Most of the action in Stow-on-the-Wold centres around the market square – a bustling hub of independent boutiques, local grocers and great places to eat. Here’s Culture Trip’s guide to the best hotels in Stow-on-the-Wold.
If you’re after city sleekness in a country setting, you can’t go wrong with the Sheep on Sheep Street – a smartly designed townhouse with plenty of style and character. One of the best spots in town for a Saturday night cocktail, this hotel has a youthful atmosphere and draws a well-heeled dinner crowd. Up in the rooms you’ll find a peaceful grey and pink colour scheme and both baths and showers in the en suite bathrooms. Nespresso machines feature in all, too – perfect for the morning after you’ve worked your way through the extensive gin menu.
As there’s been an inn in one form or another in this spot for over 1,000 years, The Porch House has earned the accolade of the oldest hotel in Britain. It’s got all the wonderful touches you’d expect in such an historic building from flagstone floors and wonky door frames to enormous fireplaces. People flock to this Cotswolds icon for its excellent pub food and wide array of local ales and craft beers. If you’re planning on staying, you’ll find rustic rooms with pretty window seats, old travelling trunks and floor-length curtains. There are, of course, modern touches such as the coffee machines, industrial-style lamps and super-fast Wi-Fi.
With its sloping ceilings, wonky staircases and old wood beams, the Old Stocks Inn has plenty of country charm and there’s also a Scandinavian feel to the understated elegance of the teal and white interiors. The hotel’s restaurant has won many accolades for its vibrant and seasonal food and the bright, bistro-style setting makes it a pleasure to sit down and sample the extensive menu.
Once two separate establishments, The White Hart Inn and Stag Lodge have merged to become The Stag at Stow – a new boutique hotel and eatery in Stow-on-the-Wold. The makeover is a mixture of Art Deco cool, edgy industrialism and country comfort. The rooms are cosy and luxurious and feature quirky items such as bright yellow working lamps, stag-head wall ornaments and retro Roberts radios. The restaurant is the kind of place you could easily while away the hours – long, antique benches scattered with cushions make comfy seats from which to enjoy the British brasserie-style menu. The relaxed atmosphere makes it perfect for a weekend away with friends.
Crestow House features the kind of chic decor that many of us wish we could create in our own homes. From soothing blues, yellows and pinks to the satisfyingly simple furniture, each of the guest rooms feels like a modern haven in a Victorian manor. Given how peaceful it is, you wouldn’t believe this boutique hotel is right in the heart of Stow, but so it is – just a few minutes’ walk from all the shops, pubs and restaurants on the main street. In the summer you can take in the view of the blooming garden from the outdoor pool and in winter you can warm up inside with a drink by the fire of the residents-only bar. There’s even a humidor cabinet for those inclined to smoke cigars.
