The best countryside hotels and destinations within reach of London

The first time I moved to the UK in 2018 for a six-month stint, I spent every weekend catching heinously early budget flights out of Stansted to visit nearby European cities while studying abroad. But since officially moving to London the following year, I’ve preferred to explore new places within this sprawling, beautiful country. I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy travelling locally and seeing the sights on my own doorstep—just a train ride or drive away—instead of city-hopping elsewhere.

When I’m itching for a break from London life, it’s such a gift to be able to hop on a train and trade the city’s densely populated madness for the peace of open space and friendly faces. The UK is steeped in history, with incredibly well-preserved buildings and stunning natural beauty. With a relatively well-connected rail system (except during strikes…) to get you to even the most remote locations, there’s really something for everyone.

These weekend trips need not be fancy: many of the options listed here are inns or “country pubs with rooms,” a charming, relaxed way to spend a leisurely weekend. Don’t expect a check-in desk (just ask whoever’s behind the bar), many amenities, or room service — staying in such places is an informal, enjoyable way to explore a new place. Don’t forget to bring walking shoes for country romps, and a big appetite for hearty pub fare.

Some spots like The Pig Hotels, however, go the whole hog (see what I did there). These are substantially more expensive than country pubs, perfect for celebrating a special occasion or treating yourself. In the case of The Pig, they also require booking pretty far in advance because of how sought after the rooms are, particularly in the summer. If it’s plush luxury, ultimate service, locally-sourced food to die for, and spa treatments on site that you’re after — The Pigs are the place for you. Scroll to the very end to read about my experience at two of their exceptional properties.

GENERAL THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:

• It’s always best to book taxis in advance, particularly in the countryside. There’s no Uber in most remote places in the U.K., so ring up a local cab company a few weeks in advance. Don’t leave it to the week-of, as they may be fully booked (particularly in the summer wedding season).

• If you can rent a car, this is generally a preferable option if you’re exploring somewhere more remote. Most countryside hotels and B&Bs have free parking for guests. Avoid traffic out of London on Friday evenings by taking off first thing in the morning, and likewise back into London on Sunday evenings — best to leave Sunday morning or Monday to avoid sitting in traffic.

• If you’re travelling by train, keep an eye on train schedule announcements in case of strikes.

• Make sure to carry a bit of cash on you when you are in rural areas — I’ve been told cash machines (“cashpoints”) can run out of cash on the weekends!

• Pack comfortable, casual clothes instead of fancier attire. Trousers and boots that you don’t mind getting covered in mud are ideal for countryside romps — leave your pristine white trainers at home!

• Bring a deck of cards for evenings by the fireplace in the local pub.

Without further ado, here are some of my favourite getaways (many of which are available to reserve on Mr and Mrs Smith, which gets you a little “Smith extra” like a bottle of wine when you book), all within reach of London via train or car (pop on this cottage-core playlist to get you in the mood). Bonus points if you hack your Avios by booking through portals like shopping.ba.com and earning extra points on your Booking.com purchase!

The Rectory Hotel, Crudwell

I have to start with one of my favourite small countryside properties in/near the Cotswolds, ideally located for a convenient London escape: The Rectory Hotel. It’s a stately Georgian building with just 18 rooms, in the quaint village of Crudwell in Wiltshire.

I love the Rectory’s landscaped gardens, well-stocked bar, and cosy drawing room for board games by the fire on winter evenings. There’s also a pool open in the summer months, and the front desk has hand-drawn maps for nearby country walks (with beautifully literary but altogether impractical directions that involve passing through kissing-gates and finding overgrown gaps in hedges).

The Rectory’s sister gastropub, The Potting Shed, is located across the road from the hotel and perfect for a post-walk pint. Each time I’ve stayed there for a weekend (Friday and Saturday nights), we’ve had dinners at both the hotel and the Potting Shed. Breakfast at the Rectory is a real treat, with a central grazing table for continental bits and bobs, a mimosa station, and both sweet and savoury cooked breakfast options.

I’ve only stayed in their “Medium” sized rooms, but after having a peek around the property, you really can’t go wrong with any of the rooms. It’s one of the Cotswolds’ more reasonably priced hotels, and perfect for exhausted city folk looking for somewhere to decompress. I’ve spent hours reading (and napping) in various nooks and crannies there, soaking in the enormous standalone bathtubs, and enjoying the hotel’s elegant yet informal vibe.

GETTING THERE:

Trains take as little as 1 hour 7 mins from London Paddington to the nearest station, Kemble, after which it’s a short 10-minute taxi ride to the hotel (best to book a local cab in advance). Alternatively, rent a car and it’s a two-hour drive.

The Swan Inn, Ascott-Under-Wychwood

For Cotswolds fanatics, The Swan Inn in Ascott-Under-Wychwood is a charming pub with rooms in the Eastern part of Oxfordshire, a stone’s throw from popular destinations like Chipping Norton and Daylesford. Like many village pubs with rooms, it overlooks the village green and has the most beautiful outdoor area for al fresco dining in the summer, with delicious wood-fired pizzas and flatbreads to accompany your ice-cold pints.

