This Isn’t The Cotswolds | Bulwick, Northamptonshire
This isn’t the Cotswolds… This is Bulwick.
If you’re looking for pretty villages near Rutland, Corby or Stamford, there’s one small Northamptonshire village that deserves to be on your radar.
Bulwick is a picturesque village in North Northamptonshire, tucked just off the A43, around six miles north-east of Corby and within easy reach of Stamford and Rutland.
The Willow Brook runs through the village, while its limestone houses, thatched cottages and quiet streets give you the ultimate quintessential English village feel.
It might not have the fame of the Cotswolds, but spend a little time exploring Bulwick, and it’s easy to see why it feels every bit as photogenic.
Bulwick may be small, but it has a surprisingly rich history.
At the heart of the village is Bulwick Hall, an impressive Grade II listed country house set within Bulwick Park. While the hall is often described as dating from 1676.
The 1676 date stone refers to the rebuilding of an earlier house for James Tryon. The building was subsequently remodelled around 1730 for Charles Tryon, alterted in 1805 for Thomas Tryon and altered again in the 19th century.
The Tryon family had acquired Bulwick Manor in 1617, although Harringworth Manor was initially their home. Bulwick Hall became the family's main residence in the early to mid-18th century.
Today, Bulwick Hall remains one of the village's most impressive historic landmarks and is a particularly striking example of the limestone architecture found in this part of Northamptonshire.
Just across from The Queen's Head is the Church of St Nicholas, another important piece of Bulwick's history.
The church is Grade I listed and dates principally from the 13th and 14th centuries, although it was restored around 1863. Built from squared coursed limestone, the church has a distinctive tower topped by an octagonal spire.
Inside, there are also historic features, including medieval architectural details, monuments to members of the Tryon family of Bulwick Hall and medieval stained glass.
One of the biggest reasons to actually stop in Bulwick rather than simply drive through is the Bulwick Village Shop, A.K.A The Pickled Shop!
This little village shop has become a destination in its own right and was named Farm Shop & Deli's Independent Local Shop/Village Store of the Year in 2024.
As well as everyday essentials and a selection of local and British speciality foods, the shop is home to The Pickled Shop, featuring British-made jams, marmalades, pickles and chutneys.
There's also a tea terrace where visitors can stop for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea, making it the perfect place to stop after exploring the village and local area.
For such a small village, it's a brilliant example of how a local shop can become a genuine community hub, and a reason a lot of visitors make the journey.
Opposite St Nicholas Church and next to the village shop is The Queen's Head, a historic Grade II listed village pub.
The building has impressive date stones, 1675 and 1683, and Historic England describes the present building as a 'public house with a limestone exterior and Collyweston slate roof'.
The pub remains an important part of village life today, serving pub food and local ales as well as a very popular carvery twice a week.
Bulwick isn't a village where you'll need a packed itinerary.
Come for a quiet wander along its quiet lanes, admire the limestone and thatched cottages, look out for the historic buildings and visit the village shop and tea terrace.
The village is also close to Stamford, Uppingham, Oundle and Oakham, all within easy reach.
So, is Bulwick the Cotswolds? No.
And that's exactly why we like it.
Bulwick doesn't have the crowds, big-name attractions or tourist infrastructure of the Cotswolds. Instead, it's a small, historic Northamptonshire village with beautiful buildings, a fascinating past, an award-winning village shop and plenty of character.
If you're searching for pretty villages near Rutland, Corby or Stamford, put Bulwick on your list.
You might just wonder why you hadn't discovered it sooner. 📍 Bulwick, North Northamptonshire, NN17 3DY
Charlie
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Bulwick really is a hidden gem — those limestone cottages and the Grade I listed St Nicholas Church give it that Cotswolds charm without the coach parties. the village's hush after dusk reminded me of a horror visual novel , they're at the-falsesun.com/endings .
I recently stumbled upon Bulwick and it's exactly the kind of hidden gem I love. The limestone cottages, thatched roofs, and the Grade I listed church sound idyllic. It's great to see a village that offers a Cotswolds-like charm without the crowds. After a long walk, I enjoy unwinding with endless word ladder puzzles from the poople answer archive. No daily caps or downloads, just pure brain-teasing fun. Bulwick is definitely on my list now.
What a lovely reminder that England’s prettiest villages aren’t only in the Cotswolds. Bulwick sounds charming—limestone cottages, thatched roofs, St Nicholas Church, and a proper village shop and pub. I love exploring hidden gems like this, and it made me want to test my own geography instincts. If you enjoy guessing places from street views, playworldguesser.com is a fun, free way to drop into random locations worldwide and see if you can work out where you are.
What a lovely find — Bulwick deserves far more attention than the usual Cotswolds circuit. Those limestone cottages, the thatched roofs, and the short walk to the Grade I listed St Nicholas Church feel genuinely untouched, and a village shop that punches above its weight is always a good sign. Strangely, the winding lanes around Rutland reminded me of a low-poly racing game I've been hooked on lately — plenty of custom tracks and tips over at playpolytrack. A perfect way to unwind after a slow afternoon in Northamptonshire.