📷 Photo by Roger Templeman · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Just off Stow-on-the-Wold's large market square, you'll find The Porch House, a working inn that's been operating continuously for over a thousand years.
Parts of its structure and foundations reach back to the 10th century, making it one of England's oldest inns still in use today. You can visit for a meal and a drink or book a room if you want to stay longer.
The kitchen focuses on hearty, locally sourced cooking served within genuine ancient stone walls and exposed timber beams. Open fires warm the spaces during winter, creating an atmospheric setting to eat after you've spent time exploring Stow's antique shops and galleries or walking the surrounding Cotswold hills. What makes it special is how it connects you to the town's history in an authentic way without feeling like a preserved museum piece. This is a real, functioning building rather than a static relic.
The building sits naturally within Stow-on-the-Wold's life rather than apart from it, and the town itself sits at good elevation on the hills, making it a solid base for exploring nearby places like Bourton-on-the-Water and Moreton-in-Marsh. If you're spending time in the area, this inn genuinely captures the character of the town and offers an experience that connects you to something with real historical roots.
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Photos
Rodw · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons