Immediately I wish to share my information to probably the most lovely villages close to London. The English countryside is the stuff of desires, and it’s price a particular journey to see the highlights. From Kent to Surrey, Sussex, and the Cotswolds, there are fairy-tale villages in simple driving, practice, and tour distance of the UK capital. Learn on for my high picks. I’ve included a map, too.
Villages Close to London
It’s arduous to make an inventory of one of the best villages close to London as a result of there are such a lot of of them. In actual fact, the entire of the English countryside is fairly. Among the finest locations to go to within the UK are right here.
From rolling hills to fluffy sheep, this inexperienced and nice land seems like one thing straight out of a storybook. However because it’s actual and since I’ve set myself the duty of constructing an inventory of a number of the prettiest villages in England, I’m going to do my finest.
Whether or not you’re on the lookout for locations with idyllic thatched-roof cottages, locations for nation breaks close to London, or enjoyable concepts for day journeys from London by practice or automobile, there’s a village you’ll love.
1. Shere, Surrey
Down in Surrey, Shere is likely one of the most lovely villages close to London. With streets packed filled with heritage buildings and a reasonably pond filled with geese, this place has all of the components for a rural idyll.
Image-pretty Shere is legendary for being a filming location for The Vacation and the Bridget Jones motion pictures. In actual fact, the church within the village was utilized in a number of Bridget Jones movies.
The streets of Shere are every little thing one may dream of in an English nation village, and pubs just like the White Horse have historic interiors worthy of a leisurely Sunday lunch.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain close to Shere right here. There’s a wide range of choices to select from, together with motels and pubs with rooms.
2. Fort Combe, Wiltshire
Subsequent on my checklist of one of the best villages close to London is Fort Combe. With its chocolate-box excessive avenue, picturesque facet streets, and retailers with teapot indicators overhead, it has every little thing one may need in a single place.
Fort Combe is likely one of the finest villages in Wiltshire to discover, not least due to its picture-pretty homes and bridge over the By Brook river.
This quintessential village within the Cotswolds will get you dreaming about England. It makes an awesome day journey from London by automobile or in a single day journey to Tub and the Cotswolds. You can even take a day tour from London to see Fort Combe. You may guide one right here.
If this feels like your form of village, you may reserve a spot to remain in Fort Combe right here. Probably the most well-known is The Manor Home. It’s an actual deal with to name this resort home-away-from-home. You may guide your room right here.
3. Nice Missenden, Buckinghamshire
Nice Missenden is subsequent on my checklist of probably the most lovely villages close to London. This place is legendary for its Roald Dahl connections.
The well-known youngsters’s guide writer lived within the village for 36 years, and at this time there’s a museum devoted to him within the coronary heart of city.
However there’s extra to see within the village past the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre. The Excessive Avenue and Church Avenue are each lined with historic facades and listed buildings.
Given the village is within the Chiltern Hills, there are many nice walks and locations to discover in nature round right here, too. From Angling Spring Wooden to Abbey Park, there’s no scarcity of choices.
This place can be accessible from London by direct practice, so it’s a simple journey should you don’t have a automobile. I’ve finished it earlier than and I actually loved it.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in Nice Missenden right here. There’s a variety of choices to select from, together with motels, cottages, and inns.
4. Bray, Berkshire
Subsequent on my checklist of one of the best villages close to London is Bray. This lovely place in Berkshire is so near London you may take the Elizabeth Line (plus a brief taxi experience) to get right here.
As soon as on the town, there are some thrilling issues to do in Bray. The village streets are full of picturesque cottages, and the riverfront surroundings on the Thames is gorgeous. There are nice walks you are able to do right here, too.
However let’s be trustworthy. Most individuals come right here for the meals. Bray is understood for its Michelin-starred eating places and pubs. From The Fats Duck to the Waterside Inn, it has extra stars than many main cities.
It’s simple to come back right here for a half-day journey from London to stroll across the village and revel in lunch at one of many eating places or pubs.
However it’s price staying an evening to expertise a few the well-known locations to eat right here (and discover the streets). You may see why on my information to spending 24 hours in Bray.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in Bray right here. There’s a variety of choices to select from, together with motels, cottages, and eating places with rooms.
