Top villages with country pubs near London

London is an exciting place to live for the many new residents who flock to the city each year from around the country, and beyond.

But the hustle and bustle can sometimes get a bit much for those who hail from more peaceful climes, and plenty of people will find themselves yearning for a day at a more gentle pace now and then.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of options for a day away in the nearby British countryside.

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The Week Portfolio explores some of the best villages - and their pubs - near the capital.

Shere, Surrey

Just a stone’s throw from London, Surrey boasts a host of idyllic villages perfect for escaping the frenetic pace of the city once in a while. Among them is the postcard village of Shere, recognisable from films such as The Holiday, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Bridget Jones. In short, it is the quintessential English village.

Of course, no English village is complete without a first-rate pub. Shere offers The William Bray, owned by former racing driver and Top Gear ‘Stig’ Julian Bailey, and home to a menu including pan fried octopus salad and calves' livers on sourdough toast.

West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Once owned by the Dashwood family, the village of West Wycombe was bought by the Royal Society of Arts in 1929 as part of its “Campaign for the Preservation of Ancient Cottages” and later handed over to the National Trust to maintain. Visitors can explore the Hellfire Caves, the Dashwood Mausoleum and West Wycombe House and Park - not forgetting the 200-year-old Traditional Sweet Shop on the High Street.

A few doors down is the George & Dragon, a 17th-century former coaching inn with an a la carte restaurant and cosy bar area. Arnaud Stevens, who has worked with Gordon Ramsey and Gary Rhodes, took over earlier this year as owner and head chef. His mouth-watering menu includes Dashwood Estate game terrine, a G&D chuck and brisket burger, and whole roasted seabass with clams and samphire. Polish off with the goosberry creme brulee and you will be ready to climb West Wycombe Hill for some beautiful views of the countryside - or just unwind in one of the George & Dragon’s ten luxurious guest rooms.

Ashwell, Hertfordshire

The picturesque town of Ashwell has an abundance of attractions, including plenty of timber framed buildings for photo opportunities. The Ashwell landscape is dominated by St Mary’s Church, famous for its plague graffiti, etched on the base of the church tower. Ashwell Springs is perfect for a picnic.

The Three Tuns offers quality food and drink in a beautifully refurbished Georgian pub. The best time to go is undoubtedly the last Thursday of the month, when The Tuns Pudding Club is in swing. On offer is a country-themed meal consisting of a main course followed by six desserts. You might want to book one of the three rooms on offer in case moving afterwards is a little tricky.

The Lee, Buckinghamshire

The Lee is one of Midsomer Murders’ regular filming locations, but like so many of the residents of Midsomer, its days are numbered. From 2026, HS2 will bring eighteen 250mph trains hurtling out of the Chiltern Tunnel less than two miles away every hour. For now, it is a charming and tranquil village with impressive brick houses set around a large green.

For a small village, there are a good number of high-calibre pubs, and the best among them is The Cock & Rabbit. Located on the village green and featuring a raft of Midsomer “background artist” credits on its acting resume, the unmistakably English pub is combined with the authentically Italian Graziemille Restaurant.

Bray, Berkshire

Bray first became well known when Heston Blumenthal opened his restaurant The Fat Duck there. But the village is an attraction in its own right, not least because of the three-mile frontage on the Thames, and timber-frame buildings.

However, there’s no getting away from the fact that most visitors to Bray come to eat and drink. The Roux family’s The Waterside Inn has a history as an English pub that runs through the current incarnation’s veins. It made its name by becoming the first eatery outside of France to retain three Michelin stars for 25 years.

Hampstead village, Greater London

Hampstead may technically be London, but it’s not London as we know it. The original urban village is one of the city’s most charming neighbourhoods, with 18 Grade II listed buildings and narrow streets surrounded by meadows, woodlands, swimming ponds and city views.

Everything that Hampstead is, so is the Spaniards Inn. Achingly English, stylish yet relaxed, the 17th century pub has all the wood-panelling and open fires you can shake a stick at. Alumni include Charles Dickens, Lord Byron and John Keats, who drank, wrote and drank some more at the famous pub.

Finchingfield, Essex

If the name ‘Finchingfield’ wasn’t enough to convince you of the quaint Englishness of this Essex village, then the village green, redbrick cottages and 18th century windmill will do the job. A far cry from the chaos of London, the most dramatic thing to happen in Finchingfield in recent years was the accidental draining of the picturesque village pond.

The Fox Inn overlooks the village green and (now thankfully refilled) duck pond. The Essex Pub of the Year finalist offers fresh food prepared with locally sourced produce and fine cask ales, beers and wines.​​​ They even offer a horse and carriage to take you home via the sleepy country lanes.

Firle, Sussex

Firle Village, ten minutes south of Lewes, is small in size but has attracted artists and writers for generations, including Virginia Woolf and her sister Vanessa Bell. It makes a perfect starting point for a hike in the South Downs National Park, with its woodlands, river valleys and dramatic coastline. In the summer months, Firle Place is also open to the public, offering a licensed tea room and terrace.

Return to the village for dinner at The Ram, which boasts a flint-walled garden, cosy fireplaces and local fresh seasonal ingredients (the local vicar is said to bring the kitchen tiny sweet wild strawberries and wild mushrooms from the Downs). All washed down with a pint of Sussex bitter.

Otford, Kent

Situated on the River Darent and hosting the kind of independent shops that have long disappeared from London high streets, this Kent village has all the makings of the perfect get away. Otford High Street is of such historic relevance that it has been deemed a conservation area, and over the last 3,000 years the village has been home iron age farmers, Romans, archbishops and royalty. Even the duck pond is listed - the only one in the country that is.

The Woodman is a classic English pub complete with log fire and a large garden. Located overlooking the village duckpond, this pub is popular with the locals and a good place for refreshment after completing the 5.3 mile Otford Solar System walk, a scale representation of the position of the planets.

Binfield Heath, Oxfordshire

With its 12 listed buildings, well-attended polo club, and Michelin-star restaurant, Binfield Heath is basically just showing off. Midway between the rowing hubs of Henley and Caversham, the village is not without its own sporting history, and has this year it revived its annual wheelbarrow race.

The Bottle & Glass is “recently restored Grade II-listed thatched inn, clearly popular with the locals, their dogs and children”, according to Country Life. Quality food and an attractive beer garden make this the perfect countryside pub within easy reach of London.