10 of the best pubs in The Cotswolds + map [2023]

Posted on 09/28/2023

The Cotswolds is most well known as an area of outstanding natural beauty with its picturesque villages and rolling countryside. But did you know there are so many amazing pubs in The Cotswolds too? Some people travel far and wide to eat, drink and sleep at.

Beautifully rural, with rolling hills, stone villages, winter walks and a beer by the roaring fire in a local pub, but with easy accessibility from London.

However, one of its lesser-known secrets is the pubs! Perfect for traditional British lunches, fine dining dinners, and locally brewed ales! So, today I want to share with you my top ten pubs in and around The Cotswolds for you to enjoy as well!

If you love a good pub there is no better place than a Cotswolds pub.

Contents

Where is The Cotswolds

Covering an impressive 800 square miles, an ultimate guide to the Cotswolds would be 100’s of thousands of words long due to the number of things there is to do in The Cotswolds. The Cotswolds also cover fives counties including Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire.

It is called the Cotswolds due to the rolling hills found all across the region and is widely known for being traditionally British, with farmhouses, hiking trails ad beautiful cottages. It is also an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Where to stay in The Cotswolds

Cotswolds Hotels and Places to Stay
Whatley Manor Hotel & Spa
Tewkesbury Park
White Hart Royal Hotel
The Slaughters Country Inn
The George Townhouse
The Lygon Arms
Lords of the Manor Hotel
Three Ways House Hotel
The Fish Hotel

READ: How to spend a weekend in The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds Map

10 of the best pubs in The Cotswolds

1. The Wild Rabbit, Kingham

Dog friendly | Fine Dining | Local Produce

If your after a fine dining experience, then The Wild Rabbit is the place to be! This pub combines the very best of local produce and seasonal foods in a great fine dining experience. From your seat you can even have a full view of the open kitchen and watch your dish go from field to fork! A great Cotswold pub!

Credit: The Wild Rabbit, Kingham

2. The Five Alls, Filkins

Dog friendly | Traditional style | Home brewed Ale

This 18^th century traditional coach inn is perfect if you want to experience a classic British pub. The cosy interior and spacious bar are the perfect place for a heart lunch or dinner. You can even try out their home brewed Five Alls house Ale along with a number of local craft beers!

3. The Kings’Head, Bledington

Dog friendly | Traditional style | Organic produce

The Kings’ head is a gorgeous country pub with a focus on free-range, local, and organic produce! You just know the food here is going to taste amazing whatever you order! I highly recommend a beef course as the Aberdeen Angus beef is farmed right in the village! Another of the amazing Cotswolds pubs on offer.

Credit: The Kings’Head, Bledington

4. The Double Red Duke, Bampton

Dog friendly | Outdoor space | Accommodation

On passing this pub you are most likely to notice the vintage style stripy parasols outside, and if that doesn’t draw you in then the food certainly will! There is plenty of options on the menu all made with locally sourced produce to an amazing standard.

5. Royal Oak, Tetbury

Dog friendly | Vegan Options | Traditional Restored

This charming pub was restored by the community back in 2013 and now has a wonderful mix of traditional and upcycled interior. The menu here is perfect for everyone, with a range of gluten-free and vegan options always available! It’s also minutes away from the Tetbury Goods shed arts centre and with a range of boutiques to explore nearby it’s the perfect place to shop and explore after your meal.

Credit: Royal Oak, Tetbury

6. The Bell Inn, Langford

Dog friendly | Traditional menu | Award winning

Making the 2022 list of the 50 best gastropubs in the country The Bell Inn is not to be missed on a trip to the Cotswolds. With a focus on ‘good simple pub food’ you are sure to get a delicious meal with your visit. They also have a wood-fired oven and extensive wine list to choose from!

7. The Lion Inn, Winchcombe

Dog friendly | Outdoor space | Award winning

The Lion Inn is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon enjoying local craft beer and a laidback lunch menu. They have also been awarded an AA Rosette for their commitment to locally produced British cuisine. If you are visiting for the weekend this would be the perfect spot to experience a gorgeous traditional Sunday roast made with fresh local ingredients and produce.

Credit: The Lion Inn, Winchcombe

8. The Bell, Sapperton

Dog & Horse friendly | Wine enthusiasts | Family-owned

The Bell at Sapperton is one of the Cotswolds most popular country pubs (so be sure to book in advance). This pub has a lovely relaxed and friendly atmosphere with a locally sourced menu. One unique feature to this pub is the ‘wine wall’where you can choose a bottle to enjoy with your meal or to take-away!

9. The Swan, Southrop Lechlade

Dog friendly | Contemporary menu | Accommodation

This historical pub dates all the way back to 1606 when it was a bakehouse serving bread and ale to the local farm workers. Now though it offers a much more contemporary and higher end menu! So, be sure to check it out!

Credit: The Swan, Southrop Lechlade

10. The Stump, Foss Cross

Outdoor space | Contemporary menu | Accommodation

One of the more contemporary pubs on my list is The Stump, in Foss Cross. This pub’s speciality has got to be its wood-fired pizzas, which are simply amazing! There is a wide variety of locally produced toppings and extras to choose from and you can wash it down with a craft beer to finish!

Other things to do in the Cotswolds

Bibury
Stow-on-the-Wold
Bourton-on-the-water
Daylesford Farm
Broadway Tower
Chipping Campden
Lower Slaughter
Cheltenham
Painswick
Blenheim Palace
Burford
Snowshill Manor

Which of these pubs in the Cotswolds will you be heading to?

Not heading to The Cotswolds and heading to the coast instead? Check out my favourite coastal walks near me and spend the day by the coast.

If you on a bigger trip exploring more of Europe check out my guides to France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom.

My Travel Tips and Recommendations

Flights

To book flights, I always use flight search engine, Skyscanner, I regularly use the Everywhere tool to find the cheapest places to travel. It’s how I get to travel so much all around the world. I find it the easiest way to compare flight prices across airlines and get the best deals.

Accommodation

For accommodation, I usually book most of my hotels or hostels through Booking.com. I love using this platform as it provides me with some amazing deals for accommodation all around the world. Or if you prefer, I also recommend using Airbnb. If you haven’t signed up with Airbnb already, you can use this link to get £25 off your first visit!

Photography and Technology

Here is a list of the technology I always travel with:

Travel Insurance

Picking travel insurance that covers you in all eventualities is an essential part of planning a trip for every single person. If you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel. You never know what’s around the corner.

You can also find me on social media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram.

Did you know I also vlog my trips? Make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel so you get alerted when all my travel videos go live… CHECK THEM OUT HERE

Thank you for reading and as always happy adventuring! If you have any questions about the destination please leave these in the comments below.

If you’ve enjoyed this post, please share it for me with all your friends and family!

Sophie X

Pubs Pubs in the Cotswolds The Cotswolds UK