Nocturne
Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, UK
Melodic, harmonious, and threaded with subtleties. Not a piece of music (yet named after one), Nocturne is a period home in Stow-on-the-Wold that was composed for peace and introspection. A tincture for the kinetic whirl of city life — where it's quite possible to vanish hours in a state of flow between the courtyard garden and local wine cellar — this Cotswolds residence conceals a grand piano, in-house movie parlour, and hot tub behind its honeypot walls.
Introduction
A spirits store, a classroom, an ale shop, a wine bar, a restaurant, and an antiquarian. This isn’t a listing of what awaits in the market town of Stow-on-the-Wold; it's a century-by-century chronicling of the many lives of Nocturne. Built from that renowned Cotswolds lime, and still with some 300-year-old cross-mullioned windows, the townhouse is made of two separate residences connected by a single door. Its now-owners happened upon it while mooching around the cobblestone streets, without intent to buy. But so smitten were they with its wrought-iron antiques sign and sage shop windows, that they decided to preserve its legacy. Now, they're handing modern travellers the keys to their magnum opus.
Inside
It’s one of those old homes with a happy history. And like many listed buildings, it reveals character at every corner; charcoal beams, scored stonework, and linen cupboards given lease of life. Even what’s new is a lesson in traditional craftsmanship, like the Plain English kitchen licked in blush and burgundy, its sash doors opening to a courtyard garden cascading with purple wisteria. There’s a glasshouse hot tub, a cinema room, and a snug with pool and darts that gives all the cosy pubs of Stow a run for their money. Across its three floors, expect to find sweet sleigh beds wrapped in Adam’s Eden wallpaper, nickel slipper tubs, and books collected over a month of Sundays. All this behind the hush of thickset walls.
Outside
Enter from the street, close the teal-green door, and step out among the flowers. Rare are green spaces like these in the heart of the village. With its own little waterfall, and a flurry of ornamental onion and flowering vines, Nocturne’s courtyard is an oasis. One of few houses in the heart of Stow with parking (for three cars, no less), a stay here makes easy work of roving between the cultured beehive of Cotswolds hamlets. Take a leaf out of its owners’ book, and make a habit of the daily road trip; an espresso here, a farmers’ market there. Perhaps a slow morning in Bibury, a night in Broadway. And if the latter whips up images of theatre-going Manhattanites, you wouldn't be far off. This is A-list land, after all.
The Facts
- SleepsUp to 12 guests
From £3,550 per week, £2,650 per short break - Alternative group optionUp to 8 guests
- Bedrooms and bathroomsThere are six bedrooms, four on the first floor and two on the second floor; one with an en suite, and the rest with shared access to two family bathrooms and one shower room.
View bedrooms - FeaturesWilliam Holland hot tub, cinema room, games room
- PetsThree well-behaved dogs are welcome
Each pet is charged at £60 per week or part thereof - Arrivals and departuresArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
- FamilyBabies and children are very welcome. One cot and one highchair are available, but there are no stairgates.
- PracticalitiesThere is off-road parking for three cars. The kitchen has a Rangemaster oven, induction hob, two dishwashers, American-style fridge-freezer, and microwave. The utility room contains a washing machine and tumble dryer.
- Homestay includesA luxury welcome hamper, iPad, Wi-Fi internet, Smart TV with Netflix and Amazon Prime, Xbox, pool table, darts board, Sonos sound system, a grand piano, Nespresso coffee machine, gas Weber barbecue, books and board games, luxury bed linens, towels and bathrobes, and logs and kindling to get you started.House book - your property and destination guideDiscover more
- Private cateringSeeking a celebratory dinner or fully catered escape? Our recommended caterers will work with you to create personalised menus for your stay. Details are shared through our house book on confirming your booking.
- RetreatsFrom foraging weekenders to crash courses in cold-water therapy, our bespoke retreats bridge the gap between luxury and back-to-nature philosophies. Create a hand-crafted stay that puts connectivity at the fore.
- RestrictionsPlease note, fireworks and sky lanterns are not permitted. Parties considered on prior permission from the owner.
- Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questions
Prices & Availability
Stow-on-the-Wold
This is crème de la country. A Cotswold market town made of gold lime shopfronts and trad pubs, Stow-on-the-Wold is a handsome chapter of the English country, where every passing hour is an elixir for busyness.
