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A taste of Britain's pubs

Explore great old inns of Britain packed with historical intrigue, darkened corners and plenty of mysterious stories. Some come with stories of smugglers and ghosts, some have housed the country’s literary greats, and each tells a story of its own, weaved into the history of its walls. From the buzzing beer gardens and riverside pubs of London to the charming country inns of the Cotswolds, discover the best places in Britain for a classic pint. 

Discover some of the best pubs in Britain

Escape to (possibly) England’s oldest inn, The Old Ferry Boat, in rural Cambridgeshire

Discover more about The Old Ferry Boat

Photo by: Greene King Pub Co/Ed Bagnall Photography

The Old Ferry Boat
The Old Ferry Boat

Feast your eyes on this Tudor pub, set in one of England’s most scenic medieval towns, and say ‘hi’ to a ghost or two.

Find out more about The Mermaid Inn

Photo by: mermaid_inn_rye

A view down a cobbled street with the Mermaid Inn on the right hand side in the town of Rye
The Mermaid Inn

Take in history in this pub that now loves its guests, but in historical times used to boil them alive!

Find out more about The Ostrich

Photo by: ostrichcolnbrook

Have a drink at the Ostrich Inn
The Ostrich

This cosy pub puts the best of British cuisine on your plate, plus fine local ales, spirits and wines.

Plan your trip to The Falcon Inn

Photo by: Cotswolds Tourism/Nick Turner

Location: Cotswolds

Falcon Inn, Painswick, Gloucestershire
The Falcon Inn

Treat yourself to a pint in the sunny beer garden, or a cosy supper beside the log fire.

Discover The Butchers Arms

Photo by: The Butchers Arms

Location: Cotswolds

The Butchers Arms, Stroud
The Butchers Arms

Raise a pint or two with friends, and check the website to see what’s on during your visit.

Visit Brew York

Photo by: Matthew Curtis

Location: York

A group on a brewery tour of Brew York
Brew York

Make a stop at the historic Horse and Groom in East Ashling, Chichester, on the edge of the South Downs National Park.

Take time out at the Horse and Groom

Photo by: Getty Images

Location: South Downs

Horse and Groom
Horse and Groom

Real ales and comfort food: two simple concepts, but the Pint Shop takes them both to new heights.

Pick a table at Pint Shop

Photo by: Pint Shop

Location: Cambridge

Pint Shop, Cambridge
Pint Shop

This award-winning pub and bistro has its own kitchen garden, and works with top local producers.

Enjoy The Felin Fach Griffin

Photo by: Visit Wales

Location: Brecon Beacon

The Felin Fach Griffin
The Felin Fach Griffin

Take a seat in the sunny beer garden, or cosy up beside the log fire in winter.

More about Tafarn Sinc

Photo by: Tafarn Sinc

Location: Wales

The interior of Tafarn Sinc, a traditional Welsh pub
Tafarn Sinc

With over 900 years of history, this Abergavenny pub is renowned for its spooky ghost stories…

Discover The Skirrid Mountain Inn

Photo by: pinkat13

A group of hikers and people sat on tables outside The Skirrid Mountain Inn in Avergavenny, Wales
The Skirrid Mountain Inn

In winter, warm up around the open fire – while summer is the time for rosé on the patio.

Grab a table at The Dartmoor Inn

Photo by: Lauren Bond / Blooming B Photography

Location: Dartmoor and Exmoor

The Dartmoor Inn
The Dartmoor Inn

Enjoy the largest beer selection in Coventry, with 23 ales on tap and up to 25 bottled varieties.

Explore Twisted Barrel Brewery and Tap House

Photo by: VisitBritain/Nemorin/Peter Goding/My Dog Sighs and Snub 23

Location: Coventry

friends enjoying a beer in outdoor beer garden
Twisted Barrel Brewery and Tap House

You can’t get more traditional than this thatched-roofed country pub in Wiltshire.

Dine at The Forester

Photo by: The Forester

Location: Jurassic Coast

The Forester pub on the Jurassic Coast, England
The Forester

The place to be for a traditional Scottish meal and real ale pint.

Find out more about Regent Bar

Photo by: VisitScotland/The Regent Bar

A series of pride and LGTBQ+ flags on display at the Regent Bar in Edinburgh
Regent Bar

Escape to (possibly) England’s oldest inn, The Old Ferry Boat, in rural Cambridgeshire

Discover more about The Old Ferry Boat

Photo by: Greene King Pub Co/Ed Bagnall Photography

The Old Ferry Boat
The Old Ferry Boat

Feast your eyes on this Tudor pub, set in one of England’s most scenic medieval towns, and say ‘hi’ to a ghost or two.

