Holiday rentals in Stamford

Stamford is an architectural jewel in Lincolnshire, on the eastern side of England. A conservation area since 1967, the town contains five medieval churches and 600 buildings constructed of creamy-coloured limestone, most of which were built during the Georgian era in the 18th and 19th centuries. A market town, Stamford once prospered from the medieval wool trade. On the outskirts of the city, the majestic 16th-century Burghley House, with its extensive gardens and lakes, has been used as a location for many TV programmes and films.

The town’s cobbled streets are home to a rich selection of independent stores, tearooms, antique shops, and historic coaching inns, along with the Stamford Corn Exchange from the 19th century, which is now a theatre. The River Welland winds its way through the heart of the town, and the Town Meadows along its banks offer an appealing green space for picnics and a path for a riverside walk.

The beauty of Stamford’s architecture can be appreciated in any weather, from the warmer, longer days of summer to the wetter and windier conditions in the winter, when snow might cover the buildings. True to its roots as a market town, Stamford holds a market around Broad Street and Ironmonger Street, in the city centre, every Friday.

Some of the attractions in the area are seasonal, including Burghley House and Gardens, which is closed from the end of October through the winter, as well as any time film crews descend. The town offers a number of different events during the year, including the Stamford Georgian Festival in September, which celebrates the town’s heritage with a host of cultural events.

Town Trail

The circular Town Trail winds through Stamford’s streets, alleyways, and market squares. Historic sites such as majestic churches, Georgian homes, former industrial sites, and bridges stand alongside characterful pubs and a 20th-century cinema. You can spend a pleasant afternoon wandering along the path, exploring hidden gems and discovering their rich stories.

Rutland Water

Less than 10 kilometres west of Stamford is the Rutland Water Nature Reserve, home to one of the largest artificial lakes in the country, set among more than 3,000 hectares of stunning countryside. You can spend many hours looking and listening for ospreys, nightingales, and cormorants, and the trails even offer birdwatching blinds. Or take advantage of the area’s many outdoor activities, from walking or cycling around the 37-kilometre perimeter trail to paddleboarding, canoeing, and windsurfing on the water.

Barnack Hills and Holes National Nature Reserve

Now a nature reserve, Barnack Hills and Holes is the site of a medieval quarry, where a stone called Barnack Rag was taken to be used in several historic churches and abbeys. Across its 20 hectares, the modern-day reserve boasts rich limestone grassland, where you might come across several species of orchid, marbled white and green hairstreak butterflies, and colorful streaks of wildflowers.