The Cotswolds
in English Countryside

If it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you know it’s got to be good. Full of beguiling corners and with stunning Baroque architecture, Blenheim has a rich 300-year history that’s just begging to be discovered. Explore the enchanting grounds, impressive art collection and English craftsmanship at the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.

Within the wood-panelled dining room, cosied up with its wildly patterned interiors, is the Cowley Manor Restaurant where chef, Jackson Boxer, rules the raft and rustles up some spectacular dishes. From its wye valley asparagus to its Hereford côte de boeuf, expect a fabulous blend of local ingredients and rich French cuisine. If you happen to be passing by on a Sunday, it is essential you call in for a roast!

D'Ambrosi is our deli of dreams. Serving daily changing dishes made to-go, a quick stop at D'Ambrosi is a must before any long adventure. Grab a few salads, charcuterie, and seafood for your picnic lunch and a tartiflette ready to be popped into the oven for when you return. If you also happen to be in the mood for some classic American snacks, head straight to the back of the deli!

Whether or not you're staying in the cottages here, or are simply passing through the area, the farm shop at Daylesford is totally worth a visit. Pick up some farm fresh eggs & deliciously prepared goods, and stop by at the café for a healthy lunch or a spot of afternoon tea. 

From the team behind other local Cotswold favourites, including The Kingham Plough and The Hare in Milton-under-Wychwood, comes this new reboot of The Norman Knight pub not far from Whichford Pottery (a sight worth popping into independently). Charming and totally tiny with just nine rooms (a mix of upstairs in the inn and outside cabins) set to open this spring, the now-running restaurant benefits from a former Bull in Charlbury head chef. Menu hits already include fried lamb ribs with gremolata, spicy soft shell crab and a very good rotisserie chicken with hasselback potatoes. 

This is where it all began for Peter Creed and Tom Noest – friendly childhood chaps who now run a growing empire of brilliant pubs. And while they’ve since opened five more (including their most recent, The Hawthorn in London), The Bell still hits all the right notes. On New Year’s Day, the bacon sarnies and Bloody Marys are life-saving, but the menu delights year-round – fish and chips, duck confit, big burgers and pizza too. It’s consistent and full of cool countryside chatter.  

Renowned for their farm to table kitchen, and an open fire spit roast Sunday, it's fair to say that The Bull has created quite a name for itself. And for all the right reasons. Sensational cooking at your doorstep, as well as a whole host of countryside gallivants; what more could you want! Stay a night or two at The Bull in Charlbury, and we assure you, you're not going to regret it. 

Rated the best pie in England by Giles Coren, The Halfway at Kineton is making moves in the British pub scene. This is your typical country pub, though beyond this, the food is unbelievably good. From its beer battered haddock, its double baked 24-month-old Comte cheese souffle, to of course it's pies, The Halfway is not one to be missed. 

Housed in a stone building that looks every inch the Cotswold definition, The Stump is anything but old-fashioned. Inside, it’s all about wood-fired pizzas, craft beer, and a young, lively crowd who spill in from Cirencester and Cheltenham nearby. The playlist is always good too, and so is the food – especially the Honey Pot with salami, peppers, and a drizzle of honey. Add a side of death sauce if you dare, then cool off with a pint or two from DEYA Brewing Company.

Affectionately known as The Vicky, this village pub in pretty Eastleach is a low-key favourite. It’s cosy and wood-fired in winter, buzzy and terrace-packed in the summer. The menu goes further than your average: Provençal fish soup, Turkish-style ratatouille, and affogato with an amaretti biscuit. It still feels like a local haunt – but one with surprisingly good global flavour. 

Clinging to a hillside in the Slad Valley, The Woolpack is the kind of pub you hope to stumble upon – but probably won’t – by accident. One half of it is all pints of brown ale, piano playing and regulars; on the other side is one of the best dining rooms around. The food? Like something from East London’s coolest kitchens – think blood cake, pork chops, oeuf mayonnaise, flaky suet pies. There’s no fuss and no fanfare (and the secret really is no more), but it’s just a proper boozer with serious food to boot.