A weekend break in the UK is the perfect opportunity to sample some of the country’s best produce and ingredients, try some of the UK’s best restaurants or go back to past favourites, spend hours in a cosy pub or by the fire A sun-drenched terrace by the sea. So, if you want your next trip to revolve around eating, where should you go? That’s the question we’re here to answer by suggesting an epicurean feast or three to visit in this favorite corner of the country. We’ve recommended places to dine and places to stay while you’re there – from restaurants with rooms and country pubs with rooms to exquisite country house hotels and more.
Cornwall, England
Best for: following the UK’s best chefs to the seaside
Cornwall is far enough away from any other part of the UK, and difficult enough, that visiting it is like travelling abroad. Cornwall’s beaches can be as clear and beautiful as the Caribbean Sea, and the subtropical vegetation provides food for restaurants across the country. Some of Britain’s top chefs have deep roots here: Rick Stein put Padstow on the culinary map years ago, and local chef Nathan Outlaw heads a two-Michelin-star beachfront restaurant in Port Isaac. Meanwhile, London chefs have been quietly establishing themselves on the Cornish coast for some time: Newington Green’s Primeur and Jolene’s Jeremie Cometto-Lingenheim and David Gingell have opened a menu in Fitzroy that features local mussels and picked vegetables. And North London favourite Prawn on the Lawn has launched a second space in Cornwall, from which they source their fish. In addition, Cornwall is home to perhaps the most exciting food-centric accommodation in the UK: Coombeshead Farm, where two of the UK’s top chefs, April Bloomfield and Tom Adams, aim to be completely self-sufficient, cooking true farm-to-table – and preparing feasts for guests checking in.
North Berwick, Scotland
Best for: local chefs
Located an hour east of Edinburgh, the seaside town of North Berwick sits on a jagged stretch of the Scottish coastline that juts up into the Firth of Forth. In the past few years, Edinburgh’s brainy chefs have begun sweeping east to this long-forgotten corner of the country, where once struggling high street stores are now turning into thriving independent bakeries and fine dining restaurants. Catherine Franks, who started serving coffee from the back of an old VW camper van in Edinburgh’s Stockbridge Market, is now the brains behind the cosy café Steampunk Coffee Roasters, Bostock Bakery, for its pastries So much attention has been paid to them that René Redzepi sent his assistant to find out how they’re made. Remade. Seaside Lobster Shack serves super-local fish, while NB Distillery bottles dry gin, citrus vodka and dark rum. All this with a backdrop of deserted sandy beaches, overlooked by grassy riverbanks that roll into the cold ocean.
Cumbria, England
Best for: dining under the stars
In 2023, Cumbria becomes the British county with the most Michelin stars – a fact that makes sense if you’re familiar with this beautiful part of the country’s Far East, but may come as a surprise to British visitors who never stray far from London . Cartmel, a small village on the edge of the Lake District, is a gathering place for foodies. Here you’ll find the three-Michelin-starred L’Enclume, one of the best restaurants in Britain. But there’s a more casual little sister restaurant, also overseen by Simon Rogan, called Rogan & Co, and Heft in High Newton, just down the road, was also recognized by the Michelin Guide in 2023. As is often the case in places with high Michelin star density, more casual dining options, such as The Drunken Duck pub in Ambleside, are also excellent. “This perennially popular hotel with rooms offers upscale bar food with a quirky twist,” says longtime fan Antonia Quirke. “There’s glazed beef cheeks with jalapeño sour dough or venison slab creme brulee for dinner, sage popcorn with brunch pancakes, and boulder-sized tea scones and beers brewed on site. The 12 bedrooms are as lovely as they are colorful – and when you stay overnight, the dining room table is guaranteed.”
Bruton, Somerset, England
Best for: restaurants rooted in art-filled surroundings
In 2019, we’re calling Bruton the coolest town in the West Country – and its stars show no sign of diminishing. In 2014, gallery owners Hauser & Wirth opened their UK outpost here, sparking a string of excellent openings over the next few years. The Newt, probably the tastiest of all British hotels, opened just down the road. Many first-class restaurants have also opened. Osip remains a clever table worth booking, with a Michelin star and a Green Michelin star (recognition of its eco-credentials), thanks to chef Merlin Labron-Johnson. Elsewhere in town, stop by the Roth Bar and Grill at Durslade Farm or The Old Pharmacy Look for doorstop sandwiches and homemade cakes. Spend a weekend at the Grade II-listed First Bruton House of Georgia, a lovely and colorful inn located above the Ossipee.
