One of my favourite things about living near the Chilterns is discovering just how many beautiful country pubs there are tucked away in little villages, down winding lanes and beside some of the area’s best walking routes.
Some are perfect for a cosy Sunday roast, some are ideal for a drink after a long walk, and others are worth visiting simply for the setting and atmosphere.
We’ve gradually been working our way through some of the best pubs in and around the Chilterns, and these are 10 that are well worth adding to your list.
1. The Bricklayers Arms, Flaunden
The Bricklayers Arms is tucked away in the tiny Hertfordshire village of Flaunden and feels exactly how you want a traditional country pub to feel.
It’s an 18th-century inn with original oak beams, open fires and a cosy, relaxed atmosphere. The pub sits in the Chess Valley and serves seasonal British food, including Sunday roasts.
It has plenty of character without feeling overly formal, and it works just as well for a quiet drink as it does for a proper Sunday lunch.
The surrounding countryside also makes it a lovely place to stop before or after a walk around Flaunden and the Chess Valley.
Best for: Traditional village-pub atmosphere, Sunday lunch and cosy fires.
2. The Bedford Arms, Chenies
The Bedford Arms in Chenies has a slightly smarter country-house feel, but still manages to feel warm and welcoming.
The pub dates its history back to the 15th century and sits in the heart of Chenies, right on the Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire border. It serves seasonal British food and has 15 individually designed bedrooms, so it’s also a good option for a countryside overnight stay.
There’s a lovely garden for warmer days, while inside it has all the atmosphere you’d expect from an old country inn.
It’s also a great one to combine with a wander around Chenies or one of the nearby Chiltern walks.
Best for: A slightly smarter lunch, garden drinks and countryside stays.
3. The Alford Arms, Frithsden
Hidden away in the tiny hamlet of Frithsden, The Alford Arms feels wonderfully secluded.
The pub sits in a wooded valley close to Ashridge Forest, with the Chiltern Hills surrounding it, so it’s particularly popular with walkers. Its food menu changes regularly and focuses on seasonal local produce, while the bar serves ales from local breweries including Tring, Rebellion and Chiltern.
There’s also a heated terrace, and dogs are welcome in the bar, dining room and terrace.
This is a great option if you want somewhere that feels like a proper country pub but takes its food seriously too.
Best for: Lunch after an Ashridge walk, seasonal food and a relaxed foodie atmosphere.
4. The Royal Standard of England, Forty Green
The Royal Standard of England near Beaconsfield is probably one of the most memorable pubs on this list.
It’s tucked away in the village of Forty Green and has an extraordinary historic interior full of low ceilings, exposed timber, old floors, fireplaces and little nooks and crannies. CAMRA describes the interior as being of “very special national historic interest.”
The pub itself promotes a very long history, although some of its claims about being England’s oldest free house are disputed, so I’d go for the atmosphere rather than the title.
Either way, it feels wonderfully old-fashioned and is exactly the sort of place you’d take someone visiting the area for the first time.
Best for: History, atmosphere and a quintessentially English pub experience.
5. The Greyhound Inn, Aldbury
If you’re looking for a pub in a genuinely picture-perfect Chiltern village, The Greyhound Inn in Aldbury is a very good choice.
It sits beneath the National Trust’s Ashridge Estate in the centre of Aldbury and has a traditional interior, plenty of little corners and an outdoor terrace for warmer weather. The Ridgeway finishes close to the pub, making it particularly popular with walkers and cyclists.
Aldbury itself is worth visiting too, so this is a nice option for making an afternoon of it rather than simply driving somewhere for lunch.
Best for: Combining a pub lunch with Ashridge, Aldbury and a countryside walk.
6. The Full Moon, Hawridge & Cholesbury
The Full Moon sits between Hawridge and Cholesbury in a particularly rural part of the Chilterns.
It describes itself as a traditional countryside pub and is surrounded by popular walking, cycling and horse-riding routes. There’s a large garden, classic pub food and a dog-friendly interior.
It feels like a good all-round option: you can stop for a drink after a walk, have lunch with family, or sit outside when the weather behaves.
The setting is one of the main attractions, especially if you want somewhere that feels properly removed from town life.
Best for: Country walks, families and summer afternoons in the garden.
7. The Cock & Rabbit, The Lee
The Cock & Rabbit sits beside the village green in The Lee, near Great Missenden, and has everything you’d expect from a picturesque Chiltern pub.
There are open fires, a terrace, seasonal dishes and a mix of British classics and Mediterranean-inspired food. There’s even a café serving coffee and homemade cakes during the day.
The present pub was rebuilt and repositioned in 1907 as part of Arthur Lasenby Liberty’s redevelopment of the village green. It has also appeared numerous times in Midsomer Murders.
The Lee is a particularly pretty village, so it’s another pub that works nicely as part of a wider countryside day out.
Best for: A pretty village setting, Sunday lunch and Midsomer Murders fans.
8. The Stag & Huntsman, Hambleden
The Stag & Huntsman sits right in the middle of Hambleden, one of the prettiest villages in this part of the Chilterns.
It’s a food-led British pub with rooms, focusing on seasonal cooking, local ingredients and dishes cooked over an open fire.
The setting is a huge part of the appeal. Hambleden is surrounded by beautiful countryside, and the pub makes a very convenient base for walking around the area or exploring nearby Henley-on-Thames and Marlow.
Inside you’ll find the open fires and relaxed atmosphere you’d hope for from a village pub, while the food is a little more elevated than your average local.
Best for: Food, beautiful surroundings and making a whole day of exploring Hambleden.
9. The Bull & Butcher, Turville
Another wonderfully picturesque Chiltern village pub is The Bull & Butcher in Turville.
The building dates back to 1550 and has original oak beams, open fires and plenty of old-world character. Outside there’s a large beer garden and patio for warmer days.
Food focuses on British dishes using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients, with homemade pies being one of the pub’s specialities.
Turville itself is incredibly pretty, so this is another place where I’d recommend leaving some time to walk around rather than simply arriving for your booking and leaving afterwards.
Best for: Homemade pies, historic interiors and a classic Chiltern village setting.
10. The Queen’s Head, Chesham
If you want somewhere that feels a little more like a proper local than a destination gastropub, The Queen’s Head in Chesham is worth having on the list.
It sits in Old Chesham, making it a useful option if you’re looking for somewhere close to town rather than somewhere hidden away in the countryside. Unlike most traditional pub, it uniquely serves a selection of delicious Thai food, there is even a special noodle night where you can enjoy two noodle dishes for £20.
It’s particularly handy to have a few options like this alongside the more destination-style pubs on the list — somewhere you can simply pop into for a drink rather than feeling you need to make an entire afternoon of it.
Best for: A traditional local-pub feel and somewhere easy to visit from Chesham.
Which Chiltern pub should you visit first?
It really depends on what kind of day you’re looking for.
For somewhere cosy and traditional, The Bricklayers Arms is lovely.
If food is the main event, I’d look at The Alford Arms, The Stag & Huntsman or The Bull & Butcher.
For a beautiful village setting, The Greyhound in Aldbury, The Cock & Rabbit, The Stag & Huntsman and The Bull & Butcher are all particularly appealing.
And if you’re visiting with someone who loves historic pubs, The Royal Standard of England is definitely one to put on the list.