Find out more about The Mermaid Inn

Photo by: mermaid_inn_rye

A view down a cobbled street with the Mermaid Inn on the right hand side in the town of Rye
The Mermaid Inn

Take in history in this pub that now loves its guests, but in historical times used to boil them alive!

Find out more about The Ostrich

Photo by: ostrichcolnbrook

Have a drink at the Ostrich Inn
The Ostrich

This cosy pub puts the best of British cuisine on your plate, plus fine local ales, spirits and wines.

Plan your trip to The Falcon Inn

Photo by: Cotswolds Tourism/Nick Turner

Location: Cotswolds

Falcon Inn, Painswick, Gloucestershire
The Falcon Inn

Treat yourself to a pint in the sunny beer garden, or a cosy supper beside the log fire.

Discover The Butchers Arms

Photo by: The Butchers Arms

Location: Cotswolds

The Butchers Arms, Stroud
The Butchers Arms

Raise a pint or two with friends, and check the website to see what’s on during your visit.

Visit Brew York

Photo by: Matthew Curtis

Location: York

A group on a brewery tour of Brew York
Brew York

Make a stop at the historic Horse and Groom in East Ashling, Chichester, on the edge of the South Downs National Park.

Take time out at the Horse and Groom

Photo by: Getty Images

Location: South Downs

Horse and Groom
Horse and Groom

Real ales and comfort food: two simple concepts, but the Pint Shop takes them both to new heights.

Pick a table at Pint Shop

Photo by: Pint Shop

Location: Cambridge

Pint Shop, Cambridge
Pint Shop

This award-winning pub and bistro has its own kitchen garden, and works with top local producers.

Enjoy The Felin Fach Griffin

Photo by: Visit Wales

Location: Brecon Beacon

The Felin Fach Griffin
The Felin Fach Griffin

Take a seat in the sunny beer garden, or cosy up beside the log fire in winter.

More about Tafarn Sinc

Photo by: Tafarn Sinc

Location: Wales

The interior of Tafarn Sinc, a traditional Welsh pub
Tafarn Sinc

With over 900 years of history, this Abergavenny pub is renowned for its spooky ghost stories…

Discover The Skirrid Mountain Inn

Photo by: pinkat13

A group of hikers and people sat on tables outside The Skirrid Mountain Inn in Avergavenny, Wales
The Skirrid Mountain Inn

In winter, warm up around the open fire – while summer is the time for rosé on the patio.

Grab a table at The Dartmoor Inn

Photo by: Lauren Bond / Blooming B Photography

Location: Dartmoor and Exmoor

The Dartmoor Inn
The Dartmoor Inn

Enjoy the largest beer selection in Coventry, with 23 ales on tap and up to 25 bottled varieties.

Explore Twisted Barrel Brewery and Tap House

Photo by: VisitBritain/Nemorin/Peter Goding/My Dog Sighs and Snub 23

Location: Coventry

friends enjoying a beer in outdoor beer garden
Twisted Barrel Brewery and Tap House

You can’t get more traditional than this thatched-roofed country pub in Wiltshire.

Dine at The Forester

Photo by: The Forester

Location: Jurassic Coast

The Forester pub on the Jurassic Coast, England
The Forester

The place to be for a traditional Scottish meal and real ale pint.

Find out more about Regent Bar

Photo by: VisitScotland/The Regent Bar

A series of pride and LGTBQ+ flags on display at the Regent Bar in Edinburgh
Regent Bar

Rural pubs

Blanchland, England

This Northumberland hideaway is wrapped by forest and heathland and is filled to the rafters with history.

Photo by: Adam Lynk/Lord Crew Arms Blanchland

The Lord Crewe Arms
Inverarnan, Scotland

Dare you stay at one of Scotland’s most haunted pubs?

Photo by: @laura0utdoors / The Drovers Inn

Atmospheric view inside old Drovers Inn Hotel dining area
Red Wharf Bay, Wales

Enjoy a pint at these former cottages overlooking the scenic Red Wharf Bay.

Photo by: @the_ship_teignmouth

Two black laboradors with paws on the bar at Ship in public House, Teigmouth Estuary
Thorpe Market, England

Set within a thousand acres of deer park and boasting works by leading artists, Norfolk’s Gunton Arms is special.

Photo by: The Gunton Arms

The Gunton Arms
Abergavenny, Wales

With over 900 years of history, this Abergavenny pub is renowned for its spooky ghost stories…

Photo by: pinkat13

A group of hikers and people sat on tables outside The Skirrid Mountain Inn in Avergavenny, Wales
Sheepscombe, England

Treat yourself to a pint in the sunny beer garden, or a cosy supper beside the log fire.

