Stuck in the Middle with You

You know when a song gets stuck in your head and, however hard you try, it just keeps playing?

Today, for some reason, it’s Stuck in the Middle with You, written by Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan for their 1970s band Stealers Wheel.

Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.

Which got us thinking.

Stow to the left of us.
Charlbury to the right.
Here we are, Bledington in the middle of you.

And actually, being in the middle isn’t such a bad place to be.

If you’re planning a stay in the Cotswolds, there are plenty of reasons to choose The King’s Head as your base. For this local guide, we’re going to look at two of them: Stow-on-the-Wold and Charlbury.

Stow-on-the-Wold

Stow is one of the best-known market towns in the Cotswolds, with a history closely tied to the wool trade that once brought merchants and traders from across the region to the town. Today, Stow is perhaps better known for its antiques shops and dealers, with everything from furniture and collectables to the more unusual finds.

The town grew around its market square, where sheep and wool were once traded, and today the square remains the heart of Stow.

These days, you can spend a few hours wandering its streets, looking around the independent shops and antiques shops, finding somewhere for coffee or lunch, and exploring some of the town’s history.

Stow also has its Civil War connections, with the Battle of Stow-on-the-Wold fought in 1646 — one of the final battles of the English Civil War.

It’s close enough to Bledington to make an easy outing, whether you’re travelling by car, bicycle or public transport. If you don’t have a car, The Robin is a useful option. It’s a bookable, on-demand minibus service covering the North Cotswolds, and importantly for guests staying with us, it has stops in Bledington. You book your journey rather than relying on a conventional fixed bus route.

If you’re driving or cycling, the journey from Bledington to Stow-on-the-Wold takes you through some lovely Cotswold countryside. You’ll pass the turnings for the village of Icomb on the left and the village of Lower Oddington on the right just before the steep climb into Stow. It’s only a short drive, but it’s a nice introduction to the countryside around us.

Once you arrive in Stow, most of what you’ll want to see is within easy walking distance. Give yourself a few hours to explore the market square, browse the antiques shops and independent stores, have a coffee or lunch and take in some of the town’s history. If you have the time, it’s easy to turn a quick visit into a relaxed afternoon.

Charlbury

Head in the other direction and you’ll find Charlbury, a very different sort of Cotswold town.

Charlbury sits on the edge of the ancient Wychwood Forest and in the Evenlode Valley, surrounded by countryside and walking routes.

Its history goes well beyond simply being a pretty Cotswold town. Charlbury developed an important glove-making industry, has a long history as a market town and its museum tells the story of the town and the people who lived and worked here.

Charlbury is somewhere you can easily spend a few hours simply wandering around. The town centre has a mixture of old stone buildings, narrow streets and small independent shops, with the Playing Close providing an open green space right in the heart of the town.

Beyond the centre, the town sits on the edge of Wychwood, the ancient forest that once covered a much larger part of this area, with footpaths leading out into the surrounding countryside and towards the Evenlode Valley.

And then there’s the railway. Charlbury gives you the option of leaving the car behind altogether. From The King’s Head, it’s around a 20–25 minute walk to Kingham station, where Charlbury is just one stop away. At the other end, it’s a similar 20–25 minute walk from Charlbury station into the town centre, so allow a little time for the walk at either end. It’s a straightforward way to make a day of it without taking the car.

There’s also a rather nice advantage to staying at The King’s Head. After a proper King’s Head breakfast, you’re unlikely to be chasing the early-morning London commuter rush. Take your time, finish your breakfast and make your way to Kingham station when the morning trains are quieter and there’s generally a little more room in the carriages.

And if you’re lucky, you can sit back and watch the Cotswold countryside go by rather than worrying about the traffic.

Once you’re in Charlbury, the town is easy to explore on foot. Wander through its old streets, visit the Playing Close and museum, browse the shops and stop for a drink or something to eat, with the countryside of the Evenlode Valley and Wychwood right on the doorstep.

It makes for a very different sort of Cotswold day out: breakfast at the King’s Head, a walk to the station, a train through the countryside, a few hours exploring Charlbury and then back to Bledington without having driven a mile.

Two places, two very different days out

Stow and Charlbury may both be close to Bledington, but they offer rather different experiences.

Stow-on-the-Wold is the historic Cotswold market town, with its famous square, wool-trade history, shops and antiques.

Charlbury is smaller and surrounded by countryside, with Wychwood, the Evenlode, walking, local history and the added possibility of arriving by train.

And that’s rather the point of staying in Bledington.

You don’t have to stay in one of the busy tourist centres to be close to everything, nor do you have to be miles from anywhere.

Stow to the left.
Charlbury to the right.
Bledington in the middle.

When you’re staying at The King’s Head, there’s plenty to explore beyond our village.

After all, being stuck in the middle can have its advantages.

Thinking of making Bledington your base? Take a look at our rooms and see what we have available.

Enquiries:
01608 658365
Contact The King’s Head Inn