, local businesses which is something you just don’t find in larger cities.
There is such a variety of shops in this market town, everything from jewellery to homeware, flowers to organic fruit and veg and sweets and gifts. You’re bound to find something, whether it’s a treat for yourself or a gift for a loved one.
If (like me) you’re always on the lookout for a great bookshop then you definitely need to head to Jaffé & Neale, a fantastic independent bookshop (they have another shop in Chipping Norton) which has a wonderful selection of titles on offer, friendly staff, and they offer tea, coffee and cake. What more could you want?
Eating in Stow-on-the-Wold
You definitely won’t go hungry during your weekend in Stow-on-the-Wold, with so many restaurants, pubs and tea rooms in one town you’ll have to plan your meal times wisely in order to visit as many as possible.
Huffkins is a lovely tea room that offers an all day breakfast, light bites and delicious cakes and pastries.Â
Lucy’s Tea Room is a sweet little tea room offering an all day breakfast, but also has a fantastic lunch menu.
The Stag at Stow offers a great menu, pub classics but with a bit more flair. Ideal if you’re staying in the town or looking for a good meal whilst passing through.
The Old Stocks Inn is a treat. Beautifully dressed plates for a more fancy meal, but definitely not pretentious. The staff are friendly and relaxed so there’s no need to dress up to eat here but you can do if you want to make it a special occasion. Go hungry as you’ll definitely want to sample and enjoy all three courses.
Staying in Stow-on-the-Wold
During my weekend in Stow-on-the-Wold I stayed at The Stag at Stow. Part of the building was a former coaching inn and is an absolute delight. It oozes history with narrow labyrinthine corridors and staircases (if you have mobility issues you should phone to enquire about rooms) there are exposed beams which I adore but the rooms are individually decorated and furnished, each with their own modern personality. I stayed in the “Hind” room, with a comfortable double bed, free standing bath, separate toilet and shower room and views over the main market square. It was a lovely relaxing weekend stay.
Other options for accommodation are:
For a weekend getaway, Stow-on-the-Wold is a perfect choice, beautiful buildings on lovely streets, it feels quintessentially English and the perfect antidote if you’re from a city or have visited London and want to see a part of the UK that couldn’t be more different.
Easily accessible, it’s a perfect introduction to the Cotswolds and definitely makes me want to visit more of this part of the country.
Have you visited Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds?
What else would you recommend?
Let me know in the comments.
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