Close enough to London to make it doable for lunch or an overnight stay, the Cotswolds hits that cottagecore spot that Londoners (and tourists) love. We've scoured the area's country lanes and market towns to find the best places to eat when you're there.
Restaurant Henne
High Street, Moreton in Marsh, GL56 0AT
Cotswolds local produce is the focus of the seasonal and sustainable tasting menu at this cosy yet stylish restaurant set in a charming honey stone building in the historic Cotswolds market town of Moreton-in-Marsh. Thoughtful and elegantly presented dishes by chef Darren Brown such as confit chalk stream trout with peas or Tamworth pork with rhubarb let the main ingredients sing.
Follow them on Instagram @restauranthenne
Double Red Duke
Bourton Road, Bampton, OX18 2RB
This 17th-century village wool merchant’s house has been converted into a stylish boutique hotel by the owners of the acclaimed Cubitt House pub group in London. Dine in one of the interconnecting beamed rooms with a counter arranged around an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs grill a selection of steaks or woodfired cod served with a smoked velouté. In good weather, ask for a table on the terrace overlooking the gardens.
Follow them on Instagram @doubleredduke
Lygon Arms
High Street, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7DU
This impressive converted 17th-century coaching inn in the picture postcard village of Broadway has long been a draw for foodies. It’s now home to Grill, overseen by TV chef James Martin who offers a lengthy menu of crowd-pleasers. There are steaks and chops from the grill, a classic prawn cocktail and Martin’s signature indulgent desserts such as white chocolate and whisky bread and butter pudding.
Follow them on Instagram @lygoncotswolds
Estelle Manor
Eynsham, North Leigh, Park OX29 6PN
The country outpost of super-luxe London members' club Maison Estelle is every bit as gorgeous as you might imagine and its food offerings are particularly interesting for the Cotswolds. The one proviso is that you have to either be a member or a hotel guest to avail yourself of them. There are three main restaurants, The Brasserie serves up luxury takes on old favourites, the Glasshouse in the kitchen garden makes use of the garden's seasonal produce and The Billiards Room is a glamorous Chinese space serving up dumplings and roast duck.
Follow them on Instagram @estellemanor
The Fox Oddington
High Street, Lower Oddington, Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 0UR
This 19th-century rural village inn has had a stunning makeover courtesy of its owners the Bamford family. The pub melds tradition with modernity with restored Cotswold stone walls, reclaimed timber and open fires contrasting with a contemporary central oak-built bar. The menu features produce from the Bamford’s nearby Daylesford estate such as chargrilled t-bone of English rosé veal, aioli, baby gem, anchovy and parmesan as well as a list of sourdough pizza straight from the wood-fired oven. The beautifully maintained gardens are idyllic in the summer months.
Follow them on Instagram @thefoxatoddington
The Crown At Ampney Brook
Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 5RS
This stone-built 16th-century rural village inn is set in the countryside close to Cirencester and has a rustic yet refined feel thanks to exposed stone walls, beams and floorboards. The freewheeling menu of modern gastropub dishes ranges from Chicken, ham hock and black pudding terrine to an oyster mushroom rendang with fried tofu, turmeric rice and pineapple salsa as well as burgers and steaks cooked on a robata grill in the open kitchen. In good weather dine outdoors in an alfresco dome and stay overnight in the pub’s neighbouring Wild Thyme & Honey boutique hotel.
Follow them on Instagram @crownampneybrook
The Bull Charlbury
Sheep St, Charlbury, Chipping Norton OX7 3RR
Under the same ownership as the hugely fashionable west London pubs The Hero and The Pelican, this carefully restored 16th-century ivy-clad Cotswold village coaching inn shares a similarly pared-back interior design style. Period features including exposed beams, stone walls and open fireplaces have been retained to create a cosy and welcoming family-friendly pub. The menu of straightforwardly rustic dishes might include an oxtail and shin pie to share.
Follow them on Instagram @thebullcharlbury
The Pig in the Cotswolds and The Village Pub
Barnsley, Cirencester GL7 5EF
The much loved Pig group will open their ninth hotel late this summer in the village of Barnsley just outside of Cirencester. Formerly Barnsley House Hotel, the 17th-century building boasts 18 rooms, a stunning arts and crafts style gardens and a spa as well as a restaurant. In the meantime, you can dine and stay in the group’s first-ever pub. Simply called The Village Pub and located a few minutes walk away, there are six cosy rooms and a menu of rustic British grub including lamb’s heart with bitter leaves and jugged beef with carrot.
Follow them on Instagram @the_village_pub
The Potting Shed
The Street, Crudwell SN16 9EW
Cask ales are pulled from handpumps shaped like garden spade handles in the characterful bar of this highly-rated rural village pub, complete with flagstone floors, wooden beams and woodburning stoves in stone fireplaces. The menu runs the gamut from creative dishes such as pan-fried scallops, fregola, chilli and black olive oil to pub classics like sausages with creamy mash, seasonal greens and onion gravy.
