Planning a romantic weekend out of London? Want to surprise your partner with a cosy but stylish night or two away that won't cost the earth? Then look no further — below we have curated a hotlist of great country pubs and historic inns ideal for a weekend stay, chosen for character, location, comfort, hospitality and FOOD! Since none of them have very many rooms, finding availability can sometimes feel like like gold dust, so do use this list to book well in advance, and if you can manage a break in the week, or take a Monday off and book Sunday to Tuesday, you will have more options and often a better price.
These country pubs and inns with rooms range from the old world traditional, with exposed beams, stone flagged floors, roaring fires and a bar snug (unhappily fast disappearing), to that breed of 21st century designer gastro pub in charming villages, more often than not a stylish conversion of a run of the mill village pub with the addition of an interior designer and a great chef.
So here goes. We have split the list into two parts — those within a two hour drive of London (measured from Charing Cross), and those between 2 and 3 hours drive away. Some you can reach more easily by train. Depending where you live, these timings can vary.
Country pubs with rooms - within two hours drive
A 17th Century Georgian coaching inn in the Berkshire Downs close to the home of horse racing. This comfortable pub with rooms follows the racing theme. It's close to London and a great option for a good value stay, with bracing walks on the Downs nearby — and Newbury town on your doorstep.
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East Sussex is a fabulous place to spend a weekend, with so many small villages and country towns to explore in beautiful rolling countryside. The Bell offers Individually styled rooms filled with antiques and artworks and free standing copper baths. The atmospheric bar is popular with locals, and serves the usual pub classics.
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This historic rural pub with rooms offers comfortable, cosy interiors with a contemporary twist and an excellent restaurant. Some rooms boast a private hot tub and terrace, so ask in advance. There are great walks nearby or you can get help from the pub to arrange nearby country pursuits, from fishing to clay pigeon shooting. A perfect weekend getaway.
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Sat on the edge of a village green, this charming and ancient coaching inn (14th century) offers a picture postcard experience of the classic country inn — exposed beams, flagstone tiles, roaring fires and four poster beds. However, they have layered on a thoughtful range of mod cons, from DAB radios to in-room DVDs, so you are guaranteed a comfortable 21st century stay.
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Located in the charming Cotswold town of Woodstock, this 18th century inn is gorgeously decorated with boutique furnishings and modern en-suites. The restaurant pulls in the locals. It's a great weekend retreat, ideal for couples, and Blenheim Palace is nearby.
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This grade II listed Georgian inn is set on the banks of the Kennet, in the picturesque village of Kintbury. Eight rooms are decorated in classic country house style, with luxurious bathrooms and designer wallpaper. The river rooms have private sit-out terraces. The restaurant caters for informal pub food as well as à la carte dishes.
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This quirky and atmospheric coaching inn in Margate Old town is close to the sea and great value. Margate makes for an excellent getaway from London, with plenty to do and see, and the beach is within walking distance. Each of the 7 creaky bedrooms are individually styled, some funkier than others. There's a lively bar and restaurant, hugely popular with locals, serving great food and cocktails. A romantic boutique bolthole, overflowing with personality.
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On the edge of the Petworth House estate, this is a wonderfully homely inn in a sleeping village in the South Downs national park; charming and warm in a tranquil part of the country. The food is top quality. An ideal stay for couples and families alike, with fantastic walking all around.
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Just off the M4 amid the chalky North Wessex Downs, this boutique bolthole caters for locals and city folk alike. They cook with seasonal local produce and it's a popular dining destination. The rooms are beautifully renovated with soft fabrics and comfortable beds.
The famous 17th Century Trout at Tadpole Bridge backs on to a rural section of the Thames with its own private mooring. They offer six comfortable rooms, "classic country" in style, located around a pretty courtyard away from the bustle. The AA rosette restaurant steals the show, and in good weather you can sit out on the lovely riverside terrace. A wonderful country treat.
