Stow on the Wold Gloucestershire Cotswolds England UK
Tourist information for Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire
The Town
A local rhyme goes "Stow-on-the-Wold, where the wind blows cold" & this is never more evident then when the cold
winter winds blow over the highest town of the Cotswolds.
Set on a hill top, the town stands beside the Roman Fosse Way & though many of the present buildings are from the 16th to
18th centuries, there has been a settlement here since the Iron Age & the oldest building, the Royalist Hotel has wooden beams
that date from Saxon times.
Much of the town is centered around the picturesque square where many of the pubs, hotels, tea rooms & shops jostle for
attention from visitor's. Leading off the square are various narrow roads or alleys leading to small individual shops selling
antiques, china & pottery, & yes more tearooms & pubs. The town attracts hundred's of tourist each year and the Market
Place is now as busy with people as it once was during the sheep fair's held in the market square. Daniel Defoe recorded the fact that
20,000 sheep could be sold on a single day.
Stow has had its share of turmoil, none more so then during the English Civil War when the town became the site of the final bloody battle of the war that split many families. It was in March 1646 that Sir Jacob Astley's Royalist army were soundly defeated & the parish church became the refuge for 1500 Royalist soldiers who were taken prisoner during the battle.
Getting Here
The town is situated midway between the M5 & M4 motorways & 29 miles from Swindon & Oxford, 26 miles from Gloucester & 84 miles from London. The nearest rail station is at Moreton-in-Marsh, 4 miles away or Kingham, about 6 miles away, with main line links to London & Birmingham.
Bus services connecting Stow-on-the-Wold are:
- P1 Stow-on-the-Wold-Cheltenham Pulhams Coaches
- National Express
- X99 Swindon-Moreton-in-Marsh (Summer Only) Thamesdown Transport
- 6 Eynsham-Moreton-in-Marsh (Limited) Jeffs Coaches
Parking
There are several car parks one with a parking charge from 50p for ½ hour to £2.00 for three hours. Limited free parking in the square or on the road side & there is long term parking at the Tesco supermarket on the outskirts of the town.
Local Amenities
Pubs
- The Eagle And Child
- The Bell Inn
Hotels