Britain’s most delicious destinations for a foodie break
From Lincolnshire sausages and Cromer crabs, to hand-dived scallops and timeless afternoon tea, the UK has a lot to offer when it comes to food and drink.
We’re always looking forward to our next UK break, and exploring the country’s best foodie destinations is a wonderful way to spend a getaway. On a food holiday in Britain you can enjoy long walks through lush woodlands, or an urban adventure exploring the culture of our exciting cities, before balancing it out with hours tucked away in cosy pubs and inviting restaurants refuelling with delicious local dishes.
To help you find the right gourmet escape for you, we’ve delved deep into some of the best UK foodie destinations to visit this year, the ones with Michelin-starred restaurants, renowned pubs, organic gardens and vineyards - and even crab shacks on the beach.
Somerset and Dorset
Apples are at the heart of West Country food and drink; think sharp ciders, cinnamon-spiced apple cakes, pork with apple sauce, pumpkin and apple soups.
Not to mention cheese: Cheddar originates from - you guessed it - Cheddar, in Somerset. Wookey Hole sells its own special cave-aged farmhouse Cheddar, matured 200 feet underground in the Mendip Hills. Then there’s the 300-year-old recipe for Dorset’s creamy Blue Vinny cheese.
In large part due to the River Cottage series, neighbouring Dorset's Jurassic Coast attracts foodies from all over. The Hive Beach Cafe in Bridport, for example, is known for its fresh lobster, legendary crab sandwiches and ice-cream sundaes served at the Beach Hut.
A 10-minute drive from popular Lyme Regis, lies the River Cottage estate, made famous by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall over 20 years ago. River Cottage changed the culinary landscape in the UK, encouraging concern for food provenance and interest in foraging and organic farming.
Another place you can be sure to indulge in the most mouthwatering of local Devonshire produce is the restaurant at Plumber Manor Country House. Surrounded by farms, shoots and close to the sea, this hotel's restaurant was sourcing its food locally well before it became trendy.
Try the guinea fowl with leeks, tarragon and mushroom sauce, or the lamb with rosemary, celeriac purée and redcurrant jus. You can stay at Plumber Manor from £210 per night, and enjoy the rolling Devon countryside on your doorstep.
Oxfordshire
One of Oxfordshire’s most famous places to dine is undoubtedly Michelin-starred chef Raymond Blanc’s Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons. An idyllic lavender-lined path leads to the honey-stone Oxfordshire manor - the stage for Raymond’s cooking school, apple orchard and kitchen gardens, designer hotel and two-Michelin-starred restaurant.
The menu, which features organic ingredients from the manor’s grounds, has been designed with 'a twist of imaginative genius' from its creator. Book a table at the celebrated restaurant for a special six or seven-course menu, request the standalone vegetarian and vegan menu, or even stay the night in one of the beautifully designed rooms.
Closer to Oxford but in a small town by the Thames, Voco Oxford Thames offers distinctive dining. From chilli jam ploughman's to confit duck with spring vegetables and saffron sauce, its Crusader’s Bar has it all.
And it’s not just the all-day dining and flavourful local ingredients we come for; the restaurant is set in a stunning renovated barn, with stripped back bare-brick walls, contrasting bright modern artwork and colourful cushions dotted on cosy velvet sofas. The clash of ancient and modern gives the restaurant a quirky, exciting atmosphere.
You could either pop in for crab cakes, chicken wings or beer-battered haddock
after a walk in Hayford Meadow or Bagley Wood nearby or in the Chilterns; or spend the night here in one of the art-inspired rooms. You’ll rise to the sound of church bells and ducks, and you can order breakfast straight to your bed.
If vegan food is your thing, look no further than Oxfordshire's original vegan Indian bar and restaurant, Delhish Vegan Kitchen in Bicester. After home cook turned full-time chef Jaya found her pop-up food stalls in Summertown and Headington markets were drawing crowds from all over Oxford, she decided to start a full-time restaurant, offering vegan-friendly, gluten free and allergen-free dishes.