We popped into Daylesford Farm shop en route for a glass of crisp rosé out in the courtyard. It was very busy and touristy as expected, but a gorgeous spot for homeware and decor inspiration.

Fresh chocolate chip cookies awaited us when we got to our room: one of eight delightfully decorated rooms to choose from. Ours had a freestanding tub and exposed bathroom area which was kind of funky, but we loved the decor.

I highly recommend ambling around the village after dinner; we found the local playing field and playground and had fun on the flying fox and swing sets! We even said hi to the gorgeous family of ponies who live locally, running around their hay-strewn garden. The local village shop is also lovely to poke around in.

Other highlights included an 8 mile walk passing the River Evenlode, and a delicious lunch at the acclaimed, 3 AA Rosette Feathered Nest Inn in Nether Westcote, which has the most picturesque views over the rolling green hills of the Cotswolds. The food there was a little fancier than your usual pub fare, but it’s well worth the visit — if only to enjoy sitting on the bar stools made from old riding saddles!

We spent our last night at The Swan curled up in the comfy chairs by the open fireplace playing Scrabble and enjoying G&Ts: the most soul-nourishing way to conclude our getaway.

GETTING THERE:

Trains from London Paddington to Kingham take about 1 hour 40 mins, after which it’s a 10 minute taxi ride (book in advance through a local cab company). Driving from SW London takes just under two hours.

The Wheatsheaf Inn, Cotswolds

The Wheatsheaf Inn was the first place I ever visited in the Cotswolds, in the summer of 2020, so it holds a special place in my heart as one of our first post-first lockdown getaways. The 17th-century coaching inn is everything you’d want from a countryside escape: delicious food, sprawling outdoor space for enjoying warmer nights, delicious pub classics and pizzas to die for, 14 artfully decorated rooms stocked with Bramley toiletries, and a truly homely vibe. We genuinely could not believe it was a Young’s pub.

The market town of Northleach is great to wander around, and the hotel gives you a map with various walks that take you through fields of horses and cows on the public footpaths (just look for the little arrows that say “public footpath” wherever you go in the countryside, and you’re good to walk there!).

An easy drive away was Bourton-on-the-Water, known as the “Venice of the Cotswolds” for the charming pedestrian bridges over the river that winds through the village. Filled with beautiful stone houses, little ice-cream shops and the popular Cotswolds Motoring Museum, it’s the perfect place to spend an afternoon exploring.

GETTING THERE:

Take the train from London to Cheltenham Spa (about two hours), and then a local taxi for about 30 mins to the hotel. Alternatively, it’s a two hour drive from SW London.

The Cow, South Derbyshire

A little further afield from London at the gateway to the Peak District is the little parish of Dalbury Lees, where The Cow pub with rooms overlooks the village green. A quaint and unassuming spot with just twelve rooms, it’s a lowkey getaway if you’re in the mood for long country stomps and R&R. I especially loved the cow-themed decor!

We stayed in one of the upstairs rooms with an enormous bathtub, and learned that all the rooms have newly renovated bathrooms. Fair warning though: it’s a popular spot for wedding guests to crash at and the walls are pretty thin, so the corridors can be noisy late into the evening.

The food was brilliant and well worth the visit. Ironically, seafood is The Cow’s specialty, with fresh Cornish fish packed on ice and transported to the kitchen each day. Don’t miss their surf and turf, catch of the day, and sticky toffee pudding to finish! We also enjoyed a casual Sunday lunch at The Cow’s sister pub, The Bluebell in Kirk Langley, which serves great vegan options: the Saag Aloo pie was amazing. Walking back to The Cow from there took about forty minutes: it was the most picturesque golden hour stroll, alongside fields of sheep on tree-lined country roads.

One of the highlights of our trip was taking a drive to the National Trust’s Kedleston Hall, an 18th century mansion with beautiful grounds, rolling green hills, and a secondhand bookshop and café on site. We sat on the bridge overlooking the stream with our coffees, and took in the stately interiors on the tour of the house. The place was packed with families taking day trips; there’s plenty of space for kids and dogs to run around!

GETTING THERE:

Trains from London St Pancras will get you to Derby in approximately 1 hour and 37 mins, after which you’ll need to get a taxi to Dalbury Lees (approx. 20 mins). Driving from London is about a three hour journey, and is the ideal option if you want to explore the Peak District. Relying on taxis in such areas isn’t always the easiest!

The Milk House, Sissinghurst

A place I adore in the countryside of the U.K that is often overlooked by visitors in favour of more well-known spots like the Cotswolds is Kent. Home to beautiful towns and villages, plenty of lush green space and the U.K’s wine country, it’s such a special spot.

We stayed at the Milk House for one night while attending a summer wedding, and really enjoyed it. It’s a pretty large pub with lots of indoor and outdoor space, and the four rooms are tastefully decorated, spacious and comfortable. We managed to squeeze in a lovely walk around the nearby woodland and fields, and I’m sure there was lots more to explore that we didn’t get to.

