Best Affordable Restaurants to Dine in the Cotswolds

When planning a trip to England, the culinary aspect often takes a backseat. However, during our visit to the Cotswolds, we discovered that food plays a significant role in the local culture. Want to know where to eat well and affordably in the Cotswolds? Here are 8 recommendations for restaurants, pubs, and tea rooms where you can savor local dishes at reasonable prices (in English terms, remember).

⭐ Here we share the 10 must-see attractions in the Cotswolds.

The Cotswolds are home to pubs where time seems to stand still, restaurants offering daily menus, tea rooms where you can experience traditional English tea, and bakeries with delightful sweets for the most indulgent travelers. This region of the English countryside is not just about picturesque villages! It's no surprise that it is one of the most beloved areas by the English themselves: a weekend in the Cotswolds offers nature, historical heritage, and excellent food.

The ingredients used are high quality and often locally sourced, featuring fresh produce and meats (lamb is a must-try) or artisanal products (like cheese). If you can treat yourself to some traditional dishes from the area, don’t hesitate. To help you navigate this culinary landscape, we’ll recommend several restaurants where you can dine in the Cotswolds. You’ll find legendary establishments with centuries of history, lively pubs, cozy cafes, and other venues serving local recipes. And you'll see that you don’t need a hefty budget to enjoy a trip to the Cotswolds.

* Please note that prices and menus may vary. If you find discrepancies, please let us know so we can update the post. Thank you 🙂

Where to Enjoy the Famous Sunday Roast

One of the quintessential experiences in English dining is the Sunday roast. It’s a tradition that many locals cherish, and the Cotswolds are no exception. Here are some of the best places to savor this delightful meal:

1. Crown & Trumpet Inn (Broadway)

On a Sunday, we searched for a place to enjoy a typical Sunday roast and found the Crown & Trumpet Inn in Broadway. Their roast offered two choices: local roast beef with gravy or roast pork with apple sauce, both served with local bread, vegetables, and potatoes. Price: around £13, with beers at £5. They also have other menu options.

The ambiance of the place is charming, embodying a typical English pub with carpeted floors, wooden walls, and a fireplace. Additionally, it features a garden with wooden tables and umbrellas, perfect for summer months or if you’re traveling with a pet.

* Important: Reservations for the Sunday roast are essential. You can book through the form on their website (that’s how we did it, and it went smoothly).

2. Kingsbridge Pub (Bourton-on-the-Water)

Located in the lovely village of Bourton-on-the-Water, this pub offers a simple yet interesting menu at good prices. Daily soup for £5, mains for £12 (burgers, lasagna, chicken tikka masala, fish & chips…). It also features a pleasant terrace to enjoy the atmosphere if the weather cooperates.

We only saw it from the outside, as we visited early in the morning when we obviously weren’t hungry, but it looked very inviting (we’ve marked it on our map for our return).

3. The Black Horse (Cirencester)

This is the quintessential English pub, serving classic dishes like fish & chips, pies, and bangers and mash. It also has a lunchtime special for about £12, which includes a dish and a drink (available only on weekdays). They offer a variety of draft beers, including cold IPAs and traditional room-temperature ales with minimal carbonation.

We went on a Saturday evening, and the ambiance was fantastic. We shared a fish & chips and enjoyed a few pints to celebrate our first night in the Cotswolds.

4. The Fox at Oddington (Lower Oddington)

This pub, located inside a boutique hotel in the tiny village of Lower Oddington, charmed us with its cozy atmosphere and appealing menu. We opted for a simple plan: beer! We were there at an odd hour and just wanted to quench our thirst, but they also serve pizzas (which looked quite appetizing). Let us know what you think if you go!

5. The Porch House (Stow-on-the-Wold)

Its stone facade boasts a sign that reads "The oldest Inn in England", explaining that parts of the building are over 1,000 years old. While it has been renovated over the years, it maintains an ambiance that evokes another era, featuring various lounges and unique decor.

This uniqueness and its popularity mean the prices can be a bit higher, but it’s worth stopping by just to see the interior. They serve a full English breakfast for around £10, perfect for starting your day before exploring the village.

6. The Wild Rabbit (Kingham)

This is one of the most famous, exclusive, and well-known pubs in the area, awarded multiple accolades. It offers elaborate dishes and a gastronomic experience you won't forget. The establishment dates back to the 18th century and is located within a traditional inn, skillfully blending the heritage of the past with modern touches, particularly in its cuisine.

The average price is slightly higher than the other places we’ve mentioned (expect to pay about £15-25 for dishes and £4-6 for pints), but it’s undoubtedly money well spent.

Don’t forget to get a Revolut card (with a €10 promo), the best option to avoid fees when paying and withdrawing money abroad!

7. Tisanes Tea Rooms (Broadway)

No trip to the Cotswolds is complete without a simple yet delightful experience: afternoon tea with scones, those typical pastries from England that you initially glance at indifferently, but once you try the first one, you fall in love instantly. We paid about £6.5 per person for this treat.

While we weren’t too hungry, you should know that they also offer an afternoon tea (£15/pax) that includes tea, sandwiches, cake, and scones.

8. The Potting Shed Pub (Malmesbury)

This pub features a rustic and cozy atmosphere, with a beautiful garden (perfect for a sunny day) that serves traditional English dishes, burgers, and various vegetarian options. The burgers and fish & chips are around £18.

Discover More Great Places to Eat in the Cotswolds

During our trip, we stopped at other places that, while slightly off the typical route, can be interesting if you happen to be nearby 😉

• The first recommendation is in Bath: The Raven Inn, a cozy spot where we enjoyed their house specialty: meat pie.
• Our second accommodation was in Evesham (a town we don’t particularly recommend), but we had an amazing meal at Karma, one of the best Indian restaurants we tried. If you go, opt for the orange bomb, a curry made with Cointreau—super unique!
• In Bourton-on-the-Water, we had coffee with scones at The Chestnut Tree Coffee (a bit pricey, but we enjoyed it immensely on their terrace!).
• On our way to the last accommodation, we stopped at Chippenham Pit Stop, a roadside eatery with many great reviews, and indeed, we had a lovely meal (bangers & mash and fish & chips). The portions are generous, aimed at truck drivers.

Tips for Eating Cheaply in the Cotswolds

It’s well-known that restaurants in England aren’t particularly cheap, and the value for money can be lacking. However, there are always tricks to eat affordably in the Cotswolds. Here are some of our recommendations:

• Check for lunch deals (daily menus).
• Typically, they don’t provide free water at the table (as you might find in Australia), but it’s common to ask for it ("tap water") to save on beverage costs.
• If the weather is nice, consider buying takeaway food (there’s plenty of options from Chinese, Indian, pizza, fish & chips…) and have a picnic in a scenic spot, like the ruins of Minster Lovell Dove.
• One reliable option in England is Indian restaurants. They may not be exceedingly cheap, but they offer complete and delicious menus.
• Book accommodation with breakfast included to save one meal for the day.

Book your accommodation in the Cotswolds at the best price here.

Map of Recommended Restaurants in the Cotswolds

Here’s a map with the location of the recommended restaurants where you can dine in the Cotswolds:

What do you think of our restaurant recommendations for dining well and affordably in the Cotswolds? Have you traveled to this part of the English countryside and dined at any fantastic place? Share your experiences with us!

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