Hebrides
Scotland is renowned worldwide for its food. Its seafood is particularly mouth-watering, with must-try dishes like smoked salmon and scampi, made from the meaty tails of Scotland’s famous langoustines.
The beautifully rugged archipelago of the Hebrides off the coast of northwest of Scotland is one of the top destinations for any seafood lover visiting Scotland for a foodie break.
Surrounded on all sides by the pristine waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Hebrides have a vast array of fresher-than-fresh seafood which is caught off the islands’ shores and brought into pretty harbour towns across the isles.
These choppy waters offer up delicacies like Hebridean salmon, hand-dived scallops, crab, lobster and a variety of fresh fish. You’re sure to find amazing dishes on almost every isle, whether in high-end restaurants or simple seafront shacks.
One standout is award-winning Creel Seafood Bar on the Isle of Mull, where you can tuck into a platter of juicy mussels and scallops while admiring the views of Fionnphort.
Of course, no trip to Scotland is complete without sampling Scotch whisky, another of the country’s most famous exports. And the Hebrides are not an exception.
You can visit the Hebrides and sample some of their culinary delights on Good Housekeeping’s 11-day cruise. You’ll visit several of the islands, with time to explore the variety of restaurants and eateries, and with a trip to Islay included.
Lake District
The Lake District doesn’t just boast stars in its skies; they’re also to be found on your plate at one of the region’s eight Michelin-starred restaurants.
This year, L’Enclume in Cartmel became the eighth three-star Michelin-starred restaurant in the Lakes. With its exciting menu influenced by the constant changing of the seasons, the kitchen sources much of its produce from chef Simon Rogan's own farm, where they can be carefully picked and harvested in their prime.
Another is to be found at Henrock, Simon Rogan’s elegant dining spot at Linthwaite House, near Bowness. Wines are stiffly priced but many are from small, interesting producers plus there's a great selection by the glass perfect for experimenting.
Spend the night here or save the pennies at Honeypot Cottage holiday home, with mountain views and characterful dry stone walls. For a mid-range option, with some top-end designer bedrooms and luxurious hot tub suites, go for Applegarth Villa on Windermere.
A little more down-to-earth and located in the less popular south-eastern fringes of the Lake District, The Punch Bowl has found itself a keen following thanks to its award-winning food and charming rustic atmosphere.
We love having a choice of eating areas: the smart dining-room with white cloths and candles, the cosy snug by the bar, or the more casual spot by the wood-burning stove. Plus, in the summer there’s the lovely candlelit terrace.
If you’re a fan of fine ales, there's one place to know about in the Lake District: the Hawkshead Brewery. Their taproom and restaurant, The Beer Hall, serves pork pies, Scotch eggs, and sausage rolls along with the popular Hawkshead Bitter and a range of other craft beers.
Relish your time here: the historic village of Hawkshead is home to the Hawkshead Relish Company, which still runs a small village shop and has boomed into a large business supplying a number of supermarkets with saucy magic.
Although it’s located on the very edge of the Lake District, in the less-touristy Howgills, it would be a sin not to mention The Black Bull. This family-run restaurant and hotel just 25 minutes from Kendal has a contemporary, forward-thinking feel.
The Black Bull’s head chef and co-owner, Nina Matsunaga, has German and Japanese heritage and her husband James Ratcliffe was born and raised in Cumbria.
Together they source local producers within 20 miles of Sedbergh and introduce global flavours to their dishes. You can even buy artisan and farm-reared produce from across the north of England at their sister business, Three Hares Deli.
Lincolnshire
You’ll have heard of Lincolnshire sausages, the traditional, juicy and chunky sausages with a distinctive taste enhanced by sage, parsley and thyme. But there’s a lot more to Lincolnshire's cuisine than the meaty treat.