5. Painswick, Gloucestershire
Again within the Cotswolds, Painswick is one other of probably the most lovely villages in England. With its fairly stone buildings and larger-than-life topiary bushes, this place is bursting with magnificence.
There are enjoyable issues to do in Painswick, too. The streets are filled with heritage particulars, and the Painswick Rococo Backyard is a surprising 18th-century quantity in a hidden valley with views throughout the English countryside.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in Painswick right here. There’s a wide range of choices to select from, together with motels and B&Bs.
6. Previous Amersham, Buckinghamshire
In Buckinghamshire, Amersham is one other of one of the best villages close to London. Simply outdoors the UK capital, this place is so near town you may attain it on the tube.
Amersham is legendary for the historic homes and buildings on the excessive avenue in Previous Amersham. It’s additionally recognized for nation walks, because it’s positioned within the Chiltern Hills Space of Excellent Pure Magnificence.
This can be a enjoyable place to go to if you’d like a simple half day journey from London with as little time in transit as attainable.
If you wish to prolong your keep and reside like an area, you may guide a spot to remain in Amersham right here. There’s a wide range of choices to select from, together with historic motels and inns.
7. Lacock, Wiltshire
Again in Wiltshire, Lacock is one other of probably the most lovely villages close to London. Lacock is near Fort Combe, and it’s well-known for being a filming location for every little thing from the Harry Potter motion pictures to Downton Abbey.
This lovely village within the English countryside is brimming with yellow stone buildings and picturesque roadside stands with baked items and bunting. Photogenic shopfronts with bicycles outdoors spherical out the scene.
This place can be dwelling to the Thirteenth-century Lacock Abbey. It has gorgeous medieval cloisters and a museum devoted to the historical past of pictures.
You may attain the village by automobile, or you may take a day tour from London to see Lacock and different well-known locations within the space. If the latter appeals, you may guide the tour I like to recommend right here.
If you wish to keep an evening, you may reserve a spot to remain in Lacock right here. There’s a variety of choices to select from, together with inns and B&Bs.
8. East Meon, Hampshire
Out in Hampshire, East Meon is one other of one of the best nation villages close to London.
This idyllic spot has a river meandering by way of its coronary heart. Thatched-roof cottages and pink facades make it a fairy story lover’s dream.
Cheerful hollyhocks bloom on the waterfront within the hotter months, and purple submit bins are set into by brick partitions in true storybook trend.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in East Meon right here. There’s a wide range of choices to select from, together with lodges and guesthouses.
9. Bibury, Gloucestershire
Residence of probably the most photographed avenue within the Cotswolds (that’s Arlington Row should you don’t know), Bibury sits on the banks of the River Coln. William Morris as soon as known as it ‘probably the most lovely village in England’, and he might be proper.
Arlington Row options Seventeenth-century weavers’ cottages that entice photographers from everywhere in the world. A historic village pub known as The Catherine Wheel is the right place for a drink, too.
This English village can be dwelling to a water meadow known as Rack Isle. It’s an necessary wildlife habitat within the Cotswolds.
Bibury encompasses a trout farm, too. Established within the early Twentieth century by naturalist Arthur Severn, it shares native rivers and streams with native brown trout.
You will get right here by automobile, or you may simply go to Bibury on a guided Cotwolds day tour. You may guide the one I like to recommend right here.
If you wish to keep an evening, you may reserve a spot to remain in Bibury right here. There’s a variety of choices to select from, together with motels, homes, and B&Bs.
10. Burnham Market, Norfolk
Up in North Norfolk, Burnham Market deserves a spot on my checklist of lovely villages close to London. Also known as Chelsea-on-Sea, the central inexperienced on this well-heeled place is surrounded by fairly buildings and cafes.
With nice buying, full of life pubs and eating places, and entry to close by coastal gems like Holkham Seashore, Burnham Market is the right place to spend a weekend in Norfolk.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in Burnham Market right here. I’ve spent a weekend at The Hoste and I liked the rooms, pub, spa, and restaurant. You may guide a room right here.
