The Pretty Towns & Villages Near London To Visit Over The Festive Period
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Charlbury
Cotswolds
Charlbury in West Oxfordshire is one of the easiest places in the Cotswolds to reach without a car – you can catch a direct hour-long train from Paddington Station. From there, it’s just a ten-minute walk to the high street, where you’ll find a small selection of independent boutiques, cafés and pubs. It’s also a short distance from other scenic villages in the area, like Ramden and Combe, while Chipping Norton is just 15 minutes away by car. The town holds a local food market held every Saturday morning, with a festive market taking place on Saturday 21st December this year. It’s also surrounded by rolling hills and scenic countryside for post-pub walks.
EAT: Last year, the team behind The Pelican in Notting Hill (and now The Hero in Maida Vale) opened a pub in the Cotswolds. The Bull has the charm of the group’s London pubs, with chic minimalist interiors and crowd-pleasing dishes. Set in a former inn dating back to the 16th century, there’s a cosy dining room and garden with further seating. The kitchen only uses trusted local suppliers, and dishes are cooked on the BBQ. A long lunch by the fire could include dishes like scallops with lobster gravy, steak with roast potatoes, and sticky toffee pudding – along with martinis or a bottle of merlot.
STAY: If you don’t stay at The Bull (there are ten lovely rooms above the pub), Inkwell Cottage in Burford is a short drive away. Built from the Cotswolds’ trademark honeyed stone, the cosy cottage has plenty of original features amid updated interiors. There’s a loft-style bedroom with a king-size bed, a ground-floor bathroom and a cosy living area with an indoor wood burner. Couples can relax by the fire, dine in the courtyard and explore Burford’s antique shops.
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Epping
Essex
Once home to a royal hunting ground in Tudor times, Epping Forest straddles the border between London and Essex, with more than 6,000 acres of vast woodland home to a diverse array of wildlife. Take the central line to Loughton Station and walk 15 minutes towards one of the forest’s many entrances (there’s a lectern to the right of the station with a map showing the quickest routes). There’s also the scenic Oak Trail which starts at Theydon Bois underground station. From there, the signposted route is easy to follow and passes through beautiful surroundings, including fields, babblings brooks and a deer sanctuary. A lovely afternoon can also be spent in Epping itself, browsing through its boutiques and stopping at one of the many pubs.
EAT & STAY: Last week, The Royal Forest opened its doors in Chingford following a multi-million-pound makeover. Now one of the area’s most stylish boozers, the pub combines historical charm (Queen Victoria once visited the building) with modern touches and warm interiors that wouldn’t be out of place in Mayfair. There’s a 140-cover dining room, a spacious bar area and two outdoor terraces. Upstairs, guests will find 28 boutique bedrooms with bespoke furnishings and spacious bathrooms stocked with Bramley toiletries – some rooms are dog-friendly, too. Epping Forest is just a short walk away, as are numerous transport links to central London.
Deal
Kent
Once a quiet seaside town, in recent years Deal has become one of the trendiest spots along the Kent coast. With its mix of historic charm and contemporary restaurants and galleries, it has attracted a new wave of visitors and creatives. Of course, Deal is a great summer destination, but the town is equally appealing during the winter months – go for blustery walks along the beach before heading to a nearby café for hot chocolate, cheese toasties and mince pies. The town also has a vibrant arts scene, with galleries like The Deal Gallery showcasing local talent, and a growing number of independent boutiques and artisan shops.
EAT & STAY: Updown is a beautifully renovated 17th-century farmhouse, just ten minutes from Deal’s centre, was converted into a charming restaurant with rooms by owners Ruth Leigh and Oliver Brown. The house has four cosy rooms, with the Gardener’s Cottage offering extra space. The food is a real highlight – Italian-influenced and seasonal, guests can expect dishes like fazzoletti with morels and saffron rice with gurnard. Ruth, daughter of chef Rowley Leigh, and Oliver, former founder of Duck Duck Goose, offer exciting wines, local beers and seasonal cocktails. Plus, the intimate dining room hosts BBQs in the garden on summer weekends.
Alfriston
East Sussex
We could easily write a whole feature on the beautiful but vast South Downs. There are dozens of well-known, scenic walking routes, from the chalk cliffs of Beachy Head and Seven Sisters to hotspots such as Cuckmere Haven. For an afternoon that combines many of the South Downs’ charms – views, art and local beer and wine – look to the picture-perfect village of Alfriston. Here you can enjoy afternoon tea at Badgers Teahouse and browse through the impressively stocked Much Ado Books. The village itself is steeped in history, with its medieval St Andrew's Church often called the 'Cathedral of the Downs'.
EAT & STAY: From the team behind Hotel Endsleigh in Devon and Hotel Tresanton in Cornwall, glossily refurbished pub-with-rooms The Star is set in a Grade II-listed 16th-century building in village. A couple of years ago the property was updated with 30 modern bedrooms and bathrooms, all individually designed by Olga Polizzi – expect her signature colourful interiors and plush decorative accents. If you’re not staying overnight, book a table for lunch, afternoon tea or supper at the restaurant, where the chefs serve Italian-inspired dishes made with as much local produce as possible.
Petworth
West Sussex
Best known for its grand National Trust property, Petworth House, this West Sussex town is close to the border of Surrey, so it’s easy to get to from the capital. As well as the house itself – which has an impressive collection of Turners, Van Dykes and Blakes, a huge deer park and a decent second-hand bookshop – you’ll find a small town full of antiques shops (the most prestigious of which is Augustus Brandt), small delis such as the excellent Hungry Guest, and quaint tearooms. For a culture fix, head to Newlands House Gallery, and don't miss Readers on the market square, a lovely book shop full of antiques and rare editions.
EAT: E.Street Bar & Grill on Petworth’s New Street offers good value for money – with three courses costing £50pp. The menu changes regularly, with a selection of British classics and modern dishes, all served in the restaurant’s characterful dining room. There’s an open kitchen and a cosy bar area, where guests can stop for cocktails before tucking into lunch, dinner or Sunday roasts. Diners can also choose from an extensive wine list which showcases bottles from award-winning Sussex producers.
STAY: Close to the West Sussex coast, The Pig in South Downs is a 20-minute drive from Petworth. The group acquired Grade II-listed Madehurst Lodge back in 2018 and transformed it into an inviting destination with the kitchens, gardens and restaurant at its heart. As with all Pig properties, rooms are cosy and characterful, all the food is locally sourced and grown in the gardens, and there are plenty of nooks around the hotel where you can hunker down with a book or glass of wine.
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