Photo by: The Butchers Arms

Location: Cotswolds

The Butchers Arms, Stroud
Donhead St Andrew, England

You can’t get more traditional than this thatched-roofed country pub in Wiltshire.

Photo by: The Forester

Location: Jurassic Coast

The Forester pub on the Jurassic Coast, England
Clynderwen, Wales

Take a seat in the sunny beer garden, or cosy up beside the log fire in winter.

Photo by: Tafarn Sinc

Location: Wales

The interior of Tafarn Sinc, a traditional Welsh pub
East Ashling, England

Make a stop at the historic Horse and Groom in East Ashling, Chichester, on the edge of the South Downs National Park.

Photo by: Getty Images

Location: South Downs

Horse and Groom
The Castle Inn, Castle Combe, England 

Nestled in the Cotswold idyll of Castle Combe, The Castle Inn is proud of its flavourful menus where seasonal and locally grown ingredients play a starring role.  

 

The Blind Bull, Little Hucklow, England 

Recently restored to its former glory, the 12th-century Blind Bull inn was voted one of the world’s Top 50 Gastropubs by the Michelin Guide 2022. 

The Shoe, Exton, England 

Overlooking Old Winchester Hill, The Shoe offers a delectable array of wine, real ales and tasty Hampshire Pantry coffee – perfect for a post-hike pick-me-up. 

 

Gastro pubs

Chard, England

Whatever the season, The Cotley Inn's award-winning food will ensure no-one goes hungry. Treat yourself to a lavish three-course meal or enjoy some proper pub favourites.

Photo by: Georgina Preston

Rural view of The Cotley Inn, Somerset from an elevated position looking across fields to the pub in the background. Gold winner of the Pub of the Year in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2022
Bolton Bridge, England

This upmarket pub nestled in the Yorkshire Dales is home to an award-winning restaurant that uses ingredients from its kitchen garden.

Photo by: The Devonshire Arms at Pilsley

The bar area at The Devonshire Arms at Pillsey, Derbyshire, showing bench seating and dining room tables and chairs, exposed stone walls and a stone fireplace in the background. Bronze winner of the Pub of the Year in the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2022
Evershot, England

Mentioned in Thomas Hardy’s Tess of the d’Urbervilles, this 16th-century coaching inn in Dorset is nothing short of charming and houses an award-winning restaurant serving exceptional seasonal dishes.

Photo by: acron_inn

Outside view of the Acorn Inn
Thwaite, England

This vegetarian and vegan-friendly pub in a pretty Suffolk village serves the likes of roasted mushroom wellington and smoked almond tofu laksa in quaint surroundings.

Photo by: The Walnut tree

The Walnut Tree
Stein, Scotland

The oldest inn on the Isle of Skye takes food and drink very seriously. You’ll find scallops from Skye and Scottish salmon and game on the menu as well as 130 single malt whiskies to choose from.

Photo by: t2plc

The Stein Inn
Painswick, England

This cosy pub puts the best of British cuisine on your plate, plus fine local ales, spirits and wines.

Photo by: Cotswolds Tourism/Nick Turner

Location: Cotswolds

Falcon Inn, Painswick, Gloucestershire
Okehampton, England

In winter, warm up around the open fire – while summer is the time for rosé on the patio.

Photo by: Lauren Bond / Blooming B Photography

Location: Dartmoor and Exmoor

The Dartmoor Inn
Brecon, Wales

This award-winning pub and bistro has its own kitchen garden, and works with top local producers.

Photo by: Visit Wales

Location: Brecon Beacon

The Felin Fach Griffin
Cambridge, England

Real ales and comfort food: two simple concepts, but the Pint Shop takes them both to new heights.

Photo by: Pint Shop

Location: Cambridge

Pint Shop, Cambridge

British beer festivals and tasting tours

Toast Britain’s food and drink scene

Whet your whistle with Scottish whisky, raise a glass to English gin making – but did you know Wales is also leaving its mark?

Photo by: VisitBritain/Andrew Pickett

Two glasses of whisky standing on an oak barrel

Britain’s drink scene is as diverse as its people, and we love a good knees-up.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Stuart Harper

Man wearing green apron standing next to copper pot

Whether you're hopping from London to Cardiff or taking a road trip in the Scottish Highlands, we have something delicious just for you.

Photo by: VisitBritain/Jacob Niblett

Girl taking a picture of her food at Mackie Mayor

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