The best pubs in the Cotswolds
Full of quintessential English landscapes and pretty stone villages, The Cotswolds is blessed both with rustic charm and a surprisingly urban level of sophistication. The region's pubs, of which there are many, have both in spades. The new breed of gastropubs offers excellent food, often with a focus on seasonal and local produce and thoughtful wine lists, but doesn't forget about the traditional real ales and authentic atmosphere. Many of them also offer accommodation, some simple, some really rather stylish. Wherever you land in the Cotswolds, from the northern regions around Broadway and Moreton in the Marsh, to the western end of the area centred around Cirencester and Stroud, you are never too far from a truly great, traditional pub. We've rounded up our favourites, each as idyllic as the next, for your next countryside adventure.
The best pubs in the Cotswolds
1/20The Bell, Charlbury, Oxfordshire
The newest addition to the Daylesford group is this extremely stylish pub in the village of Charlbury, conveniently located on the train line to London. The 17th-century building is a charmer, and the interiors are spare but traditional in feel. There's a small outside seating area at the front, where you can perch with a glass of craft beer in warmer weather, and an acre of garden dotted with apple trees at the back. Organic produce from Daylesford estates fills the menu, where you can count on an excellent cheeseburger, but also elevated modern British fare such as venison carpaccio, ribeye steak and grilled sea bass. If you're staying in the Cotswolds, make a beeline for its 12 beautifully decorated rooms, and there's also a barn available for private hire.
1 Church St, Charlbury, Chipping Norton OX7 3PP, thebellatcharlbury.com
2/20The Double Red Duke, Bampton, Oxfordshire
A coaching inn since the 16th-century, The Double Red Duke has since been totally transformed into an upscale countryside haven by hotelier and designer Georgina Pearman. With a seasonal, locally sourced menu sure to impress even the most choosy of gastronomes (large parties can even pre-order a whole suckling pig, spit roasted!). With its delicious food accompanied by an expansive wine list and cocktail menu, an evening at The Double Red Duke is certain to go down well. For those aching for a weekend away, stay overnight in one of the gorgeous rooms; upon waking, enjoy a hearty country breakfast before toddling over to the shepherd's hut-turned-spa for a well-deserved massage. Head out on a walk along one of the many trails around the inn before returning to the pub for a bite and tipple. Repeat until you see fit.
Bourton Rd, Clanfield, Bampton OX18 2RB; countrycreatures.com/double-red-duke.
Michael Kemp / Alamy Stock Photo3/20The Woolpack Inn, Slad, Gloucestershire
The Woolpack near Stroud is as picturesque as it gets. Grab a pint at the bar and enjoy the view over the Slad Valley, or even better, sit outside on their vine-covered terrace in the summer and soak it up. This atmospheric pub, which has remained mostly unchanged for a few hundred years, serves up rustic seasonal dishes. On our most recent visit, we enjoyed locally grown green beans with burrata, a feta and watermelon salad, crudo with black cherries, lemon and pistachios, and sweet juicy tomatoes draped with smoked lardo. We have consistently enjoyed the starters the most, thus highly recommend ordering as many as appeal and share.
Slad Rd, Slad, Stroud GL6 7QA
thewoolpackslad.com
4/20The Bull, Charlbury, Oxfordshire
Visitors to the village of Charlbury are spoilt for choice when it comes to pubs–The Bull (not to be confused with The Bell) is another stand-out destination for food, drink and accommodation. Directly connected to local farms and growers, the pub prioritises excellent meat, even hosting a regular spit-roast on Sundays in the delightful garden, and offering dishes of muntjac venison, partridge and rump steak. Fish is also a speciality–come at the weekend for a strong list of specials. The interiors are done out in an elegant Spitalfields-meets-country style, and there are 10 beautiful rooms split between the main building and a barn in the garden.