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Charming and cosy, this ‘restaurant with rooms’ offers great food and contemporary B&B rooms with roll top copper baths and modern four-poster beds. Design care and detailing set this pub apart. Moments from the Goodwood Estate and in the middle of the South Downs, it's a great base for exporing or walking.
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This famous hostelry is the ultimate foodie mecca on the banks of the river Thames. Run by top chef Alain Roux (son of the late Michel), the dining is 3 star Michelin and formal, while the suites and bedrooms are sumptuous. The garden is stunning.
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Country pubs with rooms - two to three hours drive
A popular old inn with a 21st century makeover. The immaculate attention to detail will satisfy the most demanding townie. The food is excellent, bedrooms are chic and comfortable, and the overall ambience is super chilled. Outside is the lovely South Wiltshire countryside.
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This country gastropub is in a picturesque Cotswolds village. Their individually styled rooms come with locally-sourced antiques, tasteful art of the walls, and some have in-room tubs for romantics. The restaurant is highly regarded and serves top British classics.
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This thatched 17th Century smugglers' pub is in a picturesque Somerset village, well positioned for local exploring by car. The dining and the bar are popular with locals, with its great selection of ales, flagstone floors and roaring fires. They offer just six rooms, all cosy with roll top baths, and one with bunk beds for kids.
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This beautifully restored country pub of character and charm is just off the A303, so very easy to get to from London. Each of the six rooms is stylishly decorated in calming shades, with lovely fabrics. There's an elegant dining room and a cosy bar, with log fires in winter. A gem of a place.
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This traditional village pub with rooms has been done up with matchless taste, with well chosen modern art on the walls, good antiques, and a cool cosy vibe curated by a Soho House designer. They offer fine dining, very popular for miles around, and a lovely garden for sitting out in summer. Longleat is on its doorstep. A perfect weekend getaway in beautiful countryside.
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A former hunting lodge, the Devonshire Arms overlooks the village green, is a great base for foodies and nature lovers. Rooms are contemporary and comfortable, but the treat here is the restaurant, serving the finest local produce and a creative menu.
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This uber fashionable pub renovation provides crackling fires, stone-flagged floors, a wood fired oven and a welcoming bar. As a Carole Bamford creation and part of the Daylesford empire, every detail is thought through, and the food is top notch and organic. Bedrooms are spacious, chic and super stylish, with fine linens and roll top baths.
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This award-winning traditional Cotswolds pub sits on the lovely Kingham village green. The rooms are done up in soft colours and manage to be spacious and cosy at the same time. The restaurant is well known locally and the place is permanently busy. It's in great area for walking and local exploring.
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Another quintessential English village Inn, full of charm and history stretching back 800 years. Bedrooms have had a modern makeover and are cosy and plush. Check in here for roaring fires, hearty meals, and beautiful surroundings, either for a country weekend escape or as a stopover en route further West.
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The 18th century Lamb is a cut above your average Cotswolds B&B. In summer their rose scented gardens are charming, and inside you'll find antique oak furniture and colourful fabrics, with original wood floors in the bathrooms. The restaurant is award winning and always popular.
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This quaint traditional pub with a handful of beautifully done up bedrooms is in the heart of the South Downs National Park. Classic pub food is served in the firelit restaurant. The rooms are in the eaves with sloping beamed ceilings, whitewashed walls, and antiques. Full of character.
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The Wheatsheaf Inn caters to the moneyed folk of Gloucestershire, so everything is top notch and done to a high standard. There's a pretty enclosed garden — perfect for children — a rustic treatment room and an informal Game Bar for coffee and light lunches. Bedrooms are tastefully decorated with deep baths and Hypnos beds. Food, as you would expect, is excellent.
Another picture postcard Cotswolds inn, this one done up with chic boutique interiors, and with a stand-out restaurant. Rustic-chic is the vibe in the bedrooms, with beams, stylish furniture, and indulgent rainforest showers or free-standing tubs. Ideal for both couples and families.
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Still not sure where to book?