Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow-on-the-Wold is a compact, hilltop market town in the heart of the Cotswold hills of Gloucestershire, England. Perched where old drovers' routes meet, its broad Market Square - ringed with honey‑coloured stone buildings, antique shops and cafés - gives a clear sense of its trading past; the Roman Fosse Way runs nearby, reminding you the site has been a crossroads for centuries.

The town grew wealthy on the medieval wool trade and later on seasonal horse fairs, and you still see that history in landmarks such as St Edward's Church with its famed arched porch and yew trees. Today the local economy leans on tourism, independent retailers and country pursuits, and the social life is shaped by farmers' markets, summer events and easy access to Cotswold walking trails and neighbouring villages.