Burford is one of the prettiest historic villages in the whole of the idyllic Cotswolds. It’s got plenty of competition, but for many visitors it ticks all the boxes. The main street is picture-postcard perfection: flower-clad cottages nestled against handsome Georgian houses, historic inns and a higgledy-piggledy terrace of small shops, galleries and boutiques. Some of the best places to stay in Burford can be found right on this delightful road, a handful of beautiful inns and pubs-with-rooms, but some of our picks are a little further outside town.

Alongside the medieval church and millrace there are antique shops, fabric stores and galleries, but there's also artisan delis and sweet shops, a Huffkins tea room, and a clothes shop whose clientele, it is safe to assume, wouldn't be seen dead in a fleece. Burford is also known for having one of the most magnificent Garden Centres you have probably ever seen.

Bill Bryson says you can't do the Cotswolds without a car. But he's not totally right, you can do a lot of it on foot, along the gently rolling hills and valleys that make up The Cotswolds Way, and the some of the best places to stay in Burford do offer walking on the doorstep, but if you do have a car you can visit Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden, Chipping Norton, Cirencester and Broadway; the Cotswolds Wildlife Park & Gardens, Crocodiles of the World, and Blenheim Palace.

The Best Places to Stay in Burford

For Luxury

• For an historic coaching inn turned luxury boutique hotel, it has to be Bull Burford. Beautifully presented rooms and suites ooze up-to-the-minute style, plus there's three stunning dining options that ensure a dramatic evening.

For Romantics

• The Lamb Inn is just off Burford’s high street, on a very pretty side road that allows it to have a large sprawling garden at the rear. The Lamb Inn is known for its food, it has 2 AA Rosettes, but it still manages to be homely and welcoming. Interiors are cosy and stylish: think original artworks, original beams, flagstones and fireplaces, and gingham and florals in contemporary colours.
• The Bay Tree Hotel is the Lamb Inn’s neighbour, and a stiff competitor. Constructed from honey-coloured Cotswolds stone and dating from the 16th century, this property has real chocolate box appeal. Inside, the pub is very cosy, with traditional features and contemporary colours, and the restaurant is an award-winner (2 AA Rosettes). There’s a couple of cosy sitting rooms too. The 21 rooms and suites are decorated with chintz and florals, and most are a good size. The Garden View Rooms have Juliet balconies and some of the larger suites have four-poster beds. Some of the rooms are dog-friendly too.

Best Pubs-with-Rooms

• The Highway Inn is perfectly positioned on Burford’s historic main street, an ideal place to watch the world go by! Downstairs is the cosy pub, complete with historic beams and flagstones, which spills out onto the street, and into a private courtyard behind. There’s also a dining room, and the hearty pub menu is served throughout, alongside a selection of local ales. Upstairs are ten rooms and suites, all different shapes and sizes, and uniquely decorated. There are some family-friendly configurations too, and some of the rooms are pet-friendly.
• The King's Head has a very different location, it’s tucked away behind a huge lawn in nearby Bledington. But there’s plenty of historic character here too, in the low-roofed pub with its huge beams and whitewashed walls, and upstairs in the 11 individual rooms with their window seats and irregular flooring.
• The Swan Inn is another slightly out-of-town pick, in the quintessentially English village of Swinbrook Set in pretty grounds, where chickens roam, some of the 11 rooms and suites are in the pub building, and some in a converted Cotswold-stone barn.

For a Countryside Escape

• The Feathered Nest is a charming little inn in nearby Nether Westcote, a modern gastro pub with just the three traditionally styled rooms. The ground floor restaurant and bar are decorated with dark wood, and the atmosphere is countrified but luxurious. The food is excellent, it has been awarded 3 Rosettes, the gardens are large, and the views are wonderful.

For Great Value

• The Angel at Burford is just off Burford’s high street, with a tucked away terrace and very popular pub. The food is recommended and has been awarded 1 AA Rosette, the pub and restaurant have plenty of flagstone charm, while upstairs the three guest rooms have exposed stone walls and beams too.

Prefer a Private Apartment or Cottage?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Burford doesn’t have its own railway station, the closest is at Charlbury, which is about 15 minutes away. If you’re planning to travel towards Burford by plane, the closest airport might just be Bristol Airport, which is an hour and a half away by road. However London’s airports, especially Heathrow, are probably more convenient.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• The Cotswolds is one of those destinations where every season warrants a visit. In winter it’s quiet, perfect for bracing walks and sitting by a roaring fire in the local pub. In spring you’ll see the daffodils, in summer there’s sunshine and plenty of buzz, and in autumn the changing colours are spectacular. Summer is the most popular time for visitors.

Still not sure where to stay?

• You could expand your search to include all of the best places to stay in The Cotswolds?
• Consider some of Burford’s Cotswolds neighbours: Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden, Cirencester or Broadway?
• Refine your search by the kind of holiday you’re planning and consider our Gurus’ recommendations for the best pubs-with-rooms in The Cotswolds, the best country house hotels in The Cotswolds, the best boutique hotels in The Cotswolds? or the most romantic hotels in The Cotswolds?
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.