Stanton Travel
A hidden paradise on the edge of the Cotswolds escarpment in Gloucestershire, England — Stanton, praised by architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner as "the finest village in the North Cotswolds". The entire main street reads like a 17th-century manuscript written in honey-coloured limestone: thatched roofs, stone mullioned windows, tall chimneys, rose-clad stone walls, no shops, no cafés, almost no traffic. In 1906, industrial architect Sir Philip Stott bought half the village and poured his fortune into restoration, leaving his signature Stott lamp posts still lit today. Stanton is an official waypoint on the Cotswold Way; hikers approach from Broadway, cross the scarp and look down over the Vale of Evesham, with the Malvern Hills and Black Mountains of Wales stretching to the horizon.
Stanton One-Day Classic Tour
Walk the Cotswold Way into the honey-coloured stone and thatched roof paradise, climb Shenberrow Hill Iron Age hillfort, drink Donnington Ale at The Mount watching the sunset over the Vale of Evesham
Drive 3 miles south from Broadway along the B4632 to reach Stanton; free roadside parking at the village entrance. Enter to see a row of honey-coloured limestone terraced houses — all stone quarried from Shenberrow Hill north of the village, highly uniform in 17th-century style: steep stone slate roofs, tall chimneys, stone mullioned windows, wooden porches draped with roses and clematis. The main street rises gently to Sheppey Corner (built c.1650, Historic England Grade II listed), three thatched cottages forming the Cotswolds' most photogenic corner, originally farmhouses now divided into three homes. Continue uphill to St Michael's Church — preserving rare Anglo-Saxon long-and-short quoins and a Norman south doorway with zigzag decoration, containing a 14th-century effigy of a priest. In the afternoon, take the north village path up Shenberrow Hill Iron Age Hillfort (Historic England scheduled monument, approximately 1.9-hectare D-shaped earthwork, excavated in 1935 revealing ironwork and Romano-British pottery), reaching the summit for panoramic views over the Vale of Evesham, Malvern Hills and Black Mountains of Wales. End the evening on the terrace of The Mount Inn (17th-century building, Donnington Brewery, didn't receive its alcohol licence until 1947), sipping a traditional ale as sunset gilds the stone rooftops.
- The Mount Inn Cliff-edge four-star inn
- Stanton Charm Main street stone B&B
- Dovedale House Converted barn stay
- The Mount Inn Three-course dinner
- Broadway Deli Pick up picnic supplies
- Stanton Court Garden afternoon tea (booking required)
- No shops, no ATMs in the village — bring cash in advance
- Very limited public transport — driving or hiking strongly recommended
- Hillfort grass slopes can be slippery — wear waterproof hiking boots
On the second day, follow the southern section of the Cotswold Way from Stanton towards Stanway (approximately 1 mile, gentle descent), visiting Stanway House & Fountain — a Jacobean manor house with the world's tallest gravity-driven fountain (300 feet 10¼ inches / approximately 91.5 metres), activated on 5 June 2004, open Tuesdays and Thursdays 14:00-17:00, with a tea room serving cream teas. Continue south to Winchcombe (about 4 miles), visiting Sudeley Castle — the final resting place of Catherine Parr, Henry VIII's last queen, with gardens and peacock lawns perfect for a slow wander. If time permits, return north to Broadway to climb Broadway Tower (one of the highest points in the Cotswolds, 360-degree views, approximately £4), or drive east along the B4632 to visit Snowshill Lavender (June-August lavender blooming season). Return to The Mount terrace in the evening, listening to distant steam train whistles (audible from the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Steam Railway at Winchcombe), ending your Stanton tour.
- Driving: 3 miles south from Broadway on B4632
- Hiking: Official waypoint on the Cotswold Way
- Bus: No direct service, nearest stop in Broadway
- Stanton Main Street/Church/Hillfort: Free
- Stanway House: Approx £10
- Sudeley Castle: Approx £18.50
- Broadway Tower: Approx £4
- The Mount accommodation: £90-£150/night
- Almost no mobile signal in Stanton — download offline maps in advance
- The Mount meals require booking — often full with hikers
- Autumn golden-brown stone walls + thatched roofs = best photos
Stanton Must-Eat Foods
The Mount Inn 17th-Century Cliff-edge Pub
Stanton's only food and drink establishment, owned by Donnington Brewery, didn't receive its alcohol licence until 1947. Traditional Donnington Ale drawn by hand pump, signature slow-cooked lamb, malt pies and Sunday roasts. West-facing terrace overlooks the Vale of Evesham, dubbed "the best sunset pub on the Cotswold Way" by hikers. Average £18-£35 per person.
Broadway Deli Picnic Shopping
Located on Broadway High Street, 3 miles from Stanton, this deli stocks artisan sourdough, local cheeses, smoked meats and preserves. Buy everything you need and spread a picnic blanket against Stanton's stone walls — the most authentic lunch experience in a "shopless village". Average £8-£15 per person.
Stanway House Tea Room Manor Cream Tea
Located in the gatehouse of Stanway House, a perfect rest stop after viewing the fountain. Serves proper cream teas (scone + clotted cream + strawberry jam), homemade cakes and hot drinks. Garden terrace with the sound of the fountain in the background. Average £8-£14 per person.
The Lygon Arms Broadway Historic Hotel Restaurant
A four-star hotel converted from a 1532 coaching inn, where Charles I once stayed overnight. The timber-beamed restaurant serves Cotswold lamb, duck breast and seasonal game, while the bar area retains a 17th-century fireplace. 10 minutes' drive from Stanton. Average £30-£55 per person.
- May-June: Roses in full bloom on walls
- September-October: Golden-brown thatched roofs + misty valleys
- Any sunny day: Best for hiking + sunset
- The Mount slow-cooked lamb + Donnington Ale
- Stanway Tea Room cream tea
- Broadway Deli sourdough picnic loaf
- Lygon Arms Sunday roast
- The Mount terrace sunset drink
- Tickets: £0-£18.50 (village itself entirely free)
- Accommodation: £90-£150/night (The Mount)
- Meals: £15-£35/day (pub + picnic)
- Transport: £0-£20 (driving fuel / no bus)
- Total: £10-£60 (day trip)
- Does Stanton have shops or cafés? → No, zero shops, zero cafés, zero ATMs. The only food option is The Mount. Bring cash and food in advance.
- How to get there without a car? → Walk the Cotswold Way from Broadway (3 miles) or take a taxi
- Who was Sir Philip Stott? → The industrial architect who bought half the village in 1906, restoring stone houses, building a reservoir and cricket ground — his signature Stott lamp posts still shine today
- Is Stanton the same as Broadway High Street? → No, Broadway is a bustling historic town with a high street of shops; Stanton is a secluded village 3 miles south of Broadway