A tiny but stunning UK town surrounded by lush countryside and dripping in history is just like the Cotswolds – just without the coach-loads of selfie-stick-waving tourists
A quaint town touted as one of the UK’s ‘best-kept secrets’ makes for the perfect alternative to the tourist-riddled hotspots. Enveloped in rolling Lincolnshire countryside and conveniently located just off the A1 lies the quintessential parish of Stamford. Here, you can expect the same standard of natural beauty, cobbled alleys and ubiquitous history as you’ll find in the Cotswolds – which have garnered swathes of criticism for becoming insufferably busy and overcrowded.
In the words of Sir Walter Scott, Stamford is ‘the finest sight on the road between Edinburgh and London’. And if you’re still not convinced, the town was also crowned ‘Britain’s top place to live’ back in 2021.
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Despite its long list of accolades, the market town has managed to avoid the blinding tourist limelight – perfectly preserving its Georgian architecture, limestone buildings, and peaceful atmosphere. But historically, Stamford has always been quick to recognise its unique past and appearance – and became England’s first-ever conservation area back in 1967.
“There are over 600 listed buildings in and around the town: largely 17th and 18th century mellow limestone buildings with some older timber framed buildings,” explains Visit Lincolnshire.
“Stamford has the finest collection of medieval churches – five in all – of any small town in England. The area is also known for its stone and slate quarries and the Collyweston stone slate is found on the roofs of many Stamford buildings.”
With a bustling high street filled with independent cafes and shops, Stamford has also embraced the modern. Head over to The Drawing Room for a caffeine pick-me-up and delicious slice of cake, or check out The Slanted Door for an evening of fine dining and cocktails – and don’t forget to call in at St Martins Antiques Centre for a truly unique souvenir.
Of course, no trip to Stamford is complete without visiting Burghley House – a gorgeous Elizabethan mansion built by the First Minister of Elizabeth I.
Built between 1555 and 1587 Burghley has its original Tudor kitchen, 18 magnificent State Rooms and priceless works of art – as well as perfectly manicured gardens you can roam around.
Last year, the stately home was temporarily closed for the filming of a Netflix adaptation of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein. The film is set to be released this year, which means you still have time to visit the grand building before it gets overwhelmingly popular.
How to get to Stamford
Located just over 90 miles from central London, it takes around two hours and seven minutes to drive up to Stamford – if you’re lucky enough to avoid any traffic. Indirect trains, which usually include a stop at Peterborough, can however slash the journey time down to just over one hour.
If you’re flexible with dates, you can grab single adult fares for as little as £21.20. If you have a rail card – this can bring the price down to £17.15.
Unlike the Cotswolds, staying in Stamford doesn’t have to break the bank. Despite its small size, there is still a range of accommodation types to suit varying budgets – from no-frills hotels to luxury suites.
For example, a weekend’s stay (Friday, August 15 -17) at the stunning and centrally-located Crown Hotel will set you back £404. This is based on two adults sharing a Double Room, and includes breakfast.
If you’re not wanting to splurge out, check out this cosy one-bedroom apartment that costs just £217 on the exact same nights. It has an equally good location, and comes with a fully-equipped kitchen which can help you avoid costs by cooking at home.
*Prices based on Trainline and Booking.com listings at the time of writing.
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