destinations
Stamford
bustling prosperous market town with quaint streets and delicious food
Stamford has long been lauded as a lovely stone town. Sir Walter Scott claimed that Stamford was “the finest sight on the road between Edinburgh and London” and the historian WG Hoskins said “If there is a more beautiful town in the whole of England, I have yet to see it”. More recently the Sunday Times declared it as ‘Britain’s top place to live’.
Stamford developed where the Roman Ermine Street, linking London to York, forded the River Welland. It appears as Stanford in the 1086 Domesday Book. The name means ‘stony ford’. Several Parliaments were hosted in Stamford in the Middle Ages.
Prosperity was originally based upon the wool trade and then in the Georgian era the advent of stagecoach travel along the Great North Road (now the A1). Several former coaching inns survive, their large doorways being a clue. None are more famous than the George Hotel which dates from 1597, its unique ‘gallows’ sign spanning the entire road. The George occupies the site of a medieval Knights of St John building.
In 1967 the town’s extraordinary architectural heritage ensured its place as England’s first conservation area. 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. Stamford has the finest collection of medieval churches – five in all – of any small town in England. The area is known for its stone and slate quarries and the Collyweston stone slate is found on the roofs of many Stamford buildings.
SPECIAL TO STAMFORD
- Great for independent shops, including little shops tucked down quaint narrow passageways.
- Wonderful architecture.
- The River Welland flows through water meadows in the centre of town.
Burghley House, one of the finest of Elizabethan houses, set in lovely Capability Brown parkland.
houses & castles
Burghley House
On the very edge of Stamford is Burghley House, an Elizabethan mansion, built by the First Minister of Elizabeth I, William Cecil, later Lord Burghley. For 40 years he served Elizabeth and from the very first she relied upon him. He tightly controlled the Crown finances and he created a highly capable intelligence service. No one knew more than William Cecil about what was going on. In 1598 aged 78 Cecil was too weak to carry on, Elizabeth visited him and fed him with her own hands. He is buried in a sumptuous tomb in St Martin’s church, Stamford.
Built between 1555 and 1587 Burghley has its original Tudor kitchen, 18 magnificent State Rooms and priceless works of art. Capability Brown’s great lake and lovely parkland, the curious ‘Bottle Lodges’ (1801) at the entrance, the Sculpture Garden and Garden of Surprises.
our top things to do in Stamford
architectural interest
did you know?
The ruin of St Leonard’s Priory is the town’s oldest building, founded by Wilfred, tutor to the son of the Saxon King Oswy. Norman pillars and arches (c1090) survive with a west front of around 1150.
Dominating Broad Street is another outstanding building, Browne’s Hospital (1475). It is actually almshouses surrounding a cloister garden and was founded by wealthy wool merchant William Browne.
As seen on screen
The industrial revolution largely bypassed Stamford and its wealth of lovely buildings has made Stamford a very popular film location. Pride and Prejudice, Middlemarch, The Buccaneers, Da Vinci Code, The Crown were all filmed here.
Nearby
Tolethorpe Hall
One of Europe's finest theatre venues, Tolethorpe Hall which hosts outdoor theatre productions by the Stamford Shakespeare Company.
things to do in the surrounding area
Planning on exploring the surrounding area? There is plenty to do nearby in the towns of Grantham and Bourne including fantastic historical buildings and country houses as well as beautiful outdoor spaces.
food & drink
Zada Restaurant
Zada’s menu is a meld of Middle Eastern cuisine with particular emphasis on Turkish food. A blend of authentic homestyle cooking, traditional favourites and royal offerings, combine into a decadent exploration of Middle Eastern food culture.
food & drink highlights
accommodation ideal for your visit
tourist information centres
Stamford Arts Centre
The friendly box office team are on hand to help with local information, hand out maps and information about places to visit, where to eat, what’s on in and around Stamford and, of course, where to stay! They have a full range of traditional souvenirs of Stamford together with town trails.
more about the South Countryside
Discover more information about things to do, food and drink and places to stay in the area.
