Today I want to share my guide to the most beautiful villages near London. The English countryside is the stuff of dreams, and it’s worth a special trip to see the highlights. From Kent to Surrey, Sussex, and the Cotswolds, there are fairy-tale villages in easy driving, train, and tour distance of the UK capital. Read on for my top picks. I’ve included a map, too.
Villages Near London
It’s hard to make a list of the best villages near London because there are so many of them. In fact, the whole of the English countryside is pretty. Some of the best places to visit in the UK are here.
From rolling hills to fluffy sheep, this green and pleasant land feels like something straight out of a storybook. But since it’s real and since I’ve set myself the task of making a list of some of the prettiest villages in England, I’m going to do my best.
Whether you’re looking for places with idyllic thatched-roof cottages, destinations for country breaks near London, or fun ideas for day trips from London by train or car, there’s a village you’ll love.
1. Shere, Surrey
Down in Surrey, Shere is one of the most beautiful villages near London. With streets packed full of heritage buildings and a pretty pond full of ducks, this place has all the ingredients for a rural idyll.
Picture-pretty Shere is famous for being a filming location for The Holiday and the Bridget Jones movies. In fact, the church in the village was used in multiple Bridget Jones films.
The streets of Shere are everything one could dream of in an English country village, and pubs like the White Horse have historic interiors worthy of a leisurely Sunday lunch.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay near Shere here. There’s a variety of options to choose from, including hotels and pubs with rooms.
2. Castle Combe, Wiltshire
Next on my list of the best villages near London is Castle Combe. With its chocolate-box high street, picturesque side streets, and shops with teapot signs overhead, it has everything one could want in one place.
Castle Combe is one of the best villages in Wiltshire to explore, not least because of its picture-pretty houses and bridge over the By Brook river.
This quintessential village in the Cotswolds will get you dreaming about England. It makes a great day trip from London by car or overnight trip to Bath and the Cotswolds. You can also take a day tour from London to see Castle Combe. You can book one here.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can reserve a place to stay in Castle Combe here. The most famous is The Manor House. It’s a real treat to call this hotel home-away-from-home. You can book your room here.
3. Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire
Great Missenden is next on my list of the most beautiful villages near London. This place is famous for its Roald Dahl connections.
The famous children’s book author lived in the village for 36 years, and today there’s a museum dedicated to him in the heart of town.
But there’s more to see in the village beyond the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre. The High Street and Church Street are both lined with historic facades and listed buildings.
Given the village is in the Chiltern Hills, there are lots of great walks and places to explore in nature around here, too. From Angling Spring Wood to Abbey Park, there’s no shortage of options.
This place is also accessible from London by direct train, so it’s an easy trip if you don’t have a car. I’ve done it before and I really enjoyed it.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in Great Missenden here. There’s a range of options to choose from, including hotels, cottages, and inns.
4. Bray, Berkshire
Next on my list of the best villages near London is Bray. This beautiful place in Berkshire is so close to London you can take the Elizabeth Line (plus a short taxi ride) to get here.
Once in town, there are some exciting things to do in Bray. The village streets are packed with picturesque cottages, and the riverfront scenery on the Thames is beautiful. There are great walks you can do here, too.
But let’s be honest. Most people come here for the food. Bray is known for its Michelin-starred restaurants and pubs. From The Fat Duck to the Waterside Inn, it has more stars than many major cities.
It’s easy to come here for a half-day trip from London to walk around the village and enjoy lunch at one of the restaurants or pubs.
But it’s worth staying a night to experience a couple of the famous places to eat here (and explore the streets). You can see why on my guide to spending 24 hours in Bray.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in Bray here. There’s a range of options to choose from, including hotels, cottages, and restaurants with rooms.
5. Painswick, Gloucestershire
Back in the Cotswolds, Painswick is another of the most beautiful villages in England. With its pretty stone buildings and larger-than-life topiary trees, this place is bursting with beauty.
There are fun things to do in Painswick, too. The streets are full of heritage details, and the Painswick Rococo Garden is a stunning 18th-century number in a hidden valley with views across the English countryside.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in Painswick here. There’s a variety of options to choose from, including hotels and B&Bs.
6. Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire
In Buckinghamshire, Amersham is another of the best villages near London. Just outside the UK capital, this place is so close to the city you can reach it on the tube.
Amersham is famous for the historic houses and buildings on the high street in Old Amersham. It’s also known for country walks, as it’s located in the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
This is a fun place to visit if you want an easy half day trip from London with as little time in transit as possible.
If you want to extend your stay and live like a local, you can book a place to stay in Amersham here. There’s a variety of options to choose from, including historic hotels and inns.
7. Lacock, Wiltshire
Back in Wiltshire, Lacock is another of the most beautiful villages near London. Lacock is close to Castle Combe, and it’s famous for being a filming location for everything from the Harry Potter movies to Downton Abbey.