Follow them on Instagram @thepottingshedpub
Cowley Manor
Cowley, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 9NL
Celebrated London chef Jackson Boxer of Brunswick House, Orasay, The Corner and the recently launched Henri fame has teamed up with the international and ever-expanding Experimental Group to design the menu for this stunning rural Italianate country house hotel set in 55 acres of grounds, 15 minutes outside of Cheltenham. The impressive dining room mixes traditional carved wood panelling with striking modernist furniture, setting the scene for Boxer’s blend of contemporary cooking and local seasonal ingredients such as Bibury trout with spring peas and asparagus.
Follow them on Instagram @cowleymanor
The Sherbourne Arms Northleach
Market Square, Northleach, Gloucestershire, GL54 3EE
This 18th-century market square pub with rooms in the pretty town of Northleach is part of rising star chefs and publicans Tom Noest and Pete Creed four-strong group of modern Cotswolds pubs that also includes The Fox Inn at Broadwell, The Bell Inn, Langford and The Lamb Inn in Shipton-u-Wychwood. Expect robust British nose-to-tail dishes such as devilled kidneys on toast as well as the usual pub classics in cosy traditional pub surroundings complete with exposed stone walls and oak beams.
The Old Butchers, Stow
Park Street, Stow on the Wold, GL54 1AQ
This converted high street butcher’s shop run has been a popular culinary destination for nearly 20 years. A true family affair, the charming and intimate restaurant is run by husband and wife team Pete and Louise Robinson with eldest child Millie helping with front-of-house duties. The long menu features lots of prime Scottish and Cornish seafood as well as local meat such as venison from nearby Hinchwick served as a carpaccio with pickled walnut and Parmesan. Stay over in the adjoining Cross Keys cottage.
Follow them on Instagram @the_old_butchers
The Dining Room, Whatley Manor
Easton Grey, Malmesbury, SN16 0RB
Set in 12 acres of beautifully maintained gardens, this 23-room country house hotel is home to the creative and sustainable cooking of former Sat Bains sous chef Ricki Weston. The luxurious nine-course tasting menu offers a complete fine dining experience including drinks in the wood-panelled drawing room and a snack at the kitchen pass. Local produce, some from the hotel’s grounds feature in dishes such as loin of venison from the nearby Berkeley Estate served with venison suet pudding, homemade black pudding and fermented beetroot from the garden.
Follow them on Instagram @whatleymanor
Wilder
Market Street, Nailsworth, Stroud, GL6 0BX
The regularly changing creative eight-course tasting menu at this elegant and intimate town centre fine dining restaurant is inspired by local and foraged ingredients. Wilder operates as a kind of elevated supper club with everyone sitting down at 7pm for a surprise meal (you get the menu at the end of the night) that might include dishes like a rich and indulgent lasagne of salt-baked onion and truffle with baked egg yolk, hollandaise and Parmesan crisp.
Follow them on Instagram @dinewilder
The Feathered Nest
Nether Westcote, Oxfordshire, OX7 6SD
There are glorious uninterrupted views of the gardens and surrounding Cotswolds countryside from the smart dining room of this 350-year-old converted malt house, which also boasts a picturesque village setting. Recently appointed head chef Renemar Pinedo blends his Caribbean heritage with his experiences working for top-flight chefs including Ollie Dabbous and Raymond Blanc. The menu celebrates local produce including herbs and veg from the kitchen garden and open grill cooking in dishes such as glazed pork belly with Asian cabbage, verjus, grapes, and bacon and tuna tartare with wasabi, ponzu, lime and radish.
Follow them on Instagram @thefeatherednestinn
The Bull at Burford
105 High St, Burford OX18 4RG
This chic boutique hotel occupies a handsome building that dates back to the 15th century on Burford’s picture postcard high street. Inside you’ll find no less than four different dining options: the ten seat HIRO omakase restaurant serves a 14-course tasting menu that includes hand-rolled sushi and a wagyu mini burger; Wild with its communal table and open fire cooking that serves simple, flavourful dishes such as scallops with ‘nduja butter; there’s crab toast and Sunday roast at the all-day dining Horn restaurant and food from the wood-fired oven at the al fresco Terrace.
Follow them on Instagram @bullburford
The Wild Rabbit
Church St, Kingham, Chipping Norton OX7 6YA
A quintessentially English inn set in an idyllic spot between the church and the village green of a chocolate box-pretty Cotswolds village. Like the Fox at Oddington, The Wild Rabbit is owned by the Bamford family so you’ll find Daylesford produce on chef Sam Bowser’s menu of refined dishes that might include Daylesford Organic chicken with white asparagus, Amontillado, leek and hen of the woods. A pre-dinner cocktail on the terrace or in the chic yet cosy bar is a must.