Sheep Street, Charlbury, OX7 3RR, thebullcharlbury.com
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5/20The Sherborne Arms, Northleach, Gloucestershire
This deceptively large pub is based in Northleach, and the newest in the rapidly growing empire of Peter Creed and Tom Noest of the Bell in Langford (and Farm House), The Lamb in Shipton-Under-Wychwood and The Fox in Broadwell. While the menu is almost the same at each pub, The Sherborne is our favourite. We love the scampi with tartar sauce, delicious plump mussels with leek and bacon (lots of bread needed to soak up the jus), and their mean chicken pie for two. If you find a scrumpet of any kind on the blackboard, order it! They have three very comfortable, nicely appointed bedrooms and a (mezzanine) private dining room which is perfect for small holiday fetes.
Market Pl, Northleach, Cheltenham GL54 3EE
thesherbornenorthleach.com 
6/20The New Inn, Coln St Aldwyns, Gloucestershire
In the pretty, quintessential Cotswold village of Coln St Aldwyns, you’ll find the New Inn. This 16th-century pub-turned-burger joint is mixing up tradition, serving several colourful tapas dishes to start, including crispy duck croquettes, wood fired peppers with ricotta on sourdough, a smoked pork taco with pineapple and chilli. The burgers are arguably the star of the show; their fried chicken burger with fried chicken skin (so naughty), celeriac remoulade, pickles and smoked mayo is as indulgent as it gets. Add a side of parmesan truffle fries to up the ante. The interiors are perfectly nice, but do take advantage of their delightful, flower-filled terrace during the warmer months.
Main Street, Coln St Aldwyns, Cirencester GL7 5AN
thenewinncoln.co.uk
Instagram/@the_carpenters_arms_7/20The Carpenter's Arms, Burford, Oxfordshire
Run by Siobhan & Tom Addy and Ryan Humphrey, a group of three foodie friends, The Carpenter's Arms is one of the most beloved and welcoming pubs in the Cotswolds. Cosy and relaxed, the 17th-century village pub is full of charm, from its beer garden (perfect for those balmy spring evenings) to its comfortable furnishings. Serving locally-sourced seasonal dishes, too, you can expect to leave The Carpenter's Arms very well satisfied.
Fulbrook, Burford, Oxfordshire OX18 4BH; thecarpentersarmsfulbrook.co.uk.
Instagram/@victoriainneastleach8/20The Victoria Inn, Cirencester
Tucked away in the riverside village of Eastleach (and just a stone's throw from the more famous towns of Burford and Lechlade) is this quintessential Cotswold pub. In colder months, patrons can gather round the cosy fireplace and enjoy a wonderful array of great pub nibbles; in spring and summer, guests can drink and dine on The Victoria Inn's lovely terrace, which promises views of the charming landscape outside.
Eastleach, Nr. Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 3NQ; thevictorianinneastleach.co.uk.
9/20The Swan at Southrop, Lechlade, Gloucestershire
A short stroll away from Thyme, one of the Cotswolds' finest hotels, is this beautiful, ancient pub. Dating back to 1606, The Swan once served bread and ale to the Cotswolds' parched and ravenous farmworkers. Centuries on, The Swan has swapped its humble menu for a more high-end (and very, very delicious) contemporary edition: served in an intimate, quietly luxurious setting, guests can now enjoy salt pig salami and braised chicken pie sat under the pub's low-slung ceilings atop Bertioli-upholstered banquettes.
Southrop, Lechlade GL7 3NX; thyme.co.uk/eat/the-swan.
Martin Morell10/20The Fox at Oddington, Moreton-in-Marsh
A short drive from the idyllic Daylesford estate is another of the stars of the Bamford organic empire, The Fox at Oddington. A pub for centuries, this lovely countryside watering hole retains its old-world charm from its low-slung ceilings and flagstone floors to its open fires and antique timber furnishings. However, more contemporary elements necessary for a destination pub have been added, including The Fox's open kitchen (complete with pizza oven), lovely terrace complete with jolly parasols and organic Daylesford drinks offerings, from gin to juice to French wine. Guests can continue their experience well into the night by booking a stay in one of the pub's brilliantly decorated, comfortable rooms.
