Description
Summary
Stownes is a stunning apartment in the centre of Stow-on-the-Wold which sleeps four guests, in two bedrooms, with two bathrooms. The property has been finished to a high standard with a luxury interior which boasts elegance and refinery, setting it apart from the rest. Formerly a brewery, this first floor apartment benefits from high vaulted ceilings which add beautiful character to the space, along with exposed beams and trusses from which hang chic light fittings.
Modern facilities including superfast wireless internet access, three Smart TVs, a Netflix subscription and an Amazon Alexa complement the character, and the combination of the traditional and high-quality contemporary finish creates a truly remarkable holiday home. There is a wonderful roof terrace overlooking the rooftops of Stow, and free on-street parking is available in the town.
Location
Stownes is located in the heart of the much-loved market town of Stow-on-the-Wold, one of the larger towns of the Cotswolds. This bustling town is well known for its wide range of shops, pubs, restaurants and tea rooms, as well as the Farmers' Market which takes place every second Thursday of each month, showcasing fantastic local produce. The market square is steeped in history, with its medieval cross and old town stocks, and when the Cotswold wool industry was at its height, the town used to host the annual sheep fairs.
Stow is the highest of the Cotswold towns and is ideally placed for exploring the fabulous Cotswold countryside with many cycle routes and walks on its doorstep, including the Gloucestershire Way walking trail which passes through the Cotswolds on its way from Chepstow Castle to Tewkesbury. Also within easy reach are many other lovely villages and market towns of the North Cotswolds, including Bourton-on-the-Water, Chipping Norton and Moreton-in-Marsh, with a variety of eateries and activities on offer. Just four miles away, Moreton is home to the Batsford Arboretum, boasting 56 acres of stunning parkland and some of the most incredible tree varieties in England. Further afield destinations such as Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford and Blenheim Palace are also easily accessible for day trips.
Description
Stownes is the perfect choice for a romantic break for two or for a group of friends who are looking for a memorable break in the Cotswolds with a spectacular place to call home, if only for a few days. The apartment is laid out as follows:
Room | Amenities |
Galleried landing |
With floor to ceiling windows overlooking the rooftop terrace, this beautiful landing contains:
- Arne Jacobsen Egg chair with footstool
|
Living/dining room |
The impressive open plan living space has a high vaulted ceiling with exposed beams and trusses, and is embellished with original works of art, mood lighting and well-chosen pieces of furniture. With a stylish wood panelled feature wall, smart pendant lighting and window seats overlooking the street below, this area contains:
- cosy gas flame effect stove
- large velvet corner sofa
- 55" Smart TV with surround sound and Netflix subscription
- elegant gilt-edged mirror
- work bar with three stools
- complimentary drinks cabinet complete with professional coffee machine
- round dining table with four Philippe Starck chairs
- Amazon Alexa
|
Kitchen |
A continuation of the living area, the tastefully decorated Shaker-style kitchen has patterned Moroccan-style tiles which complement the neutral tones of the units and exposed painted brickwork behind. This area contains:
- electric oven with four-ring induction hob
- integrated fridge/freezer
- dishwasher, microwave, kettle and toaster
- Nutribullet and spiralizer
- washing machine
|
Cloakroom |
Contains:
|
Master bedroom with ensuite bathroom |
This gorgeous bedroom has exposed beams, oak flooring, a high vaulted ceiling and a door which leads out onto the rooftop terrace. This bright room contains:
- king size Hypnos bed with Tielle bedding
- wall-mounted Smart TV with Netflix subscription
- fitted wardrobe with shoe rack
- built-in dressing table
- two bathrobes and spa slippers
The stylish ensuite bathroom, decorated with pretty pendant lights, contains:
- bath with overhead shower, toilet and wash basin
- luxury toiletries
|
Bedroom 2 with ensuite bathroom |
Decorated in a muted palette, this sophisticated bedroom contains:
- king size Hypnos bed with Tielle bedding
- wall-mounted Smart TV with Netflix subscription
- fitted wardrobe
- built-in dressing table
- two bathrobes and spa slippers
The frosted glass sliding door opens to reveal the ensuite bathroom which contains:
- walk-in shower, toilet, wash basin and heated towel rail
- luxury toiletries
|
Accessed via the galleried landing or master bedroom, the delightful roof terrace enjoys views across the rooftops of Stow and is a wonderful suntrap. Decorated with handmade glass sculptures and an array of attractive potted flowers, summer scents of sweet honeysuckle, lavender and climbing roses fill the air. There is a table with six comfortable chairs, a patio heater and throws are provided to enable guests to make the most of the summer evenings when pretty lights illuminate this special place.
Free on-street parking is readily available just a short walk away from the apartment.
