We are going to spend 4-5 days in the Cotswolds in June and were wondering which is the better town to base ourselves, Chipping Campden or Stow-On-The-Wold. If we picked Chipping Campden, any opinions about which part of Chipping to stay? Rick mentions places "On or near High Street" vs places "A short walk from town". We will have a car while we are there. Thanks.
Posted by
San Diego, CA, USA
237 posts
We stayed in Stow and found it everything you want it to be. I can't argue that Chipping Camden isn't because we only did the day tour of it but as a base I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Stow. I think Stow is more car friendly than Chipping Camden if that figures into your plans. My $.02US,
=Tod
Posted by
Galt, Calif., UK
214 posts
Corsham Fields Farmhouse just outside of Stow is great. Great views too !
Posted by
Galt, Calif., UK
214 posts
Corsham Fields Farmhouse B&B outside of Stow is great. Great views too !
Posted by
Atlanta, Ga, USA
2023 posts
We prefer Stow with the nice choice of restaurants and the convenient Tesco. Near Stow in the hamlet of Ford is a great pub, The Plough. It is more of a restaurant than pub and the food is wonderful. Stow Lodge is a nice hotel.
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
I am sure both are fine, but I have only stayed in Chipping Campden and it was great. We did have a car and no problems with parking. Stayed at a little place right on the main street The Volunteer Inn... it was not expensive, had a nice breakfast, and a pub. We were worried about noise from the pub, but it ended early and was not a problem... added to the fun of it.
We found wonderful restaurants and a little tea house that I still think about their warm scones and clotted cream...yum
Posted by
Hermosa Beach, CA, USA
277 posts
Last August we stayed at the Old Bakehouse B&B in Chipping Campden and really loved it. We found it in Rick's book and were happy everything. The hostess Zoe made us feel like a part of the family. Parking was fine and the location was perfect for walking everywhere in town.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33818 posts
Both are very nice places, but quite different one from the other. Maybe that is why some prefer one, and some prefer the other. It is usually a good idea to spell out Chipping Campden. There are other "Chippings". It means "market". Chipping Norton is just the other side of Stow on the Wold and if you don't use the whole name you may end up in the wrong place.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32350 posts
Rod, I haven't stayed in Chipping Campden, but really enjoyed my last stay in Stow-On-The-Wold. It's a great smaller town and makes a great "home base" for visiting other parts of the Cotswolds. The Old Stocks Hotel was wonderful, a creaky "Rick Steves classic". As I recall they provide a few parking spots in the back, and good food in the restaurant. Happy travels!