We chose Stow Lodge in Stow on the Wold for our stay in the Cotswolds in part because it had ground…read morefloor accommodation available, in a cottage across the lawn from the main lodge, which was formerly the Rectory of a well-known church, and partly because the lodge was set back from the main square, yet near shops, restaurants and pubs. Our cottage, No. 30, was about 180 pounds B&B, VAT included. It was larger than most rooms, with a living area, sleeping area with king bed (a bit soft), a small sitting room and a front patio overlooking the back of the lodge.
Stow may not be the quaintest or most charming of the Cotswold villages, and the main Square is being taken over by a larger and larger parking lot. However, it is handy to be able to easily walk to attractions such as the medieval St. Edward's Church, Grade I listed with its remarkable door flanked by huge yew trees, and to places to shop and eat and drink. Stow is handy to visit other nearby villages, if you have a car or can spring a pretty penny for a hire taxi.
As to Stow Lodge, it is the kind of places that just looks and feels very, very English. Indeed, although it was high season for tourism (August 2023) nearly all the guests appeared to be British. Besides us, there was one apparently American family and one evening a group touring in vintage Bentleys stopped for the night (one of the Bentleys, a 1929 4 1/2-liter, was owned by an Australian.) This Bentley surely would bring 300,000 pounds or more if offered for sale. Most of the guests, like us, were, shall we say, older?
Nearly everyone staying the the small lodge had dinner in the very English dining room (think roast beef on Sunday, fried whitebait for appetizers, and roast lamb). You could have a drink in the bar or the in the sitting room with overstuffed leather sofas, but dinner started exactly at 7 pm. The room came inclusive of a full English breakfast, with eggs either fried, scrabled or poached, served promptly at 8 am.
Service at this family-owned inn was friendly, cheerful and efficient. Everything was very clean, and the lodge is well run.