Boasting 800 square miles of English charm and picture-perfect countryside, the Cotswolds is a popular destination with visitors from around the world. The area stretches across five counties, mostly Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, but going up as high as south Warwickshire and straddling the edges of Worcestershire and Wiltshire too.
The Cotswolds gets its name from the rolling hills that are a hallmark of the area so if it’s idyllic landscapes you’re in search of, it won’t disappoint. It is made up of the biggest National Landscape (formerly known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) in England, plus it boasts the title of third largest protected landscape in the country, after the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales national parks.
Along with its natural beauty and attractions aplenty, the Cotswolds is home to some seriously good fare. From Michelin star fine dining to cosy village pubs serving up hearty classics, food in the Cotswolds is as much of a draw as the rolling landscapes. Here are some of our favourite spots to whet your appetite…
Atrium at Lords of the Manor, Upper Slaughter
Upper Slaughter, Cheltenham GL54 2JD
With inclusion in both The Sunday Times Top 100 UK Restaurants list and The Independent newspaper's Top 10 UK Country House Hotels, Lords of the Manor is somewhat of a Cotswold legend. The 17th-century, former rectory is set in eight acres of fine gardens in one of the prettiest corners of the Cotswolds. And its fine dining restaurant, Atrium, is well worth a visit on your next trip to these parts.
Head chef Charles Smith took over in 2017 and his menu offers sophisticated takes on beloved favourites. All of these are served up in the Atrium, which, as the name suggests, is an intimate dining room tucked under a glass dome.
The restaurant is nothing if not confident, offering only a tasting menu with eight courses and canapes (vegan and vegetarian options are available). Dishes vary but include sea bream and oyster tartare, Cornish lamb with broccoli and ewes curd, and roast quail with coddled quail egg. Wine enthusiasts will be delighted by the some 1,000-bin wine range here, putting that 17th-century basement to work.
Afterwards, take a mile stroll to the sister village of Lower Slaughter or get in the car and explore the characterful towns of Stow-on-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water nearby.
The Swan Hotel, Bibury
Bibury, Nr Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 5NW
In the heart of the village of Bibury, perched on the banks of the River Coln, you'll find the ivy-clad Swan Hotel. And its restaurant, The Swan Brasserie, is an excellent spot for dinner (or afternoon tea).
The Brasserie is a light, welcoming space with quirky tiled flooring, modern countryside wallpaper, and excellent customer service. When it comes to food, the focus here is on British heritage classics with an infusion of European inspiration.
Start with caramelised celeriac soup or crispy pig cheek in a mandarin and chili glaze. Tuck into roasted guinea fowl with shallot puree, potato pave, buttered spinach and wild mushrooms for your main. Then, if you've the room, tuck into a proper pudding: think decadent coconut rice pudding with caramelised pineapple or rhubarb crumble tart with custard ice cream.
The Sunday lunch also comes highly recommended and, if you're planning to dine with a crowd, consider plumping for the private dining room.
A 10-minute stroll away, you'll find one of the most iconic scenes in the Cotswolds: Arlington Row. Once a wool store and converted into weavers' housing in the 17th century, this famous landmark has been featured in films like Stardust and attracts visitors aplenty year-round.
The Wild Rabbit, Kingham
Church St, Kingham, Chipping Norton OX7 6YA
Sat between the church and village green, The Wild Rabbit is the centre of the classic Cotswold village of Kingham. Built in the 17th century as a farm and house, the name nods to its original title: Conygree Farm – an Anglo-Saxon word for rabbit enclosure.
With farm-fresh ingredients coming from Daylesford, an organic farm a mile down the road, you can be sure you’re plate will be full of the region’s very best fare.
Stop by for something light in the bar or book a table in The Dining Room where you’ll enjoy the theatre of the open kitchen. The menu changes with the seasons, plump for the tasting menu for something unforgettable. Depending on when you visit, you might start with a summer salad of pink fir potato, lovage and leek, tuck into monkfish with razor clams, cockles, and sea herbs, and finish with a blackberry rice pudding served with lemon verbena and almond.
After you're done dining, head out for an amble around Kingham. Look around the Norman church and its 17th-century rectory or head to Cotswold Farm Park in nearby Guiting Power to see rare-breed sheep, goats, cattle and pigs and even watch some live milking and shearing.
Lola & Co, Tetbury
20A Long St, Tetbury GL8 8AQ
Authentic Spanish tapas deep in the Cotswolds? No problem! This family-run bistro opened in 2020 and has gone from strength to strength thanks to its traditional Spanish dishes, served with a modern twist in a Grade II-listed Cotswold stone building.
Run by a Spanish family, lucky locals and visitors can tuck into a range of tapas that changes depending on what produce is available. Think fried anchovies, slow-cooked Spanish rabbit with potato gratin, hot battered Basque peppers and grilled Galician octopus.
Fully booked? Such was the success of their first restaurant, the family opened a second restaurant in town - KOKO. This small but perfectly formed joint offers Spanish Asian fusion food and a range of Japanese whiskeys.
After you've had as many small plates as you can handle, explore Tetbury, the second-largest town in the Cotswolds. Peruse the fine collection of antique shops or visit The Royal Gardens at Highgrove, open on certain dates between April and October.