High Street, Lower Oddington, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0UR; thefoxatoddington.com.
Instagram/thechequerschurchill11/20The Chequers Churchill, Chipping Norton
With its scrubbed wood tables and antique ephemera, this rustic-chic inn is the perfect destination for those who enjoy a bit of rough (albeit of the carefully curated kind). Indeed, there is little fuss or pretence at The Chequers; a traditional pub serving rustic, ‘very English’ dishes, guests can expect perfectly crisp ‘Bobby Battered Market’ fish and chips as well as properly pulled pints, all in a picturesque, comfortable setting.
Church Rd, Churchill, Chipping Norton OX7 6NJ; countrycreatures.com/the-chequers.
Instagram/@kingsheadinnbledington12/20The King's Head Inn, Bledington, Oxfordshire
With impressive lists of both wine and ale, those seeking to broaden their beverage horizons will want to make a special trip to The King's Head. Those in search of excellent, wholesome and hearty food, too, will want to add the pub to their Cotswolds hit list. Offering a dynamic menu made of organic ingredients from local producers, eating farm-to-fork has never been so easy – think Cotswold confit lamb shoulder, Gloucester soufflé and and homemade pigs in blankets. Guests seeking refuge in the countryside can spend the night at The King's Head Inn, settling into one of the pub's 12 comfortable, well-appointed rooms.
The Grn, Chipping Norton OX7 6XQ, thekingsheadinn.net.
13/20The Bell Inn, Langford, Oxfordshire
Run by acclaimed culinary duo and Cotswold locals Tom Noest and Peter Creed, The Bell Inn is a beloved pub on both the local and national foodie scene. Indeed, this pub is everything you might dream of when envisioning a perfect country pub: a formidable range of wines and beer paired a classic, elevated British menu (plus a pizza oven!), all ingested in an ambient, cosy setting. With great hospitality, too, it is clear as to why Soho House founder Nick Jones recreated the pub in miniature as The Little Bell at the stylish Soho Farmhouse nearby. For those with a few days in the Cotswolds, consider heading to the pub's sisters, The Lamb Shipton and The Fox Broadwell, as well as a stay in one of The Bell Inn's beautiful rooms, of which there are just eight.
Langford, Nr. Burford. GL7 3LF; thebelllangford.com.
Instagram/@stumppub14/20The Stump, Cirencester
Those who prefer authenticity over frills will want to make a pilgrimage to The Stump. Since its establishment as a 17th-century coaching inn, The Stump has always been the region's go-to watering hole for a guaranteed good time. Whilst we've long done away with horses and buggies, the ethos of simplicity still remains at The Stump. With wood-burning pizza ovens and a wonderful selection of craft beers, expect nothing but honest-to-goodness pleasure on a night out at the pub. Extend the joy with an overnight in one of the cosy bedrooms, each elegant and comfortable. Should none of this sound pleasing (and, I ask, why?), perhaps The Stump's sheer affordability will be the thing to tip you over the edge, because, after all, what is better than a good bang for your buck? (Maybe a pizza).
The Stump, Foss Cross, Nr. Cirencester GL54 4NN; thestump.co.uk.
Instagram/@swan_inn_ascott15/20The Swan Inn, Ascott-under-Wychwood, Oxfordshire
Set amongst the honey-coloured stone buildings and cottages in the charming village of Ascott-under-Wychwood, this 16th-century pub is one of the finest of its kind. The Swan Inn's rural chic interiors are accompanied by excellent hospitality; indeed, even if you're just heading in for a quick drink at the bar or for a longer, spritz-fuelled afternoon under a striped parasol on the pub's terrace, you are destined to feel right at home. Enjoy pub grub done right, from traditional fish and chips to the rather moreish Roscoff onion & ogleshield flatbread. With a great cocktail menu, wonderful wine list and children's offerings, too, there is indeed something for everyone at The Swan Inn. With elegant rooms, too, visitors can further relish their time at this splendid Cotswolds pub.
