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Situated close to the beautiful Cotswold Lakes, Swindon is an urban town surrounded by picturesque North Wiltshire countryside and villages. For those seeking a quintessential English pub experience, the area offers a wealth of options whether you’re on holiday or a permanent Wiltshire resident! So if no matter if you’re looking for a cosy fireside pint or a sumptuous Sunday roast, these country pubs near Swindon have each been visited by our team and are all worth checking out.
The Plough on the Hill, Badbury
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A short 15-minute drive south of Swindon and just 1 minute from Junction 15 of the M4, The Plough on the Hill in Badbury is a 16th-century refurbished gastropub that exudes warmth, charm and character. With its plethora of hanging baskets outside and exposed Cotswold stone inside, this pub near Swindon offers an authentic country experience.
Food and Drink: The pub prides itself on its locally sourced ingredients and seasonal menu. Their Sunday roasts are particularly popular, featuring succulent meats and crispy Yorkshire puddings so it might be an idea to book ahead! The pub also offers a fine selection of real ales and an extensive wine list.
Atmosphere: The cosy interior features a roaring log fire in winter, while the spacious beer garden is perfect for summer evenings. Dogs are welcome in the bar area, making it an ideal stop after a countryside walk to Liddington Castle nearby
Booking: Reservations are recommended, especially for Sunday lunch.
Contact Details
Address: The Plough on the Hill, Marlborough Road, Badbury, near Swindon, Wiltshire, SN4 0EP
Website: https://theploughonthehill.com
Phone: 01793 740342
Email: ploughonthehill@outlook.com
The Royal Oak, Bishopstone
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Located in the charming Wiltshire village of Bishopstone about 15 minutes drive east of Swindon on the edge of the North Wessex Downs, The Royal Oak is a quirky yet classic gem with its own football field and organic farm. This 18th-century free house (with Arkells beer on tap) has been lovingly restored over the years to preserve its historic character. Popular with locals, we seriously recommend booking ahead!
Gastronomic Experience: The Royal Oak is renowned for its farm-to-table ethos, with much of the organic produce coming from their own kitchen garden and farm. The menu changes regularly to reflect the seasons, ensuring the freshest ingredients. You’ll find nothing pretentious here.
Unique Selling Point: The pub offers “Farm Safari” experiences, where guests can tour their farm and meet the animals before enjoying a meal and drink on their return.
Contact Details
Address: Cues Lane, Bishopstone, Swindon, Wiltshire SN6 8PP
Website: https://helenbrowningsorganic.co.uk/royal-oak
Phone: 01793 790481
Email: royaloak@helenbrowningorganics.co.uk
The Carpenter’s Arms, South Marston
Just a stone’s throw from Swindon (just off the A429 towards Oxford), The Carpenter’s Arms in South Marston offers visitors a warm welcome and hearty pub food. This dog friendly family-run establishment has been serving the local Swindon community since the 1840’s.
Menu Highlights: The pub is known for its generous portions and classic British dishes. Their scampi and chips and steak and ale pie are local favourites.
Community Focus: With its friendly staff, The Carpenter’s Arms hosts regular events, including quiz nights and live music making it a hub of local activity.
Contact Details
Address: Old Vicarage Lane, South Marston, Swindon, SN3 4ST
Website: https://www.carpentersarmsswindon.co.uk
Phone: 01793 822997
Email: thecarpentersarms1@gmail.com
The Wheatsheaf, Chilton Foliat
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Situated in the picturesque village of Chilton Foliat, this pub is about 25 minutes drive East of Swindon. The Wheatsheaf was established back in 1763 and with its thatched roof and recent restoration it has kept its timeless look over the years. It offers a friendly community feel to anyone coming to visit whether inside or out in the beer garden.
Culinary Approach: The Wheatsheaf takes pride in its field-to-fork philosophy, with much of the produce coming from their own kitchen garden and farm. The menu offers both classic and new dishes, reflecting what’s fresh and in season.
Unique Feature: This pub near Swindon offers regular events including, amongst others, an annual Pumpkin Carving competition!
Contact Details
Address: Chilton Foliat, Hungerford, RG17 0TE
Website: https://www.thewheatsheafchiltonfoliat.co.uk
Phone: 01488 680936
Email: hello@thewheatsheafchiltonfoliat.co.uk
The Bell at Ramsbury
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Located in the charming village of Ramsbury, about 20 minutes from Swindon, The Bell is a quintessential 300-year-old country pub with a modern twist. On our visit we found the staff to be extremely polite and could never do enough for us.
Drinks Selection: The Bell is part of the Ramsbury Estate, which produces its own gin, vodka and beer. This allows for a unique and local drinking experience.
Food Philosophy: The menu focuses on locally sourced ingredients, with many items coming from the Ramsbury Estate itself. Their Sunday roasts are particularly popular.
