Stow-on-the-Wold is one of the most popular spots in the Cotswolds, and for good reason! With plenty of independent shops and eateries, the town has a local buzz about it, whilst still managing to retain its authentic, quaint feel. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Stow on the Wold, you’re in the righth place! This guide breaks down everything you need to know when visiting, including the best places to eat, stay, and visit.

How to Get to Stow on the Wold:

Hidden in the centre of rural England, the Cotswolds can be difficult to get to. There’s very little in the way of public transport, so the best option is to drive there. This also gives you plenty of flexibility should you want to visit any other nearby towns and villages. If you really can’t drive, it’s also possible to catch a train to the nearby Moreton-in-Marsh and then get a taxi to Stow-on-the-Wold.

Best Time to Visit Stow on the Wold:

Stow is a lovely place to visit year round. Like any British destination, you should be prepared for bad weather, particularly during the colder winter months, but this isn’t anything an umbrella and jumper can’t fix! Of course it’s particularly lovely to walk around the town on a warm summers day but be warned that this is also peak season for tourists!

Where to Stay in Stow on the Wold:

There are a number of beautiful old inns in Stow-on-the-Wold, meaning you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to picking a place to stay. Below are four lovely options. Each one also does great food, so make sure to check them out for a pub lunch if you’re only in the area for the day!

The Old Stocks Inn, The Square, Market Square, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham GL54 1AF

The Kings Arms Hotel, Market Square, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham GL54 1AF

The Sheep on Sheep Street, Sheep St, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham GL54 1AU

The Porch House, 1 Digbeth St, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham GL54 1BN

How to Get Around Stow on the Wold:

Stow is only a small town, making it very walkable. As I mentioned earlier however, if you’re looking to explore some more of the Cotswolds during your stay, you’ll probably want a car!

How Long to Stay in Stow on the Wold:

As the town is only small, it’s possible to visit it for just a day and see everything on your list. It’s also a great spot to base yourself for a longer Cotswolds trip however, which could easily take you a week or more!

Where to Eat:

One of the best things to do in Stow is grab something delicious to eat. If you’re looking for some amazing, traditional pub grub then any of the inns I’ve mentioned above are a safe bet! If you’re looking for something a little lighter however, particularly if you’re only visiting for lunch, why not check out one of these:

The Old Butchers: they use the freshest ingredients and have an ever-changing menu that reflects the best produce of the season!

Lucy’s Tea Room: This quaint little tea room gets a lot of love for its beautiful store-front. It’s the perfect place to have breakfast or maybe a nice cuppa and a slice of cake when you need a break from exploring.

The Hive: This is one of the best breakfast/lunch spots in the town. The food is delicious and they also do a range of bakes, including some lovely scones!

Coach House Coffee: If you’re just looking to refuel with a hot cup of coffee and a hefty slice of cake, this is a great option!

Best Things to Do in Stow on the Wold

1. Visit the Cotswold Chocolate Company

The Cotswold Chocolate Company is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for a sweet treat. Their chocolates and truffles are handmade without preservatives, artificial flavours or colours. I’d highly recommend the hot chocolate chocolate flakes!

2. Find a New Read at the Independent Bookshops

Jaffe & Neale is a gorgeous independent bookshop (they have a second location in Chipping Norton also). This lovely little place has a particularly good selection of children’s books and also has a cafe attached to it, making it the perfect place to cosy down with a good read and a cup of tea!

Borzoi Book Shop is an absolute joy to visit. Despite being small, it’s very well stocked and you’ll find a number of books from smaller publishers that might be difficult to source elsewhere! The staff in here are both friendly and knowledgeable and also offer a gift wrapping service.

3. See the Lord of the Rings Door at St. Edward Church

One of the primary reasons why Stow is such a popular tourist destination is a small, unassuming Church in the town centre. If you walk its parameters, you’ll find a large wooden door on one side of the building. This beautiful arched doorway with its stained glass windows and tree trunks looks like the entrance to some far-off, magical land. In fact, it’s said to have inspired J.R.R. Tolkein’s Doors of Durin – so a must visit for any Lord of the Rings fans!

4. Take a Masterclass at the Famous Daylesford Farm Shop

Although not technically in Stow, nearby Daylesford Farm Shop is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area. It’s become somewhat infamous in the health and wellness sphere as a haven of fresh fruit and restorative retreats.

You can take one of their fantastic cookery courses including pasta masterclasses and seasonal cooking. And if you’re feeling like something a little more unique, you can give one of their floristry classes a try or even their hen keeping workshop.

5. Feed Lambs at Cotswold Farm Park

Just 10 minutes from Stow on the Wold, you’ll find Cotswold Farm Park. This is run by Countryfile’s Adam Henson and originally set up by his father. Here you can find all your farm favourites, from lambs to horses, and pigs to goats.

There are various events throughout the year including pumpkin picking in Autumn and bottle feeding the baby lambs in Spring.

6. Find Homeware at Cutter Brooks

Cutter Brook is a gorgeous upmarket clothing and homeware store. The store is beautifully curated – from the French napkins to the Scanlon Apparati letter holders.

7. Go Antique Shopping

If you like antiques, Stow-on-the-Wold may just be your new favourite place. You’ll find yourself somewhat spoiled for choice and whilst I could recommend specific stores, I think that half of the fun of antique shopping is always the exploring! So take yourself on a walk through the streets of Stow and follow wherever your eyes wander!

8. Have a Pub Lunch

There are so many amazing pubs in Stow on the Wold – you’ll be spoiled for choice! The Porch House has been serving customers for over 900 years, whilst The Sheep on Sheep Street offers amazing handmade pizzas. Despite it’s small size, this beautiful town has some of the best pubs in the Cotswolds.

9. Enjoy Tea and Cake at Lucy’s Tearoom

Lucy’s Tea Room is a quaint little tea room that’s perfect for a cup of tea and big slice of cake! If you need a nice break from exploring, this is a great place to visit. While you’re here, you might want to grab a photo – this spot is super cute with its honeycomb brick and curved windows!

10. Get Some Cheese from The Cotswold Cheese Company

If you’re a fan of cheese, this is the place to be! The Cotswold Cheese Company stock over 120 different artisan and farmhouse cheeses from local Cotswold producers and British cheesemakers. They’ve got everything from ewe cheese to smoked cheese, blue cheese to buffalo cheese, and everything in between. They even offer a cheese subscription!

11. See the Medieval Stocks

One remaining artefact of time gone by is the medieval stocks in the middle of the Market Square. These used to be a form of punishment. Criminals would have their wrists or ankles locked in the stocks and passers by could throw food (or insults!) at them.

Obviously, this is no longer used but it remains an interesting piece of history in Stow on the Wold.

12. Visit The Organic Shop

The Organic Shop (surprise, surprise) is the place to go for your organic produce! This might not be exactly what you’re interested in when visiting the Cotswolds but I wanted to include it because the store-front is so lovely. The blue and green awning against the golden stone makes it one of the prettiest shops in the area!

Things to Do Near Stow on the Wold

There are also plenty of fun places to explore near Stow on the Wold. Some of my personal favourites include the very pretty Lower Slaughter, Broadway, and Chipping Campden.

I also highly recommend visiting the amazing Batsford Arboretum, which has over 55 acres of parkland and 1500 different species of trees. It’s a lovely spot to explore on a warm spring day.

Don’t Forget to Pin this Post for Later!