Getting there
- On the Map This luxury period home is located in Stow-on-the-Wold near Bourton-on-the-Water in the Cotswolds, ideally located for visiting Bibury and Cirencester.
- By Car Nocturne is half-an-hour from Cheltenham and Cirencester, one hour from Oxford, and two-and-a-half hours from London by car.
- By Train Kingham is 20 minutes away by car. There are regular trains from London Paddington with GWR with a journey time of under one-and-a-half hours.
- By Air Gloucestershire Airport is one hour away, whilst Birmingham, Bristol, and London Heathrow Airports are each less than two hours away by car. There are private airstrips and helipads nearby.
From the owner
“Whilst Nocturne is a haven of peace now, imagine the hustle and bustle of children running around and barrels of whisky being carted to and from the High Street as you read the Sunday papers!”
We have been visiting the Cotswolds for years, addicted to its cosy pubs, country walks, and the appeal of its welcoming, honey-coloured homes. When the opportunity came to acquire Nocturne, set in one of our favourite villages, we couldn't resist — it's perfect for family get-togethers.
With windows dating back to the 17th century, the townhouse is certainly very old. In the 1300's, brewing was the largest trade in Stow, with most shops making their own beer to sell in the market. There were 15 ale houses in 1635, rising to 29 by 1755. Nocturne didn't escape the liquor trade; what is now the kitchen used to be a wines and spirits store. Around this time, the snug was actually a little store selling its wares.
Nocturne was a small school as recently as the mid-1970's, with what is now the kitchen being used as its classroom and the play area being the enormous garden, before part of it was sold to make way for the cottages behind the house. Since then, it’s been a wine bar, a restaurant, and eventually an antiques shop. This closed in around 2010, with the owners then using the house as a residential property, before we purchased the house in 2022.
Whilst Nocturne is a haven of peace now, imagine the hustle and bustle of children running around and barrels of whisky being carted to and from the High Street as you read the Sunday papers!
The McLean’s
Owner recommendations
Live like a local, discovering the best hidden gem restaurants, walks and attractions during your holiday in Stow-on-the-Wold with an insider’s perspective.
To Eat
Davenford, Stow-on-the-Wold
Essentially, we spend our time at Nocturne doing as little as possible; it’s our antidote to a busy life! Usually, if we´re being particularly lazy, we’ll stroll to breakfast at our favourite place, Davenford on Digbeth Street for scones with clotted cream.
To Eat
The Cellar, Stow-on-the-Wold
Full of sustainable wines like Beaujolais Nouveau and curious cocktails like Something & Nothing Seltzer, The Cellar sits within a Grade II-listed building in The Square. Snack on Catalan smoked almonds, Torres truffle crisps, and crisp focaccia.
To Do
Bourton Vale Equestrian, Bourton-on-the-Water
A welcoming riding centre in the Cotswolds, organising hacks that even allow riders and their steeds to swim together in the river, Bourton Vale offers a way for confident riders and even nervous beginners to take the scenic route.
To See
St Edward´s Church, Stow-on-the-Wold
Come here to visit Stow´s Tolkien Door, the most photographed doorway in the Cotswolds. Flanked by two ancient yews, it´s rumoured to have been the inspiration for the Doors of Durin in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring.
Unique extras
From private chefs to luxury at-home spa therapists and adrenalin-fuelled retreats, once you’ve booked your stay we’ll introduce you to our owner-recommended suppliers to create a truly bespoke, memorable escape.
Press
Below are a selection of features in which Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.
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The loveliest remote hotels, huts and castles in the UK for a road trip
House & Garden
June 202412 of the best new UK holiday cottages
The Times
June 202420 of the best treehouse stays in the UK
The Times
June 2024The best holiday cottages in the UK
Condé Nast Traveller
May 2024Wealthy Britons are letting their homes — but you won´t find them on Airbnb
The Telegraph
May 2024Plum Sykes´s guide to The Cotswolds
Financial Times
May 2024This picturesque English coastline is where you should be beach-hopping this summer
Vogue
May 2024The UK´s seven best cabins for birdwatching
The Times
May 2024
Collections > Alternative Group Option > UK > Gloucestershire > Stow-on-the-Wold > Nocturne
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Disclaimer: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set as a guideline so should not be relied upon as a statement of fact. The photographs show aspects of the property at the time they were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed. If there are points of particular importance that need clarifying before you book, please contact us.