Lincolnshire is blessed with rich and fertile soil, and grows and rears a vast array of produce. In fact, one fifth of all the food grown in the UK is grown in this beautiful county. So it comes as no surprise that Lincolnshire is renowned for its traditional dishes and fresh flavoursome food.
Aside from its celebrated herby pork sausage, gourmand guests might want to try Lincolnshire Poacher Cheese, an award-winning and thoroughly delicious handmade cheese made from the unpasteurised milk of Holstein Fresian cows.
If your tastebuds are tingling at the thought of a visit, you can book an overnight stay at The Petwood with Good Housekeeping's fantastic offer and enjoy a break at one of Lincolnshire's most celebrated gourmet stays. It has a rich history too, having once been home to famous RAF squadron, The Dambusters.
Whether enjoying an excellent Sunday Lunch or candlelit evening meals, residents and locals alike love to dine here. The chefs create beautifully presented, flavourful dishes celebrating Lincolnshire's rural heritage.
Our exclusive offer includes a mouth-watering seven-course tasting menu, so you can enjoy the best of The Petwood's fantastic cuisine. You'll eat in the atmospheric Squadron Bar, where the Dambusters used to dine, and enjoy a pre-dinner drink and a personal greeting from the chef during your dinner.
Norfolk
Food and drink is a highlight of any Norfolk getaway. With its rich agricultural heritage and long coastline, the county is packed with gastro pubs, independent delis, microbreweries, and restaurants with carefully designed menus which make the most of fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.
Cromer crab is probably Norfolk’s most famous delicacy, and is enjoyed by seafood lovers around the country. Of course, these flavoursome and tender meaty crabs are best enjoyed when they’re fresh out of the chilly, nutrient-rich North Sea waters off the Norfolk coast.
This celebrated crab is named after the picturesque village of Cromer, so head here to eat them as fresh as they get, as the locals do, with a simple squeeze of lemon and some black pepper.
Fans of beer will also feel at home in Norfolk, due to its many superb gastro pubs and microbreweries. Norfolk has a rich history when it comes to beer – for centuries it produced world-famous malt from local maltings and was home to hundreds of brewers. The climate conditions in the region are perfect for growing malt barley, with sandy soil over chalk and mild winters creating unique delicate flavours.
Food and drink enthusiasts can explore Norfolk on a five-day trip with Good Housekeeping. This special itinerary includes a day hosted by beloved chef Delia Smith for a full day at her Food and Wine Workshop. You'll also be joined here by chef Alex Mackay and wine expert, Jason Banner.
Your fun-packed food and drink experience will include a three-course lunch with wine tasting, a cooking demonstration with Alex, cocktail masterclass and a special Q&A session with Delia. You'll also dine at Delia's Restaurant and Bar where it's all about seasonal menus that put the emphasis on local produce and at Yellows Bar and Grill, which serves some of the best burgers in Norfolk.
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London
Our energetic and culture-rich capital has so much to offer, including a jaw-dropping variety of food options, from fine dining to undiscovered local gems and market stall food of the highest quality.
London culture is enriched by its multiculturalism, and this is true of its food scene too. You can try cuisines from all over the world here, whether from East Asian dishes in cobble-stoned Chinatown to Turkish dishes on north London’ Green Lanes, and many more in between.
Of course, the city’s food markets are famous markets too, with Borough Market by London Bridge being a long-standing favourite with aspiring chefs, and the trendy east London Broadway Market being a great place to pick up a bite for lunch.
Richmond is one of London’s hot-spots for food lovers. This elegant yet homely riverside town in the southwest of the city has a range of fine dining options, including the contemporary European fare at the Green Michelin Starred Petersham Nurseries Café and the restaurant at Richmond Hill Hotel, 114 On the Hill.
You can sample the seasonal dishes at this AA Rosette restaurant during a stay at the hotel with Good Housekeeping's exclusive offer, which includes a dinner allocation and delectable afternoon tea.
Love a foodie break? Browse Good Housekeeping's selection of gourmet escapes at home and abroad.
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