Every Christmas we head out of the hustle and bustle of outer London and make our way down to visit family in the Cotswolds. An annual tradition, we come together to enjoy chilled drinks in front of roaring fireplaces, making memories surround by the majestic beauty of the region.
As new arrivals expand the family ever further, having everyone stay together under one roof is becoming increasingly impossible. With bedrooms bursting in the family home, some of us retreated to The Stag in Stow, a traditional pub with a selection of rooms, set right in the heart of the picture-perfect Cotswold town of Stow-on-the-Wold.
Being away from the family home gave us a chance to mingle with other visitors, and during a quick chat in the bar I discovered something I never knew. Stow-on-the-Wold has a fascinating link to a magical world even more enchanting than the honey-coloured houses of the Gloucestershire countryside.
READ MORE: 10 of the most interesting places to visit for a walk in the UK this winter. The charming Cotswold town is believed by some to have inspired elements of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. The most notable connection is St. Edward’s Church, whose north door is flanked by ancient yew trees, resembling the "Doors of Durin" from The Fellowship of the Ring.
Though there’s no direct evidence Tolkien visited the site, the imagery aligns with his mythic style. Tolkien loved the English countryside, and the Cotswolds' rolling hills and medieval charm and its timeless quality may have influenced his vision of Middle-earth, particularly the Shire.
