{"id":317006,"date":"2025-08-04T11:25:35","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T11:25:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/317006\/"},"modified":"2025-08-04T11:25:35","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T11:25:35","slug":"5-places-to-go-for-the-perfect-english-countryside-escape-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/317006\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Places to Go for the Perfect English Countryside Escape"},"content":{"rendered":"

Few places in the world rival the cosiness and charm of the English countryside<\/strong>. Whether you\u2019re drawn by a love of nature or a longing to step into a Pride and Prejudice fantasy, England\u2019s quiet woods and sleepy villages<\/strong> remain an irresistible destination for travellers from around the world. And yet, visitors (and locals) too often overlook the variety of England\u2019s landscapes and the distinct character of its different pockets. Here, we\u2019re sharing our guide to the need-to-know spots of the English countryside<\/strong> \u2013 complete with the best restaurant and hotel recommendations to tick off on your next break.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Bell and The Wild Rabbit are charming Cotswolds pubs owned by the Daylesford group. \u00a9 Martin Morrel (L)\/The Wild Rabbit (R)<\/p>\n

West: The Cotswolds, for Quaint Cottages and Candle-Lit Pubs If you\u2019re looking for picture-postcard villages<\/strong> and manors so grand they could be taken straight from the TV phenomenon Downton Abbey, then the Cotswolds<\/strong> should be first on your itinerary. There\u2019s no shortage of picturesque Instagram opportunities around here, such as Bourton-on-the-Water, Lower Slaughter and Bibury, which artist William Morris proclaimed to be \u201cthe most beautiful village in England\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 and rightly so. <\/p>\n

When you\u2019re hungry, dive into the quintessential country pub experience at The Fox<\/a>, The Wild Rabbit<\/a> or The Bell<\/a>, all beautifully restored village inns operated by the renowned Daylesford Organic Farm<\/a> group. To make any occasion feel special, consider an overnight stay in the luxe, Two-Key Whatley Manor<\/a> or Three-Key Lucknam Park<\/a>, both of which come with MICHELIN-Starred restaurants. Extend your trip by visiting the nearby twin cities of Bristol and Bath. While the former is a bustling city and a hub of contemporary art, the latter is known for its quiet charm and Roman-era thermal springs. Both are home to top-class restaurants.<\/p>\n

Discover more Cotswolds cosiness with our long-weekend itinerary for a romantic getaway.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Grantley<\/p>\n

Grantley Hall provides Two-Key luxury, while The Angel is one of the best restaurants in the Yorkshire Dales. \u00a9 Grantley Hall (L)\/Tim Green (R)<\/p>\n

North: The Yorkshire Dales, for Scenic Hikes and MICHELIN Stars It would be a crime to visit England and not venture north of Leeds to the Yorkshire Dales<\/strong>. The weather may be chillier than in the Cotswolds, but what it lacks in warmth, it more than makes up for in natural beauty and spectacular walking routes \u2013 a \u2018dale\u2019 is a northern English word for a valley, which in turn means plenty of hills for challenging hikes leading to spectacular views. Want to push yourself? Try the 24-mile Yorkshire Three Peaks<\/strong> challenge \u2013 a trio of stunning climbs that is meant to be completed in just 12 hours. <\/p>\n

For a post-hike reward, head to pubs like The Sun Inn<\/a> and The Sandpiper Inn<\/a>, or enjoy pared-back MICHELIN-Star cooking at The Angel<\/a>. As for hotels, the 17th-century charms of Two-Key Grantley Hall<\/a> and its One-Star restaurant<\/a> offer a truly special stay. The Yorkshire Dales also offers close proximity to the North York Moors<\/strong>, the windswept setting for the wild romance of Emily Bront\u00eb\u2019s beloved novel Wuthering Heights<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

A little east of the Yorkshire Dales, you\u2019ll find the <\/a>Howardian Hills<\/a><\/strong>, a foodie hotspot for which we\u2019ve compiled a full guide.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"L'Enclume<\/p>\n

L’Enclume holds Three MICHELIN Stars and is the jewel in the Lake District’s crown. \u00a9 Cristian Barnett<\/p>\n

