Why you should have a stopover in Stamford
Discover one of the prettiest towns in the UK
I recently found myself back in Stamford – the pretty market town in Lincolnshire where I went to sixth-form college. Back then, its beguiling stone buildings, winding high street and riverfront park were the backdrop to my teenage adventures. We knew it was pretty, but we just took it for granted.
But then, as these things tend to do, the rest of the country took more notice of this hidden gem halfway between Peterborough and Grantham and it began to head steadily upmarket. It was always nice, but now it’s very nice. Full of Georgian architecture, it has more than 600 listed buildings in their pretty pale limestone.
Stamford is an ancient market town, on the Great North Road – once an important stopping point for anyone travelling to and from the north. Charles I stayed at The George Hotel, which has been on the same site for 1000 years.
Queen Elizabeth visited Stamford, as did William III. Sir Walter Scott also often stayed at The George and called it, “the finest stone town in England.”
Famous as the town used to film the 1994 BBC adaptation of Middlemarch, Stamford sits right next to the glorious 16th century Burghley House, with its huge art collection and famous Burghley Horse Trials. This stately home is well-worth a visit and has recently been on screen as Windsor Castle, no less, in The Crown.
The high street is thriving – always a good sight – and there’s an excellent market on Fridays with artisan stalls selling everything from fine food to tweed caps.
There are upmarket fashion and interior shops, jewellers and loads of cafes and restaurants. You can pick one of the sleek new ones, but we love the 18th century Central Café and Tea Rooms on Red Lion Square, which are pleasingly unchanged and higgledy-piggledy inside.
The George of Stamford is still the dominant hotel – this lovely privately-owned hotel on the River Welland is a nice place to stay for the weekend, or overnighting en route to or from the north. It has a pretty courtyard and fine-dining restaurant and holds many happy memories for our family.
Likewise, The Crown, right in the centre of town, is a good option. It’s a smart inn with super-pretty rooms and we stopped for a tasty lunch in its friendly restaurant.
Other things to do nearby are the National Trust Belton House and Harlaxtan Manor in Grantham, a day out at Rutland Water or a visit to lovely Oakham.
Travel List
How to get there: Stamford is half way between Peterborough and Grantham – about a two-hour drive from London. You can catch a connecting train from Peterborough.
Where to stay: The George of Stamford is a lovely, historic hotel worth a visit, as is The Crown.
For more information: Visitlincolnshire.com