The Cotswolds Food Guide: The Best Pubs, Inns & Country Restaurants Worth The Trip
I love the Cotswolds. This might be a popular opinion, but it’s true, the Cotswolds is a place where romanticised dreams of the English countryside go to flourish.
One of the best qualities of this part of the country is that establishments consistently aim to blend seamlessly into the environment. Pubs fit neatly into their plots with expanses of land on either side, and inns ensure that their colours fit the scheme of the weather. Inside, menus are consistently curated with the best local produce as the focal point, keeping it farm-to-fork. Original beams are preserved upon the ceilings, and more often than not, there are wood fires crackling in the corner. From a food perspective, the Cotswolds delivers on so many fronts. Here’s our foodie guide to The Cotswolds.
The Double Red Duke
With its honey-stone façade, striped parasols and generous green space, The Double Red Duke is one of the Cotswolds’ most charming roadside inns — a 17th-century coaching inn turned multi-award-winning destination (it features in the Good Food Guide’s Top 100 Pubs).
The food is where it really stands out. The menu changes with the seasons, but expect dishes you rarely see elsewhere. Wood-fired aubergine with miso dip. Beef tartare on beef-dripping toast. Rabbit and bacon rillettes with damson purée. Mains of duck breast with pickled blackberries and red wine sauce, and woodfired cod with charcoal velouté. Of course, if you want to keep it classic, there’s always a perfectly cooked steak with peppercorn sauce.
After a long lunch by the fire, stay the night in one of their cosy country rooms. It’ll be quite hard to leave. Read our full review.
If you’re looking for a gourmet staycation, The Double Red Duke is one of Instagram’s most famous, and with good reason. Make sure you also check out The Mason’s Arms across the road, it’s one of the best pub meals I’ve had in a long time.
Natasha, Digital Editor
Where: Bourton Rd, Clanfield, Bampton OX18 2RB
Website: www.countrycreatures.com
The Killingworth Castle
Located in the Oxfordshire village of Wootton, minutes from Woodstock and Blenheim Palace, Killingworth Castle has earned a reputation as one of the area’s favourite food-led pubs. The historic inn has been lovingly restored, retaining its original character while adding eight luxurious ensuite bedrooms for those who want to turn lunch into a countryside escape.
Behind its Cotswold stone walls lies a seriously ambitious kitchen, one that has earned three AA Rosettes, a place in the UK’s Top 50 Gastropubs, and recognition from both the Michelin Guide and The Good Food Guide.
Whether you’re stopping by for a classic Sunday roast with all the trimmings or settling in for the à la carte menu, expect beautifully executed dishes showcasing exceptional seasonal produce. Highlights include roasted Orkney scallop with cauliflower and vadouvan-spiced velouté, Cotswold lamb loin with BBQ neck and purple sprouting broccoli, and a warm Valrhona chocolate fondant to finish. Better still, the three-course menu is priced at £65 per person, which is an absolute steal.
If you’re planning a foodie weekend in the Cotswolds, this is one worth building an itinerary around.
Where: Glympton Road, Wootton, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1EJ
Website: www.thekillingworthcastle.com
The Conservatory at RH England
Set within the newly restored Aynho Park estate, The Conservatory is RH England’s latest reveal. It’s a light-filled dining room inside a reimagined 17th-century mansion originally shaped by Sir John Soane. The space feels like a luxe hillside escape: soaring glass, sculptural interiors and olive trees punctuating through the room.
The menu leans indulgent, with caviar carpaccios (bluefin toro, Scottish salmon, stone bass, avocado and beef fillet topped with Petrossian Imperial Kaluga), steak frites, rotisserie chicken, lobster, and a very good classic burger. It’s an elegant setting for long lunches and glossy weekend escapes.
The Conservatory restaurant at RH England offers an exceptional experience from start to finish. With its enchanting ambience, delicious food, and wonderfully attentive staff, we enjoyed an unforgettable visit. Set in a truly beautiful location in Aynhoe Park, it’s an experience not to be missed.
Where: Aynhoe, Aynhoe Park, Aynho
Website: www.rh.com
The Fox at Oddington
A 19th-century inn in the Gloucestershire countryside, The Fox is a village pub at heart. It’s all low stone walls, heritage charm and a menu built around local producers. The team champions the area through sister farms Daylesford Organic and Wootton. The seasonal menus reflect that commitment to artisan, regional produce.
You can eat in the restaurant, but we think the pub is the sweet spot. It’s relaxed, warm and exactly where dishes like venison bourguignon with mash or a woodfired sourdough margherita taste their best. And yes, finish with the sticky toffee. Some traditions are sacred.
Where: High St, Lower Oddington, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0UR
Website: www.thefoxatoddington.com
The Bull in Charlbury
The Bull is a beautifully pared-back, minimalist country inn with the most incredible rooms. Think soft, neutral tones, exposed beams, natural textures and that effortless countryside minimalism that feels calm but completely indulgent. It’s the kind of place you check into and immediately settle in and enquire about extending.
The food follows the same philosophy: simple, generous, ingredient-led. Expect soda bread and oysters, farm beans and mushrooms, pork chops and sirloins cooked over the fire. Nothing fussy, just very good cooking.