Northwest: The Lake District, for Unparalleled Countryside Cooking If you tend to travel for the food, then the Lake District<\/strong> is for you. Located in England\u2019s northwest corner, it\u2019s packed with breathtaking lake views and MICHELIN-Starred restaurants \u2013 the region is home to 10 in total, including the Three-Star L\u2019Enclume<\/a>, as well as The Samling<\/a>, Forest Side<\/a> and SOURCE at Gilpin Hotel<\/a>, all nestled inside MICHELIN-Key hotels<\/a>. <\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, our Inspectors recommend exploring the Lake District\u2019s famed regional ingredients, such as Herdwick hogget (young sheep), plus local specialities like sticky toffee pudding \u2013 an indulgent treacle dessert to satisfy any sweet tooth. For fans of quaint English towns<\/strong>, Ambleside is just the ticket (and comes with great value dining at The Schelly<\/a>). If you\u2019re a hiker, few British peaks will be as challenging \u2013 or as rewarding \u2013 as Scafell Pike<\/strong>, the highest mountain in England<\/strong>. Music-lovers should visit in July for the Kendal Calling<\/strong> festival, with legendary British DJ Fatboy Slim among this year\u2019s headliners. <\/p>\n

Check out all the MICHELIN-Starred restaurants in the Lake District.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Exmoor Forest Inn is one of the most sustainably run pubs in England. \u00a9 Exmoor Forest Inn<\/p>\n

Southwest: Exmoor & Dartmoor, for Natural Beauty and Wildlife Spotting Nature-lovers should put this duo of National Parks<\/strong> at the top of their list; tucked away in the southwest of England, they\u2019re just an hour apart and are renowned for their abundant wildlife and sweeping landscapes. Exmoor\u2019s heather-strewn moors and dramatic cliffs create an untamed beauty, while Dartmoor\u2019s granite rock tors and Bronze Age archaeology<\/strong> add a sense of history. Spotting free-roaming ponies<\/strong> is a must, and both parks offer easy access to the coast for even more scenic adventures. <\/p>\n

After working up an appetite, make your way to The Exmoor Forest Inn<\/a>, a sustainably run pub that draws inspiration from the surrounding land. Near Dartmoor, Le Vin Perdu<\/a> and Emilia <\/a>\u2013 French- and Italian-inspired respectively \u2013 are delightful, affordable restaurants from the same super-friendly team. And if you want to end your trip on a high, there\u2019s nowhere better than the magnificent, Tudor-style Gidleigh Park<\/a>, a Two-Key hotel housing a One-Star restaurant<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read our full Dartmoor guide for more in-depth tips.<\/a><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Hand and Flowers, near the Chilterns, is the UK’s only pub with Two MICHELIN Stars. \u00a9 Cristian Barnett<\/p>\n

South: The Chilterns, for Fresh Air on the Edge of LondonFor a taste of country life within easy access of London, the Chilterns<\/strong> is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty<\/strong> \u2013 known for its distinctive white chalk hills and trickling streams \u2013 on the doorstep of the big city. Alongside the rural beauty, you\u2019ll find attractive market towns such as Amersham (easily accessible on the Metropolitan Line<\/a>) and Marlow (under an hour from London by train); our Inspectors recommend the latter for The Hand and Flowers<\/a>, a Two-Star pub where you\u2019ll find traditional English dishes like a roast beef Sunday lunch elevated to exceptional heights, along with its younger sibling The Coach<\/a>, a more budget-friendly option that\u2019s one of the most accessible Starred spots in the UK<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Amersham, meanwhile, with its charming and affordable coaching inn, The Crown<\/a>, makes a great base \u2013 especially with the One-Starred Artichoke<\/a> just across the road. Be sure to visit Henley-on-Thames too, the heart of English rowing and home to the famed Henley Regatta every summer. If your getaway wouldn\u2019t be complete without a night in a proper aristocratic manor, look no further than the elegant Two-Key Cliveden House<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Hero Image:\u00a0\u00a9 The Wild Rabbit<\/p>\n

\"\"\/<\/p>\n

\n Written by
\n Andrew Young<\/strong>\n <\/p>\n

Andrew Young is The MICHELIN Guide’s Restaurant & Travel Editor for the UK and Republic of Ireland. Originally from Manchester, he is now based in London.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Few places in the world rival the cosiness and charm of the English countryside. Whether you\u2019re drawn by…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":225985,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5018,3,4],"tags":[748,393,4884,1144,712,16,15,1764],"class_list":{"0":"post-317006","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-britain","8":"category-uk","9":"category-united-kingdom","10":"tag-britain","11":"tag-england","12":"tag-great-britain","13":"tag-northern-ireland","14":"tag-scotland","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom","17":"tag-wales"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114970252528305991","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=317006"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/317006\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/225985"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=317006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=317006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=317006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}