This beautiful village in the English countryside is brimming with yellow stone buildings and picturesque roadside stands with baked goods and bunting. Photogenic shopfronts with bicycles outside round out the scene.
This place is also home to the 13th-century Lacock Abbey. It has stunning medieval cloisters and a museum dedicated to the history of photography.
You can reach the village by car, or you can take a day tour from London to see Lacock and other famous places in the area. If the latter appeals, you can book the tour I recommend here.
If you want to stay a night, you can reserve a place to stay in Lacock here. There’s a range of options to choose from, including inns and B&Bs.
8. East Meon, Hampshire
Out in Hampshire, East Meon is another of the best country villages near London.
This idyllic spot has a river meandering through its heart. Thatched-roof cottages and pink facades make it a fairy tale lover’s dream.
Cheerful hollyhocks bloom on the waterfront in the warmer months, and red post boxes are set into by brick walls in true storybook fashion.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in East Meon here. There’s a variety of options to choose from, including lodges and guesthouses.
9. Bibury, Gloucestershire
Home of the most photographed street in the Cotswolds (that’s Arlington Row if you don’t know), Bibury sits on the banks of the River Coln. William Morris once called it ‘the most beautiful village in England’, and he could be right.
Arlington Row features 17th-century weavers’ cottages that attract photographers from all over the world. A historic village pub called The Catherine Wheel is the perfect place for a drink, too.
This English village is also home to a water meadow called Rack Isle. It’s an important wildlife habitat in the Cotswolds.
Bibury features a trout farm, too. Established in the early 20th century by naturalist Arthur Severn, it stocks local rivers and streams with native brown trout.
You can get here by car, or you can easily visit Bibury on a guided Cotwolds day tour. You can book the one I recommend here.
If you want to stay a night, you can reserve a place to stay in Bibury here. There’s a range of options to choose from, including hotels, houses, and B&Bs.
10. Burnham Market, Norfolk
Up in North Norfolk, Burnham Market deserves a place on my list of beautiful villages near London. Often referred to as Chelsea-on-Sea, the central green in this well-heeled place is surrounded by pretty buildings and cafes.
With great shopping, lively pubs and restaurants, and access to nearby coastal gems like Holkham Beach, Burnham Market is the perfect place to spend a weekend in Norfolk.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in Burnham Market here. I’ve spent a weekend at The Hoste and I loved the rooms, pub, spa, and restaurant. You can book a room here.
11. Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire
Back in the Cotswolds, Upper Slaughter is another of the best villages near London. This place wins hearts with its pretty stone cottages and idyllic surroundings.
The village lies on a slope above a stream, and it’s known for its 15th-century manor house, attractive medieval almshouses, and historic St Peter’s Church.
Upper Slaughter and its neighbor, Lower Slaughter, are some of the most beautiful places in England. They’re great to visit on a Cotswolds day trip.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in Upper Slaughter here. The most exciting is Lords of the Manor. This famous country house hotel is straight out of a fairy tale. You can book your room here.
12. Bampton, Oxfordshire
Situated between Oxford and the Cotswolds, Bampton is another of the most beautiful villages near London. This place has thatched-roof cottages, a historic church, and charming local pubs.
Bampton’s pretty streets have great details to discover, and the Church of St Mary the Virgin was used as a filming location for many scenes from Downton Abbey.
It’s easy to discover Bampton on a day trip from London by car. You can also take a guided day tour of Oxford and the Cotswolds or a Downtown Abbey tour to see it. You can book one here.
If you want to stay longer, you can reserve a place to stay in Bampton here. There’s a range of options to choose from, including hotels and inns.
13. Chilham, Kent
Next on my list of the prettiest villages near London is Chilham. Not far from Canterbury, this place is known for its chocolate-box streets and heritage buildings.
Chilham sits in the Kent Downs above the valley of the River Stour. It features steep, narrow lanes and a pretty square. There’s also a castle here.
You can visit Chilham independently by car or on a guided tour from London. You can book the tour I recommend here. It includes stops in famous places like Canterbury and Dover.
If you want to stay a night, you can reserve a place to stay in Chilham here. There’s a variety of options to choose from, including B&Bs and inns.
14. Sapperton, Gloucestershire
Next on my list of the best villages near London is Sapperton. This is one of my favorite places in the Cotswolds for a number of reasons.
The village is full of pretty houses, many of which feature Arts and Crafts architecture. Some of the most famous architect-designers of the movement lived here and are buried in the churchyard.
Speaking of which, St Kenelm’s Church is worth popping into for its historic interiors. There’s also a village hall, which is across the street from The Bell at Sapperton pub. Speaking of the pub, it’s fun to have a drink in the atmospheric surroundings.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in Sapperton here. There’s a range of options to choose from, including hotels and pubs with rooms.
15. Brockenhurst, Hampshire
Back in Hampshire, another of the prettiest villages near London is Brockenhurst. Located in the New Forest, it’s been called ‘Britain’s Most Beautiful Place to Live’.
Brockenhurst is home to a high street full of shops, pubs, cafes, and restaurants. It’s easy to stop here on a New Forest day trip, or make a longer journey of it.
There are famous restaurants nearby, too. And that’s to say nothing of surrounding villages like Beaulieu and Lyndhurst.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in Brockenhurst here. There’s a wide variety of options to choose from, including hotels, inns, and apartments.
16. Aylesford, Kent
Next on my list of the most beautiful villages near London is Aylesford. Situated in the heart of the countryside, this is one of the best places to visit in Kent.
Aylesford sits on the River Medway not far from Maidstone. The heart of the village is home to beautiful historic houses, shops, and pubs. It’s a treat to wander around and take in the views here.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in Aylesford here. There’s a range of options to choose from, including guesthouses and apartments.
17. Ashwell, Hertfordshire
Ashwell is another of the best villages near London. This picture-pretty place is known for its half-timbered facades, museum, pubs, and heritage buildings. It’s also right by the Icknield Way, so it’s a great place for country walks.
The 14th-century Church of St Mary the Virgin is renowned for its tower and the Medieval graffiti on its walls. There are also springs in the village that make up one of the sources of the River Cam (it’s the one that runs through Cambridge).
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in Ashwell here. There’s a variety of options to choose from, including hotels and B&Bs.
18. West Chiltington, West Sussex
Next on my list of the best villages near London is West Chiltington. With pretty houses and country pubs with sunny gardens, this place is a treat to visit.
The village is surrounded by fields full of cows and gentle hills with some of the best vineyards near London. Idyllic cottages round out the scene.
There are great walks you can do while you’re here, too. I’ve done a fun circular walk in West Sussex that started in West Chiltington and took me alongside ponds and through fairy-tale woods adorned with flowers.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in West Chiltington here. There’s a range of options to choose from, including lodges and homes.
19. Lavenham, Suffolk
Another of the best villages near London is Lavenham. This place was one of the wealthiest settlements in England in the Medieval period.
Today Lavenham numbers among the best-preserved Medieval villages in England. So much so that it was used as a filming location for one of the Harry Potter movies.
Lavenham is known for its eye-catching historic buildings. From the Guildhall to Little Hall, the 15th-century church, and the half-timbered medieval cottages, there’s a lot to love about this place. There are also great country walks you can take from here.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in Lavenham here. There’s a wide variety of options to choose from, including hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs.
20. Kingham, Oxfordshire
Kingham is another of my favorite villages near London. From topiary hedges to Cotswold stone cottages, this prettiest of villages is picturesque in every way.
It’s fun to explore the village streets and take walks in the area to soak up the fields and flowers. You can even walk to Daylesford Organic Farm in Gloucestershire. It’s a luxurious complex with shops, restaurants, and a garden center.
Additionally, Kingham has a village shop to browse, the historic St Andrew’s Church to admire, and atmospheric pubs to eat and stay in.
Kingham is easily accessible by train from London, so it’s a great place to go if you want to visit the Cotswolds without a car. You can see more about the village in my itinerary for 3 days in the Cotswolds.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in Kingham here. I’ve stayed at The Kingham Plough and I love it. This beautiful property is a historic pub with rooms. You can book your stay here.
21. Cookham, Berkshire
Cookham is another of the best villages near London. Right on the Thames, this pretty place is known for its connections to Sir Stanley Spencer, one of the great 20th-century British painters. Many visitors come here to visit the Stanley Spencer Gallery.
But there’s more to the village than that. Cookham is home to one of the oldest pubs in England, a church with Norman origins, and sweeping views from Winter Hill.
It’s also one of the sites where the UK’s annual Swan Upping Ceremony takes place each summer. If you’re interested in witnessing this historic tradition, you can time your visit to coincide with it.
If this sounds like your kind of village, you can book a place to stay in Cookham here. There’s a range of hotels to choose from.
Map of Villages in Near London
Beautiful Villages Near London
I hope you’ve enjoyed my list of beautiful villages near London and that you’ve found some inspiration for your future British travels.
If you want more ideas, you can take a look at my blog post about the prettiest towns and villages in Britain. It includes lovely places like Rye.
If you prefer to stay closer to the capital (or in it, rather), there are some great villages in London you can explore. From Hampstead Village to Dulwich Village, Highgate Village to Greenwich Village, they’ll let you get your fix without leaving the city. Happy travels!
Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!
New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email.
Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links. At no cost to you, I earn a small commission when you click on them and make a purchase. It doesn’t affect the way you shop, and it’s a great way to support the A Lady in London blog.
Pin it!