Please sign in to post.

Lodging in Chipping Campden or Stow-On-The-Wold for 3 nights?

Nearly a decade has passed since this question was posed here. My husband and I are looking to spend 3 nights in the Cotwolds (arriving on a Sunday & departing on a Wednesday in summer). My husband loves visiting with travelers and locals in pubs while I love the scenery, tea houses and an easy walk back to our lodging after dinner in town. We want to enjoy the people, the scenery, and leisurely walks with good food and drink in a welcoming spot at day's end. We will have a car to visit the towns RS recommends.

With a car and desire to enjoy evening life in town, which town is a better for our evening life and lodging for 3 nights? We will be driving in from Bath and heading on to York following the Cotswolds.

Thank you for your input.

Posted by
7595 posts

We stayed in Chipping Campden for six days and used it as a base to see the Cotswolds, Oxford, Blenheim Palace and Stratford upon Avon.

We stayed at the Volunteer Inn, which has reasonable rates, spacious and modern rooms/baths. Also, it has the best pub in town and a wonderful Indian Restaurant.

Posted by
54 posts

We drove through Chipping Campden and I was a bit disappointed. We went on a bicycle tour a few days later with a guide, and walked around Stow on the Wold. It seemed much livelier. Maybe I missed something, but based on our limited interaction, I preferred Stow on the Wold, hands down.

Posted by
32173 posts

I stayed in the Old Stocks Hotel on a visit to the Cotswolds several years ago, and was very pleased with it. At that time the decor was somewhat "rustic" (which I didn't mind) and it had a great restaurant and pub. I had a car and as I recall, there was free parking in the back. It seems to have been updated since then as it looks very different than what I remember - https://www.oldstocksinn.com/ .

The town had some interesting shops and I quite enjoyed wandering about and exploring.

Posted by
3719 posts

Chipping Campden is smaller, quieter, which can be nice and peaceful.
Stow is much larger, with more shops and cafes.
Broadway would be another good place to stay; plenty of shops and cafes there.
Places to visit:
Bourton-on-the-Water, which is lovely.
Winchcombe and Sudeley Castle.