I don’t have a ton of recommendations for what to do here, since we headed straight back to London after the wedding, but there are plenty of amazing vineyards nearby to check out for wine tastings like Chapel Down, Balfour Winery and Hush Heath Estate.

GETTING THERE:

London Charing Cross trains run to Staplehurst in as little as 59 minutes, after which it’s a short drive to Sissinghurst. The drive from SW London takes approximately two hours.

Unicorn Apartments, Cotswolds

Another place I visited for a wedding weekend was the market town of Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds, the most charming place to wander around, filled with bakeries, local antique and decor shops (think Daylesford vibes but more rustic), and narrow streets to explore.

The serviced apartments we stayed in were centrally located within the town on Sheep St, and were spacious, quiet and newly renovated. As they are serviced apartments, they are less rustically decorated than pub or inn rooms, but if you’re looking for somewhere larger to accommodate groups or families and need a kitchen, they are a great pick.

We didn’t spend much time in the town, but loved 42 East Bakehouse for the most indulgent “brookies” (brownie-cookies) and brunch (after we couldn’t get a table at the nearby brunch establishment Hive), and Sam Wilson’s interior decor shop. Stow-on-the-Wold is ideally located in the Cotswolds to explore several other attractions and spots, like those mentioned earlier in this post including Bourton on the Water and The Feathered Nest Inn.

GETTING THERE:

Take a train from London Paddington to Moreton-in-Marsh in less than two hours, and then book a local taxi to take you to Stow-on-the-Wold in 15 mins from the station. Driving from London will take approximately 2 hours 30 mins.

The Pig Near Bath, Somerset

Congratulations if you’ve made it this far — I’ve saved the most luxurious two properties for last! The Pig is a growing collection of countryside “restaurants with rooms,” but that’s putting it modestly. These stunning manor houses and estates all feature working farms on-site or nearby, since their restaurant “25-mile" menus” require most ingredients to be sourced from a 25-mile radius of the hotel. I remember walking around the kitchen gardens and admiring the edible flowers, only to be served them atop my main course at dinner.

There are so many reasons to come here, but the food is certainly one of them. It is some of the best food I’ve had in the U.K: unbelievably fresh, high quality ingredients that manifest in relaxed, homely dishes. There is nothing overly fancy or stuffy about The Pig; while its drawing rooms are picturesque and beautiful, the squidgy sofas are perfect for a nap (after you’ve helped yourself to a giant chocolate chip cookie at the self-serve station). If you’re looking to book an anniversary or birthday getaway, The Pig is definitely a “special treat” kind of place.

The service at The Pig is also second to none. The staff are so friendly, courteous and warm, as if welcoming you into a home away from home. From bartenders providing us excellent recommendations, to provisions of suncream and insect repellent on summer evenings, service here was leaps and bounds ahead of many UK hotels I’ve previously stayed at.

If you’re in the mood for a pamper, the Potting Shed spa rooms at each property offer massages, facials, and a bevy of self-care options for the tired traveller. I haven’t personally tried these (we were too busy enjoying our daily long walks and standalone bathtub!) but they look great.

Downsides - because there always are - as follows:

• Availability is pretty low for summer weekends and other peak times; you have to book well in advance.

• Bewilderingly, breakfast is not included in the price, and you have to pay extra for a cooked breakfast.

• The nicer rooms with bathtubs are decently expensive, and only going up each year. Your best bet is to head to The Pig’s website for last minute availability and book a weeknight stay last minute for a good rate.

• Some of The Pig’s properties are quite far from London, but Bath is one of the closer locations if you’d prefer not to spend hours on the road.

GETTING THERE:

Trains from London Paddington to Bath run hourly and take about 1 hour 30 mins. From there, it’s a 20-minute taxi ride to the hotel. From SW London, the drive is about 2 hours 30 mins.

The Pig at Combe, Devon

Another absolute gem in The Pig family is The Pig at Combe. The Bath outpost is gorgeous in its own right, but something about the hustle and bustle there in the summer hints at its proximity to Bath (20 min drive) and London. It couldn’t be more different for The Pig at Combe, which is nestled in an extraordinarily beautiful valley and feels like you’re a million miles from civilization (in the best way). This is one of the most special places I have ever visited. You really need to visit to understand what I mean.

The best part of this property is the enormous front lawn, where most hotel guests while away long summer evenings with stunning sunsets as the rosé flows. There are also lovely walks mapped out nearby (some are quite hilly!) to help you work up an appetite for all the delicious food served all day. You can choose from restaurant dining or casual al fresco food at The Folly, like flatbreads and salads.

GETTING THERE:

Trains from London Paddington and Waterloo will get you to Honiton station in about three hours. From there, it’s a quick three-mile taxi ride to the hotel (best to book in advance). If you’re driving from London, it’ll take about 3 hours 30 mins.

Have you visited any of these spots? What is your favourite place to escape to in the U.K?