Stow-on-the-Wold

The town is on a hill (highest point in the Cotswolds at 244 m) and back to Iron Ages times, the site was used as a fort. The first settlers were attracted to the nearby village of Maugersbury. However, once a market place was built at Stow nearer the crossroads roads, its commercial successes gradually established as the major town. Stow is at the meeting place of 6 roads helping the development of the market and thus the town; one of those roads being the famous Roman road – the Fosse Way.
During the English Civil War, in 1646 the Royalist Army was marching through the Cotswolds trying to reach Oxford to join the King's forces. However, they were met by the Parliamentary forces just outside Stow and The Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold took place 1 mile N of the town. The retreating Royalist forces moved back to the town and fought on through the streets of Stow before surrendering in the Market Place. The church was then turned into an emergency prison to hold the 1000 Royalist troops.
Weekly markets were granted in 1107 and the right to hold an annual (7 day) fair granted in 1330 (though that was changed to two 5 day fairs in 1476). The wool trade and sheep livestock used to play a major role in the fairs, but as the wool trade declined, so horse trading became more important and today the fairs have been moved from the Market Place to a field outside the village near Maugersbury. The fairs are very popular attracting large numbers of visitors, blocking roads in the area. The large number of visitors has not always been welcomed by locals and many shops and pubs in the area close during the fairs to avoid the risk of theft and vandalism.

By road

Driving from Cirencester, follow the A429 (the Fosseway) North, pass through Bourton-on-the-Water and you'll reach it (after another 3 mi (5 km)). There will be obvious signs saying you've entered the town. From the North, follow the A429 South towards Cirencester.

By train

The town's railway station was closed in 1948. The two nearest stations are:

• Moreton-in-Marsh Railway Station

  address: Station Rd, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0AA
  Station managed and services operated by Great Western Railway. On the Cotswold Line running between Oxford-Hereford.

By bus

• Pulham Coaches Service 801 runs Moreton-in-Marsh – Stow-on-the-Wold – Bourton-on-the-Water – Northleach – Andoversford – Cheltenham Royal Well
• Pulham Coaches Service 802 runs Bourton-on-the-Water – Great Rissington/Little Rissington – Upper Rissington – Stow-on-the-Wold – Kingham Railway Station
• The Villages Community Bus runs occasional services through the town.

By bicycle

• National Cycle Route 48Lincoln to Exeter will run through the town; the route is still under construction, Cirencester-Northleach and Moreton-in-Marsh-Southam completed (10-mile section through Bourton-on-the-Water still under construction as of 2017)

• National Cycle Route 442Passes 3 miles E of the town.

Walkers would do well to avoid the busy A429 road.

The town centre, whilst small, is extremely beautiful, focused around the large market square and the pretty little streets leading off it.

• St Edward's ChurchMedieval church with interesting doorway.

• Fosse Art Gallery

  phone: +44 1451 831319
  address: The Manor House, The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold GL54 1AF

• FoxholesSpectacular spring bluebells & bird life.

• Cotswold Sweet Company

  phone: +44 1827 768106
  address: Crossway House, The Square, Stow on the Wold GL541AB
  Oldy-Worldy sweet shop with massive choice of sweets and chocolates. Also really good if you want a bit of banter with one of the friendly staff.

• The Borzoi Bookshop

  phone: +44 1451 830268
  address: Church St, Stow on the Wold GL54 1BB

• The Baobab Tree

  phone: +44 7966 466557 (mobile)
  address: Talbot House, The Square, Stow-in-the-Wold GL54 1AB

• The Cotswold Chocolate Company

  phone: +44 1451 798082
  address: France House, Digbeth St, Stow on the Wold GL54 1BN

• Tesco

  phone: +44 345 677 9630
  address: Fosse Way, Stow-On-The-Wold GL54 1BX

• Cotswold Baguettes

  phone: +44 1451 831362
  address: Church St, Stow-on-the-Wold GL54 1BB

• The Kings Arms

  phone: +44 1451 830364
  address: Market Square, Stow-on-the-Wold GL54 1AF

• The Hive

  phone: +44 1451 831087
  address: Fox House, Digbeth St, Stow on the Wold GL54 1BN

• Prince of India

  phone: +44 1451 831198
  address: 5 Park St, Stow On The Wold GL54 1AQ

• Old Butchers

  phone: +44 1451 831700
  address: Park St, Stow on the Wold GL54 1AQ

• The Fox at Oddington

  phone: +44 1451 870555
  address: High St, Lower Oddington GL56 0UR

• The Talbot

  phone: +44 1451 870934
  address: The Square, Stow on the Wold GL54 1BQ

• Coach House

  phone: +44 1451 870811
  address: 1 Talbot Court, Market Square, Stow-on-the-Wold GL54 1BQ

• New England Coffee House

  phone: +44 1451 831171
  address: 1 Digbeth St, Stow-on-the-Wold GL54 1BN

• Treebus Tea Rooms

  phone: +44 1451 870210
  address: Digbeth St, Stow-On-The-Wold GL54 1BN

• The Queen's Head

  phone: +44 1451 830563
  address: The Square, Stow on the Wold GL54 1AB
  No breakfast with rooms.

• Lucy's Tea Rooms

  phone: +44 1451 830000
  address: The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold GL54 1AB

• The Porch House

  phone: +44 1451 870048
  address: Digbeth Street, Stow on the Wold, GL54 1BN
  Also a historical landmark. Free Wi-Fi

• Cotswold Gardens

  phone: +44 1451 870994
  address: Wells Cottage, Digbeth St, Stow-On-The-Wold GL54 1BN

• Sheep on Sheep Street

  phone: +44 1451 830344
  address: Sheep St, Stow-on-the-Wold GL54 1AG
  AA 4

*

• The White Heart

  phone: +44 1451 830674
  address: The Square, Stow-on-the-Wold GL54 1AF

• Stuart House

  phone: +44 1451 833669
  address: Digbeth St, Stow on the Wold GL54 1BN

• Victoria House

  phone: +44 1451 832273
  address: Sheep St, Stow on the Wold GL54 1AA
  No children under 12, no pets

• Post Office

  phone: +44 1451 830406
  address: The Square, Stow on The Wold GL54 1AB

• Bourton-on-the-Water 4 miles to SW
• Moreton-in-Marsh 4½ miles N
• Chipping Norton 9 miles to E
• Cheltenham 18 miles to W
• Cheltenham 19 miles to SW
• Burford to miles to S
• Witney 18½ miles to SE
• Oxford 30 miles to SE