Nestled in Stow-on-the-Wold, the highest town in the Cotswolds perched atop an 800-foot hill, Lucy’s Tearoom offers a quintessential British afternoon tea experience in a delightful historic setting. This charming tearoom is housed within a 300-year-old Cotswold stone building just off the town’s picturesque Market Square. Despite a tasteful refurbishment fifteen years ago, it retains its original flagstone floors and wooden beams, perfectly preserving the authentic ambiance that mirrors the town’s rich heritage.
Stow itself is a treasure trove of history and culture, from England’s oldest inn, The Porch House, dating back to 947 AD, to the fascinating north door of St Edward’s Church, said to have inspired Tolkien’s Durin’s Door in The Lord of the Rings. After exploring the town’s antique shops and charming streets, Lucy’s Tearoom is the perfect place to relax and indulge your appetite.
On a sunny May Monday, my family and I visited Lucy’s Tearoom intending just a light bite, but the tempting menu quickly convinced us otherwise. Lucy’s proudly offers a “legendary” cream tea, and social media fans rave that “nobody makes a scone like Lucy’s,” so sampling their scones was a must.
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The full afternoon tea is served on a tiered stand for £21.50 per person. It includes an assortment of finger sandwiches with fillings such as cheese and pickle, ham and mustard, egg mayo, or cucumber and hummus. You also get a choice of a plain or fruit scone with strawberry jam and clotted cream, accompanied by a pot of loose leaf tea or coffee.
For something smaller, the cream tea option at £10.50 is perfect, featuring a scone with jam and clotted cream plus your choice of tea or coffee. Cheese scones are also available, served warm with butter and optionally chutney, starting from £5.75.
Between the five of us, we sampled two cream teas, a cheese scone with butter and chutney, the quiche of the day (caramelised onion, beetroot, and goat’s cheese) at £12.75, a brie and cranberry toastie for £9, and a fish finger sandwich priced at £10.
Though I have a sweet tooth and adore scones, it was the fish finger sandwich that truly stole the show. Served on thick, fluffy white or granary bread, the ‘doorstep’ sandwich was generously filled with warm fish fingers, crisp lettuce, chunks of melted cheddar cheese, juicy gherkins, and a generous layer of tartare sauce. It was so delicious that I ended up eating most of it myself.
My dad equally enjoyed the cheese scone with chutney, enthusiastically sharing it with the rest of us. Unfortunately, we were too full for cake, though Lucy’s offers a tempting variety served fresh daily downstairs—definitely worth a return visit.
The total bill was £67.25, averaging around £13.45 per person for six dishes and drinks, which felt very reasonable for the quality and charm of the experience. Lucy’s Tearoom is a delightful find and a must-visit for anyone seeking a traditional afternoon tea or a cozy spot to unwind in Stow-on-the-Wold.