The Cotswolds Part 1 - The Falkland Arms - STACIE FLINNER

Stacie Flinner Best Cotswold Pubs with Rooms The Faulkland Arms -12.jpg

David and I try to get back to England at least once a year, so this past September we planned a week long trip to the Cotswolds. We’ve been to this beautiful area many times as it’s just over an hours drive from Heathrow Airport, and about 90 minutes from London which makes for a very easy hop from the east coast. While London is always exciting, we find the English countryside incredibly relaxing and often prefer to explore the more rural parts of the country over the bigger cities. For this trip we decided to book stays at a handful of pubs with rooms instead of seeking out our usual country house hotels, as they're extra cozy in the fall and winter months.

David initially discovered our first pub, the Falkland Arms, on a lark on a past trip. I was in Suffolk for a weekend pheasant hunt with another friend, and he surprised me by flying to England to pick up an anniversary present from one of my favorite antique shops at Christopher Clarke in Stow-on-the-Wold, tacking on a few extra days for the two of us at the end of the trip. I met up with David at the Falkland Arms after the hunt, and was charmed by the pub's low hanging ceilings covered with mugs, roaring fire and groups of locals sharing a pint at the low tables with their dogs curled at their feet. The Falkland Arms is in a small village with one other restaurant, and a couple of nice country walks - the perfect low- key spot to get over jet lag upon arriving in England. (Soho Farmhouse is also about a mile down the road if you want a more modern/bougie stay!)

As we drove up, the Falkland Arms was just as charming as we remembered, but we also noticed a new (?) restaurant had popped up in town since our last visit called Quince and Clover. I love following Cotswolds-based YouTuber Josie's daily life, and instantly recognized the restaurant as one of her favorites. We stopped in for a simple lunch while we waited for our room to be ready, grabbing seats at the large communal table outside. Everything we ordered was so delicious and fresh, I'd highly recommend a meal if you're in the area! After lunch we put our luggage in our room, showered from the flight then set out on one of the country walks recommended by the Falkland Arms. Country walks are one of the top reasons we love the English countryside and it’s a great way to stretch your legs after an overnight flight. We ended up walking about 2-3 miles before circling up back to the pub, which had filled with locals gathering for a pint after work. The charming dining area is perfect for a meal by the fire. The food is just ok (we ordered pie and chips) but the ambiance is everything you’d hope for in a 17th century pub.

The next morning we each ordered a full English breakfast to get us started for the day, making friends with the 6 month old puppy at the neighboring table. We packed up and just had to stop by Quince and Clover one more time for tea and scones (divine) followed by another brisk walk along the second route recommended by the Falkland Arms before heading to our next destination. The village of Great Tew is small, so a one night stay is the perfect taste of this beautiful area.

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