11. Higher Slaughter, Gloucestershire
Again within the Cotswolds, Higher Slaughter is one other of one of the best villages close to London. This place wins hearts with its fairly stone cottages and idyllic environment.
The village lies on a slope above a stream, and it’s recognized for its Fifteenth-century manor home, engaging medieval almshouses, and historic St Peter’s Church.
Higher Slaughter and its neighbor, Decrease Slaughter, are a number of the most lovely locations in England. They’re nice to go to on a Cotswolds day journey.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in Higher Slaughter right here. Probably the most thrilling is Lords of the Manor. This well-known nation home resort is straight out of a fairy story. You may guide your room right here.
12. Bampton, Oxfordshire
Located between Oxford and the Cotswolds, Bampton is one other of probably the most lovely villages close to London. This place has thatched-roof cottages, a historic church, and charming native pubs.
Bampton’s fairly streets have nice particulars to find, and the Church of St Mary the Virgin was used as a filming location for a lot of scenes from Downton Abbey.
It’s simple to find Bampton on a day journey from London by automobile. You can even take a guided day tour of Oxford and the Cotswolds or a Downtown Abbey tour to see it. You may guide one right here.
If you wish to keep longer, you may reserve a spot to remain in Bampton right here. There’s a variety of choices to select from, together with motels and inns.
13. Chilham, Kent
Subsequent on my checklist of the prettiest villages close to London is Chilham. Not removed from Canterbury, this place is understood for its chocolate-box streets and heritage buildings.
Chilham sits within the Kent Downs above the valley of the River Stour. It options steep, slim lanes and a reasonably sq.. There’s additionally a fortress right here.
You may go to Chilham independently by automobile or on a guided tour from London. You may guide the tour I like to recommend right here. It consists of stops in well-known locations like Canterbury and Dover.
If you wish to keep an evening, you may reserve a spot to remain in Chilham right here. There’s a wide range of choices to select from, together with B&Bs and inns.
14. Sapperton, Gloucestershire
Subsequent on my checklist of one of the best villages close to London is Sapperton. That is considered one of my favourite locations within the Cotswolds for a variety of causes.
The village is stuffed with fairly homes, lots of which characteristic Arts and Crafts structure. Among the most well-known architect-designers of the motion lived right here and are buried within the churchyard.
Talking of which, St Kenelm’s Church is price popping into for its historic interiors. There’s additionally a village corridor, which is throughout the road from The Bell at Sapperton pub. Talking of the pub, it’s enjoyable to have a drink within the atmospheric environment.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in Sapperton right here. There’s a variety of choices to select from, together with motels and pubs with rooms.
15. Brockenhurst, Hampshire
Again in Hampshire, one other of the prettiest villages close to London is Brockenhurst. Positioned within the New Forest, it’s been known as ‘Britain’s Most Lovely Place to Reside’.
Brockenhurst is dwelling to a excessive avenue full of outlets, pubs, cafes, and eating places. It’s simple to cease right here on a New Forest day journey, or make an extended journey of it.
There are well-known eating places close by, too. And that’s to say nothing of surrounding villages like Beaulieu and Lyndhurst.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in Brockenhurst right here. There’s all kinds of choices to select from, together with motels, inns, and residences.
16. Aylesford, Kent
Subsequent on my checklist of probably the most lovely villages close to London is Aylesford. Located within the coronary heart of the countryside, this is likely one of the finest locations to go to in Kent.
Aylesford sits on the River Medway not removed from Maidstone. The center of the village is dwelling to lovely historic homes, retailers, and pubs. It’s a deal with to wander round and take within the views right here.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in Aylesford right here. There’s a variety of choices to select from, together with guesthouses and residences.
17. Ashwell, Hertfordshire
Ashwell is one other of one of the best villages close to London. This picture-pretty place is understood for its half-timbered facades, museum, pubs, and heritage buildings. It’s additionally proper by the Icknield Manner, so it’s an awesome place for nation walks.
The 14th-century Church of St Mary the Virgin is famend for its tower and the Medieval graffiti on its partitions. There are additionally springs within the village that make up one of many sources of the River Cam (it’s the one which runs by way of Cambridge).
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in Ashwell right here. There’s a wide range of choices to select from, together with motels and B&Bs.