Aberystwyth, Wales
Best for: seaside dinners
We’ve long had a soft spot for West Wales, where candy-colored towns are washed up by the sea and where there’s a relaxed, almost hippie lifestyle. Once known primarily as a student town, Aberystwyth has gained a firm foothold in recent years. Right on the beach, Aberystwyth is now known not only for its great little bars and charming Victorian architecture, but also for its boundary-pushing food scene. SY23, a fire-fuelled restaurant on Pier Street, won the 2022 Michelin Award for opening of the year under the deft leadership of Nathan Davies. Also in town is the lovely, authentic tapas bar Ultracomida, which serves more casual lunches (hot chocolate is a must), and you can’t deny the appeal of 99’s of chocolate chips on the beach. From here, you can conveniently visit more of Wales’ best restaurants – Ynyshir is located in Machynlleth, just 30 minutes north. “There’s a fire pit smothering the driveway; the frosty lawn ends in a jumble of rural wilderness, with Snowdonia rising from the ground and the bird sanctuary next door in sparkling, shimmering waters,” says contributor Rick Jordan. “It’s very strange that this Georgian-style country house feels like it’s nowhere to be found, but it’s the best place in Wales for Japanese-inspired cuisine, a journey of fresh flavors across 19 small plates.”
Norfolk, UK
Best for: Locally sourced, grown and produced ingredients
Norfolk is vast sky country, with rolling farmland that seems to stretch for miles. Not surprisingly, the local produce and ingredients are top-notch, and local chefs have been making the most of what’s on their doorstep for years, whether in fine dining or casual pubs. We love the Italian food at Benoli, the bistro Benedict and the award-winning Coastal Neptune. Another favorite is The Gunton Arms. Walking into this bar is like being in a surrealist painting. Tracey Emin’s neon lights glow crimson and a giant set of moose antlers are mounted above a huge open fireplace. Outside the window, a herd of deer seems to float in a backlit mist. The Blythburgh pancetta with Bramley apples and pea shoots and local venison sausage is so good you’ll want to stay for dinner and then overnight.
New Forest, England
Best for: countryside weekends
The New Forest is one of the most beautiful corners of England, thanks to its scenery – winding roads, fairytale forests, charming villages and rolling moorland. But it’s really known for the herds of wild horses that roam throughout the region, adding a magical quality to this already coveted corner. The Pig in Brockenhurst is the earliest and oldest of The Pig Group’s hotels, which has expanded into several sister properties across the country. Like its younger siblings, it’s a food lover’s dream: a 17th-century native manor house with a long line of returning guests who keep coming back to enjoy the food the kitchen team has harvested from the thriving vegetable garden. Elsewhere, Angela Hartnett oversees Hartnett Holder & Co. at the country house hotel Lime Wood. The Terrace at the Montagu Arms is a 3AA Rosette restaurant and a great place to enjoy afternoon tea. And of course, the New Forest has some of the best hotels in Britain: stay at Chewton Glen or The Four Seasons Hampshire to extend your visit.
Bristol, UK
Best for: Keeping it casual
Many British cities have up-and-coming food scenes. But if you were to choose any one foodie weekend to visit, we’d make it Bristol. Dining here is more laid-back than many of its peers; brunch spots and restaurants that offer casual small plates are as acclaimed as fine dining. You might have lunch at the Korean hangout Bokman or the Indian restaurant Thali. Dinner might be at the eco-minded bistro Wilson’s or Paco Tapas. You can sample street food at St. Nicholas Market or have brunch at Rosemarino. Bristol’s craft beer scene is also strong – we love the small brewery Moor Beer Co. A night out at the Artist Residence Bristol, which launched a few years ago, remains the city’s sweetest place to stay, a true community hangout grounded in itself.
