The Highway Inn

The Highway Inn

Overview

Set in the centre of Burford in Oxfordshire’s Cotswolds, The Highway Inn combines the friendliness of a traditional coaching inn with modern comforts and a newly invigorated culinary focus. With its thick-stone 15th-century walls, timber beams and roaring fires, this is the kind of destination that suits food-loving couples or small groups in search of a gourmet weekend break with history and a proper English market town feel. The Highway Inn provides both the accommodation and an inviting, all-day restaurant under one roof, making it ideal for those after a hassle-free escape to one of England's prettiest rural areas.

Eat

The Highway Inn’s restaurant, offering a relaxed yet polished gastropub atmosphere, has a reputation for generous, boldly flavoured British classics alongside stand-out Mediterranean dishes. Since its recent refurbishment, the culinary direction has sharpened: menus now emphasise seasonal regional sourcing, Cotswolds game, artisan cheeses and local vegetables. Dishes such as slow-cooked lamb shoulder and grilled fish with herby salsa verde share the spotlight with grilled sourdough, vibrant tapas plates and moreish desserts. Sunday roasts are a highlight, drawing locals and visitors alike. The restaurant is open for breakfast, hearty lunches, afternoon teas and lively dinners, with a well-chosen wine and ale list amplifying the country inn vibe. Service strikes a happy balance between attentive and unpretentious.

Sleep

The Highway Inn features 11 individually styled guest rooms that embrace the building’s period bones – expect rustic beams, rich fabrics, antique-inspired furnishings and thoughtful comforts. Some rooms come with market square views or feature statement roll-top baths, all with modern en-suite bathrooms and king- or super king-size beds. Well-equipped and welcoming, rooms have that classic Cotswold blend of snug character and boutique-hotel crispness, appealing to couples, walkers and weekenders after a touch of indulgence. Dog-friendly rooms are available on request.

Retreat

A break at The Highway Inn is best spent alternating between chilling in the stonewalled dining rooms, sipping local ales at the bar, or exploring Burford’s hilly High Street lined with galleries and independent shops. Stroll to the Tolsey Museum or head out for longer rambles along the Windrush Valley. Nearby, the Cotswold Wildlife Park is ten minutes by car, while Oxford is an easy 30-minute drive for culture and additional dining. From London, Burford is around 80 miles or two hours’ drive—a doable Friday night escape. After dark, sip a whisky beside an open fire or plan another day exploring the area’s villages and rolling countryside. Parking is available on site, rounding off the carefree Cotswolds experience.