1. Monty's Inn, Beaulieu.
2. The Parrot, Canterbury.
Are The Parrot's salt and vinegar sticky wings worth travelling cross-country for? Yes. God, yes. The food is universally glorious here, as are the interiors – all wooden beams and solid oak tables. The wings themselves come on a butcher's board that also casually features black pudding and smoked bacon croquettes and BBQ pulled pork potato skins ~drools~.
To find the sticky wings, get on a train from St Pancras to Ashford International, and from there grab a train into Canterbury. Sorted. Full directions here.
3. The Old Neptune, Whitstable.
4. The Jolly Cricketers, Seer Green.
This pub is just ridiculously pretty. A Victorian freehouse tucked away in a picturesque village, it holds the title of "Best Pub in Buckinghamshire" and serves killer bangers and mash. It also has oodles of greenery, flower-bedecked doorways, and more countryside charm than you can shake a stick at. Jolly good, eh?
Get a direct train from Marylebone to Seer Green and be chowing down on those sausages and mash in a cool 40 minutes. Directions here.
5. The Star, Leatherhead.
It's billed as the perfect meeting place for people heading to Chessington World of Adventures (it's five minutes away), but once you're in here, it's near impossible to leave. Must be something to do with the book-laden walls and cosy fireplace. Because being whirled around in the air just doesn't have the same appeal once you're sat by a roaring fire with a pint in your hand.
A 40 minute journey from central London, get a train from Waterloo to Surbiton, then a bus to the Leatherhead golf club to find this pub. Full directions here.
6. The Bell, Ticehurst.
7. Ye Olde Six Bells, Horley.
The story goes, a Norman lord needed a place to "refresh" himself after the long services at nearby St Bartholomew's Church. So, Ye Olde Six Bells was born, a cool 700 years ago. Refreshing or not, this pub has a fireplace and cask ales, and is in the middle of the beautiful Surrey countryside. That's a winning combo any way you look at it.
Norman lords, catch a train from London Victoria to Horley and prepare to be refreshed. Directions here.
8. The Crown Inn, Berkshire.
9. The Duke of Cumberland Arms, Henley.
A 16th-century pub perched on the side of a hill, in a village no one knows the exact age of (other than that it's REALLY old). It sounds like it should be part of a fairytale, doesn't it? The interiors are just as fairytale-esque too, with worn brick floors and gardens out the back that are just the right side of overgrown. And the braised oxtail and pied de mutton on the menu? Pure magic.
Find this fairytale pub by getting on a train from Waterloo to Haslemere, then alighting a bus direct to their front door. Full directions here.
10. The Smack Inn, Whitstable.
11. The Little Angel, Henley-on-Thames.
12. King Henry VIII, Edenbridge.
He may not have been great on the marriage front, but Henry VIII knew a thing or two about food (or at least, he knew about eating it). And his namesake lives up to standard, with solidly hearty pub fare on the menu. The interiors follow suit, having been restored using traditional Tudor craftsmanship. His majesty would definitely approve.
Visit this royal retreat by catching a train from London Bridge to Hever. Directions here.
13. The Plowden Arms, Henley-On-Thames.
14. Alford Arms, Frithsden.
If you don't know Frithsden, it's time to discover it. Why? Because it has the Alford Arms, and the Alford Arms is a stonkingly good pub. It's located in a woodland valley, making getting here pretty magical, and the interiors are just as nice, with the furniture all coming from local auctions. The food is the main event though, thanks to the talented head chef's obsession with local produce. Try to get there on the day they're serving the lamb shoulder – it's something special.
A train from London Euston to Berkhamsted followed by a short bus ride to Holy Trinity Church will get you to this pub. Directions here.
15. The Hand & Flowers, Marlow.
16. The Compasses Inn, Crundale.
This pub has been likened to the infamous Sportsman in its early days, i.e. visit it now before it becomes near impossible to get a booking. It's based in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the menu is a reflection of the surroundings. Herbs and vegetables come from the garden out back, while meat comes from as close as a quarter mile down the road.
It's a bit of a trek to get here, but totally worth it. Make sure you set off early in the morning, catching a train from London Victoria to Canterbury. Then get on a bus towards Petham, and disembark at the Village Hall. Full directions here.
17. The Hoop, Stock.
