If you are planning a tour through the East of England and are looking for an interesting stop-over, then you should think about visiting Stow-on-the-Wold, one of the most famous of the Cotswold towns. This historic town is situated in the North Eastern parts of Gloucestershire between Bristol and Oxford, and still has some genuine, well preserved buildings dating back to the 1400’s including St Edwards Church which was also the location of the Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold, and the Ancient Cross in the Town Square.

The quaint town is home to about 2000 people and was originally founded as a market village, specializing in trade as it was located at the crossroads linking the main roads neighboring cities. In 1337, an annual 7 day market was started by King Edward III to celebrate the town’s heritage and to attract traders. Today visitors can still enjoy the market that has kept its tradition, although the venue is now in a nearby field rather than on the town square itself. Stow-on-the-Wold is well known for its genuine antique shops in the town stocking everything from furniture to ornaments.

Accommodation options in Stow-on-the-Wold are historic with the oldest inn in England, the Royalist Inn, being one of the most interesting. There are reported to be ghosts that haunt the hotel and an authentic medieval dining room with “witch’s marks”, as well as secret tunnels. The King’s Arms is another historic inn, whilst visitors can also choose from plenty of bed and breakfast country cottage accommodation and peaceful Manor Houses.

Dining in Stow-on-the-Wold will see you frequenting The King’s Head Inn, which is an award winning restaurant, as well as The Fox Inn, the historic Merrymouth Inn, The Eagle & Child and many others. All are English style pubs and restaurants serving excellent food and friendly hospitality.

In Stow you can visit art galleries that offer a wide variety of artists and styles with arts and crafts store being popular. As a centrally located market town, Stow-on-the-Wold is a mere 10-15 minute drive in any direction to neighboring places whether it be Cotswold Farm Park, Broadway, Bibury, Chastleton House, Chipping Campdon or Burford. You can also enjoy leisurely walks into the Cotswold countryside.

Rich in history and beauty, Stow-on-the-Wold is an ideal vacation destination for relaxation and will make you feel like you have stepped into the pages of a storybook.