Its large market square is a gem, surrounded by quaint shops and traditional inns all constructed from mellow Cotswold stone. An attractive blend of architectural styles are present, dating mainly from the 17th and 18th Centuries, although it was the market in medieval times which brought prosperity, and up to 20,000 sheep at a time, to the town.

Stow was the stage for the final conflict of the English Civil War, in March 1646, and the town also boasts the oldest inn in England, the Royalist Inn, which is said to date from 947 A.D.

The Cotswolds are an ideal base for touring the Heart of England. Further afield, but easily reachable is Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare and home today to the Royal Shakespeare Company. To the East, are the dreaming spires of Oxford, a city built upon academic excellence, with many Colleges where luminaries such as Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland, and Bill Clinton have been scholars. In the picturesque village of Woodstock, just on the outskirts of the city is Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. It remains one of the finest stately homes in the land, set in wonderful gardens designed by Capability Brown. Should you fancy a day at the Races, the Regency town of Cheltenham is home to one of the most famous racecourses in England, which holds the Gold Cup, attracting visitors from around the world.