Whether you are looking to book Christmas lunch for your office party, or girls’ lunch out or perhaps you have decided to take the hassle out of Christmas and eat out on the big day, there are so many great options for you in the Cotswolds, from beautiful restaurants to cosy pub lunches. We look at some of the best places to visit with the most Christmassy of atmospheres and the most amazing food in the Cotswolds.

The Wheatsheaf Inn, Northleach

The Wheatsheaf is a beautiful, honey-coloured seventeenth-century coaching inn clad in Virginia Creeper nestled in the Cotswolds hills in the historic market town of Northleach. The Inn is incredibly cosy and would be the perfect spot for a Christmas lunch with lovely attention to detail and beautiful decor.

The menus are all about great quality, locally sourced, simple rustic food and we can tell you from experience that the food is REALLY good. Their Christmas menu has been carefully selected to showcase the best seasonal festive ingredients sourced & gathered locally wherever possible, but always from British lands and shores.

Also, check out their website for a secret mulled wine recipe that will warm you up on those chilly winter days.

The Inn at Fossebridge

Located in the gorgeous hamlet of Fossebridge where the Fosse Way drops into the Cotswold Valley of the River Coln, The Inn at Fossebridge would be a beautiful spot for Christmas lunch. During the winter months, you could go for a nice walk around the lake before heading inside for mulled wine by the roaring fire. Christmas Day lunch will include a glass of champagne on arrival followed by a four-course lunch, plus coffee and baby mince pies.

If you’d like to make the Cotswolds your home for a few nights over the festive period then The Inn at Fossebridge also has some lovely rooms.

The Slaughters Country Inn

Set in the heart of one of the most picturesque Cotswold villages, The Slaughters Country Inn offers the authentic charm of a traditional village inn; exceptional food, a wonderful selection of local ales, cosy roaring log fires and a stunning terrace if you fancy wrapping up warm and getting some fresh air. Pack your wellies and head to The Slaughter Country Inn for a beautiful countryside breakaway.

Christmas lunch here is all about good food, fine wines, local ales and roaring log fires – all the authentic charm of a quintessential country inn at Christmas, and we think you’ll find it a lovely and very festive spot.

The Lion Inn, Winchcombe

In the gorgeous, Cotswold town of Winchcombe, you’ll find The Lion, a cosy pub and restaurant with a lovely roaring log fire, a great selection of drinks and a really beautiful menu. The Lion also boasts some gorgeous rooms to book into so that you can enjoy your Christmas lunch in the knowledge that you are staying on site.

Whether you’re looking for a festive retreat, a Christmas party stopover, a delicious feast for friends and colleagues or an intimate family get-together, celebrating the festive season in this 15th-century coaching inn, nestled deep within The Cotswolds will be a total treat. Christmas Day itself means relaxing and leaving the cooking to somebody else and here at The Lion, your decadent Christmas lunch will begin with homemade sourdough and cultured butter, and continue with a starter like house-smoked salmon or roasted quail, before moving onto the main event of turkey with all the trimmings, or any of the other traditional options.

The Feathered Nest, Nether Westcote

Set in the picturesque village of Nether Westcote, The Feathered Nest Country Inn has beautiful views over the Evenlode Valley and it’s just a few miles from Kingham station which has links to Paddington. Originally an old Malthouse, this gorgeous country pub is a warm, cosy and welcoming place to spend time and would be a really lovely spot for Christmas lunch. Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality at The Feathered Nest Inn. Expect roaring log fires and soft candlelight and enjoy a local ale. Soak up the cosy atmosphere and enjoy tempting dishes created by the Chef in the Cotswolds restaurant.