18. West Chiltington, West Sussex
Subsequent on my checklist of one of the best villages close to London is West Chiltington. With fairly homes and nation pubs with sunny gardens, this place is a deal with to go to.
The village is surrounded by fields filled with cows and delicate hills with a number of the finest vineyards close to London. Idyllic cottages spherical out the scene.
There are nice walks you are able to do when you’re right here, too. I’ve finished a enjoyable round stroll in West Sussex that began in West Chiltington and took me alongside ponds and thru fairy-tale woods adorned with flowers.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in West Chiltington right here. There’s a variety of choices to select from, together with lodges and houses.
19. Lavenham, Suffolk
One other of one of the best villages close to London is Lavenham. This place was one of many wealthiest settlements in England within the Medieval interval.
Immediately Lavenham numbers among the many best-preserved Medieval villages in England. A lot in order that it was used as a filming location for one of many Harry Potter motion pictures.
Lavenham is understood for its eye-catching historic buildings. From the Guildhall to Little Corridor, the Fifteenth-century church, and the half-timbered medieval cottages, there’s so much to like about this place. There are additionally nice nation walks you may take from right here.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in Lavenham right here. There’s all kinds of choices to select from, together with motels, guesthouses, and B&Bs.
20. Kingham, Oxfordshire
Kingham is one other of my favourite villages close to London. From topiary hedges to Cotswold stone cottages, this prettiest of villages is picturesque in each means.
It’s enjoyable to discover the village streets and take walks within the space to absorb the fields and flowers. You may even stroll to Daylesford Natural Farm in Gloucestershire. It’s an expensive advanced with retailers, eating places, and a backyard middle.
Moreover, Kingham has a village store to browse, the historic St Andrew’s Church to admire, and atmospheric pubs to eat and keep in.
Kingham is definitely accessible by practice from London, so it’s an awesome place to go if you wish to go to the Cotswolds with no automobile. You may see extra concerning the village in my itinerary for 3 days within the Cotswolds and my weblog submit a couple of Kingham round stroll.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in Kingham right here. I’ve stayed at The Kingham Plough and I find it irresistible. This lovely property is a historic pub with rooms. You may guide your keep right here.
21. Cookham, Berkshire
Cookham is one other of one of the best villages close to London. Proper on the Thames, this beautiful place is understood for its connections to Sir Stanley Spencer, one of many nice Twentieth-century British painters. Many guests come right here to go to the Stanley Spencer Gallery.
However there’s extra to the village than that. Cookham is dwelling to one of many oldest pubs in England, a church with Norman origins, and sweeping views from Winter Hill.
It’s additionally one of many websites the place the UK’s annual Swan Upping Ceremony takes place every summer time. For those who’re concerned about witnessing this historic custom, you may time your go to to coincide with it.
If this feels like your form of village, you may guide a spot to remain in Cookham right here. There’s a variety of motels to select from.
Map of Villages in Close to London
As promised, I created an interactive Google map of all of the villages on my checklist. Yow will discover it right here. For those who click on on the pins, you may see my related weblog posts about every one.
I’ve additionally revealed a Cotswolds map and a map of Cotswold villages. You would possibly discover them helpful in your planning, too.
Lovely Villages Close to London
I hope you’ve loved my checklist of lovely villages close to London and that you just’ve discovered some inspiration in your future British travels.
In order for you extra concepts, you may check out my weblog submit concerning the prettiest cities and villages in Britain. It consists of pretty locations like Rye.
For those who favor to remain nearer to the capital (or in it, somewhat), there are some nice villages in London you may discover. From Hampstead Village to Dulwich Village, Highgate Village to Greenwich Village, they’ll allow you to get your repair with out leaving town. Blissful travels!
Discover this submit useful? Purchase me a espresso!
New right here? Be part of 1000’s of others and subscribe to the A Woman in London weblog through e mail.
Among the hyperlinks on this weblog submit are affiliate hyperlinks. For free of charge to you, I earn a small fee once you click on on them and make a purchase order. It doesn’t have an effect on the best way you store, and it’s a good way to assist the A Woman in London weblog.
Pin it!