Contact Details
Address: The Square, Ramsbury, Marlborough, SN8 2PE
Website: https://thebellramsbury.com
Phone: 01672 520230
Email: thebell@ramsbury.com
The Bakers Arms, Badbury
Another gem in the village of Badbury, just 15 minutes from Swindon, The Bakers Arms is a traditional country pub with a contemporary feel. Though inside the village boundary it has a reasonably sized car park so it should never be a problem visiting by car unless it’s REALLY busy.
Culinary Offerings: The pub offers a mix of classic pub dishes and more adventurous options. Their locally famous fish and chips are a must-try.
Atmosphere: With its exposed beams and wood stoves, The Bakers Arms provides a traditional setting for a relaxed meal or drink for couples, families or groups of friends.
Contact Details
Address: Berricot Lane, Swindon, SN4 0EU
Website: https://www.bakersarmsbadbury.co.uk
Phone: 01793 740038
Email: bakers.badbury@gmail.com
The Riverside at Lechlade
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Situated on the banks of the river in the small town of Lechlade, about 30 minutes north of Swindon and the Wiltshire town of Highworth, The Riverside is an Arkells pub that offers beautiful views and a tranquil setting looking out over an “infant” River Thames.
Unique Selling Point: The pub has its own moorings, making it accessible by dinghy, canoe or boat. In summer, you can enjoy your meal on the riverside terrace. It can get VERY busy and somewhat loud on any sunny summer weekend (with divers jumping off the bridge into the river!) so if you prefer a quieter rural pub close to Swindon then this one might not be for you.
Menu Highlights: The Riverside specialises in fresh fish dishes, sourced from local suppliers. Their beer-battered fish and chips are particularly popular with the punters.
Contact Details
Address: The Riverside Park End Wharf, Lechlade, GL7 3AQ
Website: https://www.riverside-lechlade.com
Phone: 01367 252534
Email: theriverside.lechlade@arkells.com
The Trout Inn, St John’s Bridge near Lechlade
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The Trout Inn, located by St. John’s Bridge near Lechlade, is a charming English riverside pub that has been under the ownership of landlady, Penny Warren, for over 29 years. Sitting along the first lock on the River Thames (and just over the border in Gloucestershire), the pub offers a picturesque setting with a riverside garden, a large marquee for summer events and the seperate Creel bar for private functions. Inside, guests can enjoy the warmth of a roaring log fire during winter in a bar adorned with ancient wooden beams and stone floors.
Penny and her team focus on serving home-cooked traditional pub food made from locally sourced ingredients, ensuring all meat is fully traceable. They promise they’re not a gastropub, just a family run “proper pub” and that’s what we found. Their menu features a variety of dishes, including daily specials, and accommodates various dietary requirements. Alongside an excellent selection of real ales, ciders, wines and spirits, the Trout Inn actively supports the local community by providing facilities for local groups and charities. Particularly popular in summer, this country inn remains a beloved destination for those seeking an authentic pub experience by the river.
Contact Details
Address: St John’s Bridge, Faringdon Road, Lechlade, Gloucestershire, GL7 3HA
Website: https://www.thetroutinn.biz
Phone: 01367 252313
Email: thetroutinn@outlook.com
The Heart in Hand, Blunsdon
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The Heart in Hand pub can be found on the High Street of Blunsdon, near Swindon. It’s close to Swindon but sits in a rather delightful spot that captures the essence of a traditional British pub with its own welcoming charm. Ran by first time landlords, Darren & Claire Rule with help from their adult children, Harry and Emily, the pub provides an inviting atmosphere perfect for both Blunsdon locals and visitors.
This relatively small inn has a decent beer garden with marquee, Sky and BT Sports on a 75 inch TV as well as a really well stocked bar to boot! It’s also good to know the pub earns a VERY SOLID 5 stars on Tripadvisor, and we think that is quite a feat for any establishment to achieve!
Contact Details
Address: 43 High St, Blunsdon, Broad Blunsdon, Swindon, SN26 7AG
Website: https://www.heartinhandpub.com
Phone: 01793 721314
Email: None available
The Crown at Broad Hinton
Rounding off our list is The Crown at Broad Hinton, a charming 16th-century pub about 20 minutes from Swindon, just off the A361 south to Devises.
Atmosphere: With its low beamed ceilings and inglenook fireplace, The Crown offers an authentic country pub experience.
Food and Drink: The pub serves a range of local ales and a menu of classic pub dishes and meals from the special board with a modern twist. Their Sunday roasts are highly recommended by our team.
Contact Details
Address: Broad Hinton, Swindon, SN4 9PA
Website: https://crownatbroadhinton.co.uk
Phone: 01793 731302
Email: thecrownbroadhinton@outlook.com
Whether you’re a local looking for a new watering hole or you’re a visitor on holiday exploring the Wiltshire landscape, these beautiful pubs near Swindon offer something for everyone. From very decent dining experiences to cosy locals’ favourites, each pub we’ve listed above offers its own unique charm and character.
So why not take a drive out to the North Wiltshire countryside and discover these hidden pub gems for yourself? Just remember to book ahead, especially for Sunday lunch, to avoid disappointment.