And with the countryside on your doorstep, you can fully lean in. Borrow walking sticks and wellies for a ramble, try clay pigeon shooting or tennis, and, if you plan ahead, they’ll pack you a picnic to take with you. Read our full review.
Working closely with local farmers allows the menu to change regularly and ensures they’re delivering the very best all year round. While it’s warm, you can enjoy dishes cooked on their BBQ, and if you’re there on a Sunday, you won’t want to miss the spit roast on the open fire (sorry, vegetarians).
Harriet, Head Of Partnerships
Where: Sheep St, Charlbury, Chipping Norton OX7 3RR
Website: www.thebullcharlbury.com
Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden
Founded in 2020 by school friends, Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden grew from a pandemic-born idea for a socially-distanced dining experience. It has since evolved into a thoughtful, community-minded project grounded in sustainability and education. The centrepiece is the vast kitchen garden. Once a staple of every country estate, kitchen gardens supplied households year-round. Here, that tradition has been revived with a modern purpose. The team champions low food miles and seasonal eating, inviting the local community to reconnect with how food is grown.
It’s a lovely spot for a Sunday roast. Their mixed sharing platter for two is a legend, with porchetta, braised blade of beef, and Cotswold chicken, served with the full works. At £30 for two, it’s generous, hearty and exactly the kind of countryside eating that makes the Cotswolds special.
Where: The Old Kennels, Cirencester GL7 1UR
Website: www.rootsandseedskitchengarden.co.uk
Brasserie Blanc
Housed in a former ballroom, Brasserie Blanc brings a touch of French elegance to the centre of Cheltenham, with the kind of warm, lively atmosphere that makes even a weekday supper feel celebratory.
Their themed nights are a real draw: Moules Monday offers mussels, frites and a glass of wine for £20, while steak night (Monday–Wednesday from 5 pm) includes a complimentary bottle of wine and a trio of sauces when you order any two steaks. Menu highlights lean classic — French onion soup, a rich duck cassoulet with chorizo, and a bowl of frites you’ll struggle to share.
Where: Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NN
Website: www.brasserieblanc.com
The Swan at Thyme
Dating all the way back to 1606, when it was known simply as the Bakehouse, is The Swan. Step inside and you’ll find low sound ceilings, roaring fires, and a blend of old-world charm and comfort. As for the food, the menu leans into seasonal British. There’s no telling what the menu will entail come your visit, but expect things like mussels cooked in leeks, bacon and cider, or the wild partridge and trotter pie served with aligot mash. It’ll be heart, locally rooted dishes that feel particularly suitable for a cosy country pub night.
Where: Southrop, Lechlade GL7 3NU
Website: www.thyme.co.uk
No. 131 The Terrace
Set on the Promenade, No.131 mixes townhouse charm with statement design — antique furniture, bold wallpapers and original artworks from the likes of Hockney and Banksy. Alongside the main à la carte, the kitchen runs a dedicated Green Menu, which champions sustainability through regional provenance and low-impact cooking.
Ingredients are sourced from nearby farms, and the dishes change weekly depending on what’s in peak condition. It’s a menu that genuinely reflects the landscape around it — thoughtful, seasonal and quietly impressive in its simplicity.
Where: 131 Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NW
Website: www.no131.com
The Porch House
Claiming the title of England’s oldest pub, The Porch House pairs centuries of character with a menu built around local, sustainably minded producers. Guests have the luxury of choice between the garden terrace, a light-filled conservatory, the rustic dining room, or, of course, the historic pub – each coming with its own charm.
On the menu, dishes like hand-picked Devonshire crab, a proper steak and ale pie, or a wagyu burger with caramelised onion and horseradish mayo are of particular note. If you’re tempted to stay after that feast, the 13 bedrooms in the adjoining inn are bucket-list worthy with beamed ceilings, stone walls, deep baths and that unmistakable old-English romance.
Where: 1 Digbeth St, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cheltenham GL54 1BN
Website: www.porch-house.co.uk
Daylesford Organic
It’s difficult to make a Cotswolds guide without mentioning Daylesford Organic. Carole Bamford’s empire of organic foods, staple home pieces and farmshops has become a symbol of The Cotswolds as well as an unavoidable brand name throughout London.
The reality is, Daylesford embodies that farm-to-table, sustainable, countryside ethos down to its very core. While the price range might be a bit aspirational, it’s worth a visit and a stroll around, and perhaps a little indulgent treat from the Courtyard Grill, if not anything else.
Where: Daylesford Near, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0YG
Website: www.daylesford.com
Diddly Squat Farmshop
On another farmshop note is Jeremy Clarkson‘s now iconic Diddly Squat Farm. Born after “realising potatoes did grow well on his farm and he had accidentally produced 40 tonnes of them”, Clarkson has made a real name for himself throughout the Cotswolds. Now, he produces and sells honey from his own beehives, apple juice, milk, and even vodka. It’s worth a stop if you’re passing by, even if it’s just to say you’ve been (or to try out the new pub).
Where: 5-12 Chipping Norton Rd, Chadlington, Chipping Norton OX7 3PE
Website: www.diddlysquatfarmshop.com
