Great Escape to Stow on the Wold

There are many pretty towns and villages to choose from when planning a few days away in the Cotswolds.  Many of which I have written about on these pages before.  Whichever you choose I suspect one can’t really go too wrong.  However, a few weeks ago as summer was waving us good bye and Autumn was sneaking in the back door, my mum and I managed a last hurrah of the season grabbing a few days away in the very pretty town of Stow on the Wold.

Stow is approximately a 1 hour 45 minute drive from London making it ideal for a short get away.  Not too far, but far enough to feel like a proper break.  And of course there are many other reasons why I would suggest a great escape to Stow is a very good idea…..

Lots of Places to Stay

We chose The Old Stocks Inn, a recently refurbished 17th-century coaching inn.  This boutique hotel was perfect for us.  Modern, comfortable rooms, with lots of thoughtful touches.  Gin and tonics in the fridge along with a selection of well chosen soft drinks, a digital radio with classic fm playing when we checked in, a cosy bar, a spacious garden and delicious breakfasts served in the restaurant which is an excellent dinner location too.  Adjoining the hotel is a small coffee shop and there are table and chairs outside the hotel to sit with a coffee or something stronger.

The location is perfect.  The Old Stocks in sits on a piece of green with a pair of old stocks just  moments from the front door.  There are benches on which to sit and and it is just footsteps away from everything the town has to offer.

Independent Shops and Cafes

If you are someone who wants to spend there time in large chain stores and restaurants when on holiday then this is probably isn’t going to be your kind of place.  I suspect though, if you are reading this, then that probably isn’t you!  If however, independent shops, antiques, books and calm cafes serving delicious coffee, are your thing then Stow is definitely the place for you.

There are so many very lovely shops here, making it the perfect place for a morning or afternoon of wandering.  My mum and I are both partial to a mooch around local shops when we are away and we were spoilt for choice here.  There were so many to choose from.  From cheese to chocolate to clothes to 3 independent book shops, Stow has it all.

My personal favourites were Sam Wilson, a luxury homewear story selling a gorgeous collection of fabrics, stationery and china and so much more, all inspired by the British Countryside. I also absolutely loved Jaffe and Neale, a book shop cafe at the end of the high street.  Books and coffee are my favourite combination.  Here the tables  are set amongst the beautifully curated shelves, encouraging you to pick up books andflick through them whilst having coffee.  Unsurprisingly, many purchases were made here!

I would go back to Stow to visit these two shops alone!

I also have to mention Evergreen Livres.  A second hand and antiquarian book shop where I picked up a Miss Read book and was given a guide to Woodgreen near Witney where Miss Read’s Thrush Green series was set.  The guide was written by Miss Read’s daughter and gives locations of all the houses and shops in the series.  We didn’t have time to follow this up, but next time…

St Edwards Church

Another excellent reason to visit Stow on the Wold is the beautiful St Edwards Church.  The graveyard is lovingly tended and peaceful and a nice place to sit a while.  The door way to the church is flanked by yew trees, giving an excellent photo opportunity!

Nearby Places to Visit.

One of the other joys of Stow on the Wold is its proximity to so many other lovely places.  Whilst there, we visited Boughton on the Water where we drank coffee by the little stream which runs through the village. We paid an obligatory visit to the Christmas shop.  We shopped in Burford where we discovered a fabulous handbag store and visited the beautiful church there.  We went to the cinema and had dinner at Chipping Campden, and we visited the excellent Buford Garden Company for lunch and plants!

The Slaughters, Moreton on the Marsh and so many other classic Cotswold towns and villages are very close by too.  And of course being the Cotswolds, there are also plenty of National Trust properties and gardens to explore.

You can read my other Cotswold related posts here.