The London Lounge

Greetings All -

Work may be taking me to London for 6-18 months. During the week I will be staying at my club. On the weekends, I'd love to escape to a pub with lodgings no more than and hour or so train trip from London. Pubs can be great weekend bolt-holds. Something ancient with great character. Tweed suit with a good pair of brogues for country walks. I'd love to find a perfect place to return every weekend - I am very much a creature of habit.

Cheers, st.t.

Dear St. Tully,

check this site: www.johansens.com. Some place are posh, some very charming and down to earth.

Cheers, and have a good stay in town,
David

Lavenham in Suffolk is very nice. Stay at the Old Priory. You need to get a bus from the closest train station.

Chenies and Latimer are also nice, take the Metropolitan tube train. It would be a shame not to go to Snowdonia or Devon, but they are more than 1 hour away. Chillingham in Kent is nice, but not sure how to get there by train.

Woodstock is wonderful (although I may be prejudiced as I live there). There are a number of wonderful hotels and inns, and there are great nature walks for miles around. And Blenheim Palace, of course.

The Bull at Sonning is not far and is a lovely place to stay, eat and enjoy the wonderfully picturesque riverside town. England at its best.

Rob

Sorry, I meant Chiddingstone in Kent - near Hever Castle. Home to Larkin's beers.

I suggest you buy a copy of the "Good Beer Guide" and look for pubs with rooms in rural locations.

However, getting to such pubs by public transport can be a challenge. I once stayed in a lovely pub in Ringmore in Devon, but there was only 1 bus per week!

The George at Stamford. The George is a coaching inn on the old Great North Road and Stamford is a very interesting town.
http://www.georgehotelofstamford.com/

Gents -

These are all really good suggestions. Keep them coming! The easier the train ride the better

Cheers, st.t.

St.Tully, according to my experience I think you will have to compromise. If you want access by train it will most likely be pubs in towns. If you want some isolated pubs, you´ll have to drive.
While posted in London during the 90s I had the opportunity to escaping for the weekends to several quaint small towns with the kind of pubs you are looking for, plus, castles nearby, great walks, etc.
Two of my favorites are Arundel and Rye.
Arundel is one hour by train to the southwest of London. Cobble stones, hill top castle, stone bridges over a river with swans, row boats, all the works. And (20 years ago) without tourists. I don´t remember where I stayed but I´m sure there are plenty of places that fill the bill.
If you like even a smaller town, try Rye, same distance from London but to the southeast. The place there is The Mermaid Inn. Lovely memories.

hectorm wrote: Two of my favourites are Arundel and Rye.

+1 for both towns though Arundel will be busier than you remember. Arundel is also not far from Chichester and Goodwood for theatre, horse racing and classic car action in the summer.

culverwood wrote: Arundel will be busier than you remember. Arundel is also not far from Chichester and Goodwood for theatre, horse racing and classic car action in the summer.

We even used Arundel as a much quieter "base camp" when we went to the Royal Pavillion in Brighton.

Deffo can recommend Arundel AND Rye. I'm not sure about places to stay in Arundel but in Rye, I'd recommend The George