Follow them on Instagram @thewildrabbitkingham
The Painswick
Kemps Lane, Painswick, Gloucestershire GL6 6YB
You'll find this grade II listed Palladian mansion set above the village of Painswick with views across the surrounding valley. It’s home to a stylish and comfortable boutique hotel and chef Jamie McCallum’s classically rooted cooking. There’s plenty of local and seasonal produce on the menu including Cotswolds venison and lamb, the latter served as a rack and belly with smoked aubergine and sheep’s cheese.
Follow them on Instagram @the_painswick
Atrium, Lords of the Manor
Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire, GL54 2JD
A luxurious country house hotel fine dining restaurant in one of the loveliest spots in the Cotswolds gets its name from the glass dome that forms the room’s centrepiece. Chef Charles Smith brings his extensive experience cooking at the highest level with the likes of Marcus Waring and Thomas Keller to bear over nine courses of finely wrought dishes that might include sea bream and oyster tartare with kohlrabi and Oscietra caviar.
Follow them on Instagram @lordsofthemanor
19 The Halfway at Kineton
Guiting Power, GL54 5UG
This 17th-century rustic rural pub got a gastronomic shot in the arm when chefs Nathan Eades and Liam Goff (both formerly of the Wild Rabbit at Kingham and who now also run the Horse and Groom in Bourton on the Hill took the reins in 2023. Expect plenty of pub classics like a half pint of shell-on Atlantic prawns and Huntsham Farm pork sausages, mashed potatoes, spring greens, onion gravy as well as more refined offerings such as chargrilled English asparagus, confit potato, wild garlic and burrata. In good weather, head to the pub’s beer garden with its open-fire barbecue.
Follow them on Instagram @halfway.kineton
The Crown, Church Enstone
Mill Lane, Church Enstone, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 4NN
There are three hundred years of history at this village pub with rooms and garden set in countryside halfway between Chipping Norton and Woodstock. Settle into the rustic bar with its exposed stone walls, flagstone floor and inglenook fireplace for a beer or two and then head to the rustic, cosy dining room for a menu that offers an irresistible mix of traditional Britsh dishes such as hog faggots or a jugged hare pie alongside modern creations like crispy duck with house lardo, homemade crumpet, poached egg or crab and kimchi thermidor.
Follow them on Instagram @the_crown_inn_church_enstone
MO, Dormy House Hotel
Willersey Hill, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7LF
This luxurious 17th-century farmhouse hotel is set above the picturesque village of Broadway and is part of the 500-acre Farncombe Estate.MO, a 12 seat chef’s table restaurant promises food theatre and an eight-course menu that might include caramelised scallop with smoked eel, apple and spring onion oil. Alternative dining experiences at the hotel include the casual dining Back Garden restaurant and pizzas, burgers and cocktails in The Shed lounge.
Follow them on Instagram @dormyhouse
Buckland Manor
Nr Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7LY
This country house hotel set in 10 acres of manicured grounds is home to Le Champignon Sauvage- trained chef Mark Potts. His menu, served in the hotel’s elegant wood-panelled dining room, features produce from the nearby Vale of Evesham and the hotel’s grounds and might include poached lobster with gooseberry, hazelnut and elderflower.
Follow them on Instagram @buckland_manor_
Minster Mill
Minster Lovell, Oxfordshire, OX29 0RN
This Cotswold stone-built coveted mill house sits in 65 acres of gardens, flower meadows and woodland in the picturesque Windrush Valley. The dining room, complete with vaulted ceilings, original oak beams and an open fireplace gives it a cosy yet elegant feel and makes it the perfect setting for chef Andrew Campbell’s modern British dishes that might include butter roasted turbot with Jerusalem artichoke, pickled cockles and seaweed.
Follow them on Instagram @brownswordhotels
The Woolpack, Slad
Slad Road, Stroud, GL6 7QA
Famous as Cider with Rosie author Laurie Lee’s local, this rural and rustic 300-year village pub has more recently gained a reputation for its real ales, craft beers and daily changing menu of robust British cooking. Work up an appetite for crispy pig’s cheek with dandelion, fennel and mustard or rainbow trout with courgettes and black olive by walking the two-mile circular route from the pub through the gorgeous surrounding countryside.
Follow them on Instagram @woolpackslad
Thyme
Thyme, Southrop Manor Estate, Gloucestershire, GL7 3NX
Thyme is more than just a restaurant, it’s a village within a village made up of a collection of restored buildings that includes The Swan pub, the Baa Bar and the magnificent Ox Barn with its original beams and arches and Cotswold stone walls. Chef Carlie Hibbert serves a menu of seasonal, Italian-inflected dishes such as gnudi and prosciutto or pork chop with tomato, caper and agretti. Stay over in one of the botanically-themed bedrooms.
Follow them on Instagram @Thyme.England
Best of the Cotswolds, mapped
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