Restaurant Hywel Jones, Colerne
Lucknam Park, Colerne SN14 8AZ
For something exceptionally special, head to Restaurant Hywel Jones, one of the Cotswolds’ Michelin star dining options. Here, executive Chef, Hywel Jones, has held a Michelin star since 2006 and, to this day, provides diners with a memorable experience of novel luxury that is seldom seen in the 21st century.
The journey begins with a drive down the mile-long, beech-lined entrance, before heading into the opulent drawing room or library for evening cocktails. Then it's into the polished restaurant where a night of fine dining begins.
The tasting menu is hard to beat. Depending on the day, you could be treated to heritage beetroot tart, Cornish lobster, and Veronique or day boat turbot with Oscietra caviar. That said, the à la Carte menu is hardly to be sniffed at. Opt for honey-glazed squab pigeon and duck liver to start, seabass with day boat squid for mains and finish with Guanaja chocolate with Kalamansi and milk sorbet.
Afterwards, why not get to know the estate better with a trip to the Equestrian Centre. You can meet the estate's 25 horses and go on an escorted hack through gorgeous Cotswold countryside.
Ox Barn, Southrop
Southrop School, Southrop, Lechlade GL7 3PW
Set in Thyme, a self-described 'village within a village', the Ox Barn started as a cookery school and has since morphed into a haven of delights complete with a spa, shop, and event space.
But back to the barn. Named after the animals who once ploughed the fields, today the 19th-century barn has been restored, preserved, and improved. You'll still find the soaring arches, profuse network of beams, and original Cotswold stone rubble walls, but with lashings of modern luxuries to boot. Think poured concrete floor, a cutting-edge kitchen, and concept sharing table.
On the menu, you can look forward to pared-back dishes with Mediterranean flavours that pack a punch. Given the surroundings and the focus on sustainability here, the nature-to-plate concept runs throughout the menu and plenty of the ingredients on your plate will be from the kitchen garden. Start with artichoke, lemon, fennel and goats curd, tuck into a porkchop with tomato, caper, and agretti for main, and finish with polenta cake and blood orange.
Afterwards, why not take a 15-minute drive out to the Cotswold Wildlife Park and Gardens? Explore some 160 acres and meet over 260 species of animals including giraffes, rhinos, and zebras.
Fleur de Lys, Bampton
Bridge St, Bampton OX18 2HA
A robust bourguignon, classic onion soup, and garlic-y escargots. That's right, at Fleur de Lys you'll find a little slice of French heaven right here in the Cotswolds.
The brainchild of Olivier Bonte who grew up, worked, and travelled across France, his love of the country is evident as soon as you set foot inside. From the outside, the restaurant looks like a typical Cotswold eatery, down to the golden-coloured stone. Inside, bold red panelling, tasteful floral wallpaper, and simple tablescapes create a perfectly intimate atmosphere for a night of French dining.
To start it surely must be the French onion soup, complete with Comte cheese croutons. Or, if you're feeling generous, why not split a whole roast Camembert? For mains tuck into a classic boeuf bourguignon or moules frites. Finish up with a crème brulée or, if you have yet to have your fill of cheese, check out the cheese board. Opt for the prix fixe menu for an affordable and delicious way to sample some of the restaurant's best dishes.
Afterwards, take a 1-minute wander around the corner to West Ox Arts and check out the latest free-to-visit exhibits. The gift shop is the place to pick up cute souvenirs.
YOKU, Cheltenham
131 The Promenade, Cheltenham GL50 1NW
No.131 in the heart of Cheltenham was already somewhat of a local institution, but the addition of YOKU has added even greater depth. Its promise of an Asian dining experience, complete with Japanese sushi and Bar Tokyo cocktail bar, is a welcome addition to the Cotswolds dining scene.
Inside, you can't help but be impressed. With black wood cladding, lashings of gold gilt, and moody lighting (hello, crystal chandelier), it's a place designed to make a scene. Everything, from the opulent yet comfortable velvet seats to the bonsai trees and hand-painted vases artfully scattered around the room has been exquisitely thought out. And the guests too, are dressed to impress. This is not a place to rock up to in your muddy walking boots fresh off the Cotswold Way!
When it comes to ordering you can choose the tasting menu or order what you like from the main menu. If the latter overwhelms you, the tasting menu is the way to go and features delights including seared wagyu tatki, miso black cod with green chilli, and an open spider roll with soft shell crab. There is also an impressive wine list, a short but perfectly formed dessert menu, and vegan options.
YOKU is Japanese for ‘the art of doing things exceedingly well,’ and that’s what you’ll experience with a trip here. Seasonal dishes are prepared fresh by the chef in an open kitchen and then brought to the table as and when they are ready.
Afterwards, there is much to keep you occupied in this Regency spa town. A wander around its centre, taking in the detailed ironwork balconies and painted stucco facades, is enough to delight. Or for those seeking a more active form of exploring, take to the water at the lake in Pittville Park, visit the 1930s outdoor lido or ride on a steam train with The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway.
Craving the Cotswolds? Explore our range of beautiful holiday cottages in the Cotswolds and start planning your next food-fuelled adventure.