Key Features
Key Features
Booking and payment
Character Cottages is a marketing agency and we do not own any of the cottages listed on our website. We manage a proportion of cottages within our portfolio and the remaining properties are managed by a third party property manager or the property owner – your pre-arrival email will contain confirmation and contact details for your property manager. Bookings made via us form a legal agreement directly between you and the property owner.
For bookings commencing more than 10 weeks in advance, a 30% non-refundable deposit is required to confirm the booking. The balance payment is then due 10 weeks prior to arrival.
All payments are made subject to the cancellation policy set out in the standard Booking Conditions.
Security deposits
A security deposit of £250 is payable, which is returned after the letting period, subject to an inspection of the property. For the avoidance of doubt, guests are requested to leave the property in a reasonable condition, consistent with the property's appearance upon arrival. In the event that the owners, or their appointed housekeepers, have to spend additional time tidying up after your departure, then the cost of this extra time may be deducted from your security deposit. The security deposit is payable prior to arrival at the property, via a bank transfer or a valid debit or credit card.
Occupancy
The maximum occupancy of the property is four guests, at any point during your stay. Unauthorised over occupancy is a breach of our terms and conditions and may result in the cancellation of your booking and additional charges. Please consult us prior to booking if you wish to discuss the possibility of having more than four guests at the property.
Pets
Regrettably, pets are not accepted.
Bed linen and towels
Bed linen and towels are provided for guests.
Arrival and departure times
Arrival time is after 4pm and departure time is by 10am.
If your arrival will be delayed beyond 9pm on the start date of your rental period, you must contact the owner. If you fail to do so, you may not be able to get into the property.
Bed sizes and configurations
- Master bedroom: King size bed
- Bedroom 2: King size bed
Bathrooms
- Master bedroom ensuite: Bath with overhead shower, toilet and wash basin
- Bedroom 2 ensuite: Walk-in shower, toilet and wash basin
Heating
The property has a gas central heating system.
Electricity and gas are included in the rental price.
Services provided
The property has free wireless internet access, three Smart TVs with Netflix subscriptions, and an Amazon Alexa.
There is no telephone at the property.
Mobile phone reception is generally OK.
Parking
Free on-street parking is readily available a short walk away from the property (luggage can be unloaded outside the apartment).
Housekeeping
Where a letting exceeds nine nights, a mid-stay clean, bed linen and towel change may be included in the price. Please check with us to confirm. Additional housekeeping services may be available on request.
Child friendly facilities
Regrettably, Stownes does not accept children under the age of 12.
Initial consumables
A supply of initial consumables is provided for your convenience (eg. regular and herbal teas, instant coffee and coffee beans, sugar, dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid, soap, washing powder, toilet rolls, basic store cupboard essentials etc).
The owner also provides a complimentary spirit bar and luxury toiletries.
Accessibility, health and safety
This is a first floor apartment with a rooftop terrace, and despite the terrace being enclosed, the property is unsuitable for children under 12 due to the potential drop from the terrace down to street level.
The smoke and CO detectors operate on a sound only basis and, therefore, those who have serious impairment of hearing may not be able to hear the alarm systems and could be at risk.
Smoking
No smoking or vaping is permitted throughout the property.
Stow Horse Fair
The Stow Horse Fair is held twice a year, on the Thursday closest to 12th May and the Thursday closest to 24th October. This is a traditional fair for gypsies and travelling people to meet up and trade, which dates back to 1476, when its Charter was granted. Stow is very busy for a day or two before and after each fair, and a number of shops, pubs and restaurants are closed. Whilst many visitors enjoy the colour and vibrancy associated with the fairs, other visitors prefer to avoid Stow on these dates.
Photographs
In order to provide you with as much detail of our properties as possible, we sometimes use wide angle photography, which can make certain rooms, or spaces, appear larger than they actually are. Wherever possible, we try to include a floorplan, with detailed dimensions of rooms and areas.
