We’ve been to and through Stow-on-the-Wold many times before. The Stow Tesco is a bastion for late night Ben and Jerry’s needs. Greedy’s Chip Shop does delicious chips. Huffkins served us many a take-away breakfast during the Covid times. There’s plenty of good coffee to be had in their various cafes. Stow’s Christmas lights are particularly pretty. You get the picture, Stow plays a semi-regular part in our lives.
However, we’ve rarely spent time actually exploring Stow. So, we’ve recently spent some time getting to know this town better, and let me tell you…Stow on the Wold is a charming market town in the North Cotswolds and is definitely worth more than a visit to their chip shop. It’s full of medieval buildings laced with history, art galleries, antiques shops, a mix of trendy boutique shops and some High Street staples, plus pubs, cafes, etc.
In addition, there are some less obvious things to do while in Stow that will add a bit of extra fun to your day. And create some very photograph-able memories. But before we get to those, just a bit of house keeping:
Getting There:
The easiest way to get to Stow on the Wold is by car. It is located on the A429 between Moreton in Marsh and Bourton on the Water. The A429 is also known as the Fosse Way and is an ancient Roman Road that runs all the way from Exeter in the southwest of England to Lincoln in the northeast.
If you are travelling by train, get off at the station in Moreton in Marsh (with direct lines from Oxford and Paddington Station) and take the bus from Moreton to Stow. It runs hourly, but every hour and a half during less busy times of day.
Parking:
There are three good options for parking in Stow. You can park in the Market Square in the middle of town for free, but you can only stay for 2 hours. If you park in the Fosse Way Car Park at Tesco, it is a 5 minute walk into town, but you can stay for up to 72 hours and it is also free! Finally, there’s the Maugersbury Road Car Park. It is a pay and display, but you can stay for up to 10 hours for a relatively small fee and is also only a 5 minute walk to town.
And now, without further ado…
5 Noteable Things to See in Stow:
1. The Tolkein Door
This is the most photographed door in the Cotswolds! Located at St. Edward’s Church, just off the market square, the north door was built around 300 years ago, with a Yew tree planted at either side of it. Of course the trees are now beautiful and ancient and flank the impressive church door. It is well-known that J.R.R. Tolkein (author of the Lord of the Rings books, if you didn’t know) spent a lot of time in the Cotswolds while teaching at Merton College in Oxford and it is rumoured that this church door was the inspiration for the Doors of Durin, entry to the mines of Moria in his books. Yes, it is only a rumour, but one look at this door and you won’t fail to see the similarity!
2. The Porch House
This is the oldest inn in England and is over 1,000 years old! It was originally built in 975 and still retains some original features in the pub and snug areas. I delight in the thought that I am sitting in a place where ancient weary travellers would have stopped so long ago. It really fascinates me! Inside, the pub has been beautifully and lovingly restored and refurbished. It is worth having a wander throughout the pub and snug areas to snap a few photos. It is also absolutely worth staying for a meal! The menu offers a wide range and the food is delicious.
3. The Market Square and the Old Stocks
The Market Square has played host to markets in Stow since 1107. It is encircled by beautiful 16th century buildings made of Cotswold stone which now house pubs, cafes, and shops. At the north end of the square, you will find the ancient wooden stocks where criminals could be punished by passers-by. The stocks are quite dilapidated and look like they may not last much longer, but they have been there for hundreds of years… so quick grab yourself a photo while they are still with us!
4. The Alleyways
There are many alleyways leading onto Sheep Street from the rest of Stow on the Wold. Some of them are a squeeze! Have an explore and you will surely come across several of them…we had no idea they existed until we ventured around a bit and now I can’t believe we never noticed them. They were used in medieval times to herd sheep from the surrounding fields into the Market Square for trading. Now they make for a quaint feature in the town.
5. The Victorian Drinking Fountain and the Wells
If you park in the Fosse Way car park (Tesco) and walk into town, you can’t help but pass the fountain. Built in the late 1800’s (pretty new compared to the rest of the town!) this fountain was built for both humans and horses to drink from. It is now used as a beautiful flower planter. It also happens to be next to a trademark red English phone booth and of course makes for some good photos!
The Wells are a short walk down Parson’s Corner to Well Lane (at the North end of the Market Square). Although they may not seem like anything particularly beautiful, the views and photos from the well are worth the little jaunt. The well looks more like an ever-running bath made of stone and supplied the town’s water until the 1930’s. Neat.
That’s it! You’ve done 5 unusual and picturesque things in Stow! Have you found others? Leave a comment below so we can check them out too!
Nearby:
If you are looking to pad your day out, why not check out neighbouring villages The Slaughters. Or if you have even more time to spend, plan a day out in Bourton on the Water.