4 Shipton Rd, Chipping Norton OX7 6AY; countrycreatures.com/the-swan.
16/20The Bell at Sapperton, Gloucestershire
This idyllic, family-run pub is a must-visit for anyone heading to the Cotswolds. Charmingly decorated with just the right amount of rusticity, The Bell is a relaxed and welcoming pub serving a classic menu of pub fare using fresh, seasonal and local ingredients. Accompanied by excellent hospitality, a meal here is sure to be a memorable one. Discerning oenophiles will especially want to make note of The Bell: the pub's ‘Wine Wall’, a self-serve wine shop featuring dozens of specially selected wines for either takeaway or eating in with only a £10 to £20 surcharge, no matter the bottle, is quite a draw. Three tastefully-decorated bedrooms are available for an overnight, too (perhaps following one too many bottles from the Wine Wall) – how perfect is that?
Sapperton, Cirencester GL7 6LE; bellsapperton.co.uk.
Instagram/@the_pub_cyclist17/20The Mason's Arms, Meysey Hampton, Gloucestershire
This well-established country pub perched on the village green has been revitalised by owners Greg and Vicki. Affiliated with Arkell's ales, the 17th-century pub offers a wide selection of fresh beers, ales and ciders, as well as a lovely collection of gins. For the peckish, Greg will prepare enjoy simple, English pub food or a lovely meal using local produce. Dog owners will especially want to head over to The Mason's Arms, as well-behaved pups are allowed.
28 High St, Meysey Hampton, Cirencester GL7 5JT; masonsmeysey.com.
Instagram/@fleeceinnbretforton18/20The Fleece Inn, Warwickshire
It doesn't get any more British than this. Owned by The National Trust, this classic, historic country pub is the perfect destination for those seeking the quintessential Cotswold experience. Enjoy perfectly pulled pints and lovely pub food in front of live entertainment, from morris dancers to folk sessions and beyond. For those seeking a bit more privacy, reserve a table in one of the heated horse stalls, set back from the pub in an apple orchard – pure country bliss.
The Cross, Bretforton, Evesham WR11 7JE; thefleeceinn.co.uk.
Photo: Courtesy of The Lygon Arms19/20Tavern at the Lygon Arms, Broadway
Part of the luxurious Lygon Arms hotel is the delightful Tavern, a cosy pub serving excellent food. Right on Broadway's High Street, this pub is perfect for a quick bite post a morning stroll or for a casual, lingering dinner before returning to your well-appointed bedroom at the Lygon Arms. Guests are encouraged to treat the Tavern as their local, so do enjoy the local ciders and ales on tap and relax into the pub's cheerful, homey ambiance.
Highlights at-a-glance: notable beer offering, outdoor space, well-regarded food, seasonal produce, special events accommodations on site
High St, Broadway WR12 7DU; thelygonarmshotel.co.uk.
20/20The Swan Inn, Swinbrook, Oxfordshire
On the scenic banks of the River Windrush, within easy distance of Burford and Stow on the Wold is this glorious gastropub, sister to the King's Head in Bledington. Its main claim to fame is its links with the Mitford sisters, who grew up in Swinbrook; the youngest and last-surviving of them, the Duchess of Devonshire, was still the pub's landlady at her death, and four of the sisters are buried in the churchyard just up the road. The menu is full of modern, international-feeling pub classics, from burgers and fish and chips to pan-fried calf liver and salt and pepper squid. There are also 11 stylish, understated rooms should you feel like booking a stay.
Highlights at-a-glance: notable beer offering, outdoor space, well-regarded food, seasonal produce, accommodations on site
The Swan Inn, A40, Swinbrook, Burford OX18 4DY; theswanswinbrook.co.uk