If you have any queries regarding the size of any rooms or spaces, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Reviews
Stownes was launched as a Holiday Let with Character Cottages in July 2019. Customer reviews and feedback for this lovely property are provided below:
Other Guest Feedback:
-"We had an absolutely brilliant time on the short break. The flat was extremely well-kept and Jane was a fantastic host who had left us with all of the amenities we could imagine wanting. It was a very special trip and made more special by how brilliant this flat was- I would definitely stay again! Thanks very much Jane!", Zoe, October 2020
-"The apartment is absolutely wonderful with a great mixture of traditional style with modern technology. The apartment has everything you need for a stay including nice coffee machine, dishwasher, washing machine, fast WiFi for researching locations to visit, an Amazon Echo Plus for playing music whilst you dine and TVs with Netflix after a long day visiting the Cotswold's. The apartment is located in the centre of Stow on the Wold meaning you can walk to any of the local pubs / restaurants. There is no private parking but you can park in the centre of Stow or there is a free long stay car park (up-to 72 hours) less than 10 minutes walk away. Jane is a lovely host who provides a nice welcome pack and has a large range of drinks available within the apartment. We believe this is a the best place we have stayed on AirBnB and if we come back to the Cotswold's we know where we will be staying!”, Jason, September 2020
-"We loved our stay at Stownes. The apartment is beautifully decorated, extremely comfortable and perfectly located. Jane was a great host and all the added extras from the bar, to the robes and the care package when we arrived really made the trip feel extra special. We’d recommend this place to all our friends and hope to be back soon.", Emily, August 2020
-"Amazing place and great finishing touches.", Graham, July 2020
-"Absolutely outstanding, wonderful house and Jane is a kind and generous host. Thank you!", Scott, March 2020
-"It is a fantastic property finished to exacting standards and Jane the owner is also fantastic, welcoming and has thought of everything for a great stay. We could not praise highly enough. Five stars all round.If you could sort the weather for next time though!!",Brian, February 2020
-"Nothing short of perfect.", Richard, February 2020
-"Stownes is an absolutely beautiful place to stay! The attention to detail was outstanding and we had everything we could possibly need and more! The host was fantastic, such a lovely lady! I can’t recommend this wonderful apartment enough and I can’t wait to go back!”, April, January 2020
-"Jane is an amazing host! The apartment far exceeds expectations and the small personal touches makes you feel at home from the moment you enter. The venue truly made our experience in the cotswolds unforgettable and was truly special given we had guests visiting for whom it was their first time in the area. Thank you and we look forward to being back.", Ben, November 2019
-"What a wonderful apartment and even better host , Jane certainly made us feel at home in her amazing apartment nothing was a problem , I totally recommend anyone who is staying in Stow to look at Stownes it's up there with the best . Thanks Jane for everything.", Tim, November 2019
-"An amazing property. Loved it. Already looking to return. Wonderful owner/host too. Definitely 5⭐️", Lisa, November 2019
-“We had a fantastic stay at this beautiful flat. It is very stylish and perfectly located in the center of Stow. The flat was full of personal touches - fresh flowers, beautiful decorations, amazing lighting and a cosy gas fire. Jane, the lovely owner greeted us with a fridge full of food to cook breakfast, there was bread, scones, croissants, and a even a nice bar. This is was one of our best airbnb experiences and we would come back any time”, Alexandra, November 2019
-"Beautiful cottage, recently refurbished and extremely well finished. Lovely place to stay with a very charming and welcoming host. Superb location for the market square with parking a short walk from the square, although we parked up in the square both day and night with no problems. Highly recommend.", Jay, September 2019
Floorplan

Inventory
Our aim is for you to enjoy Stownes as if it was your own home and this information is provided to ensure that you are aware of, and are able to use, all the facilities that are available.
Main appliances, furniture and facilities |
4 x bathrobes and spa slippers |
Luxury bed linen, bath sheets and hand towels |
Outdoor table and seating |
Four-ring induction hob |
Fridge/freezer |
Professional coffee machine |
Kettle |
Microwave |
Au Lait toiletries |
Electric oven |
Toaster |
3 x Smart TVs with Netflix subscriptions |
Washing machine |
Superfast wireless internet |
Dishwasher |
Nutribullet |
Spiralizer |
Amazon Alexa |
Patio heater |
|
|
General provisions |
Bin bags |
Dishwasher tablets |
Hand soap |
J cloths & scourers |
Salt and pepper |
Chocolate jar |
Sugar |
Tea bags |
Toilet roll |
Washing up liquid |
Coffee beans and instant coffee |
|
Other equipment and facilities |
Clothes steamer |
Iron and ironing board |
Laundry airer |
Fire blanket |
Fire extinguisher |
First aid kit |
Hair dryer |
CO detectors |
Smoke alarms |
Travel
Stownes is located in the centre of Stow-on-the-Wold, approximately 200 yards from the historic market square, with a very short walk to all of Stow's shops, pubs and restaurants.
Travelling by car
Stow is conveniently located at the junction of seven roads, including the A429 (Fosse Way), and is easily accessed by car.
Travelling by train
The nearest railway station to Stow is Kingham (approximately five miles away), which has regular, direct services to London Paddington, with a typical journey time of approximately 90 minutes.
Travelling by plane
Stow is within easy reach of a number of international airports:
- Heathrow International Airport: 73 miles, approximately 90 minute drive;
- Birmingham International Airport: 45 miles, approximately 60 minute drive.