United Kingdom · best-of list
The 8 Best Bars & Cafés in the United Kingdom
All 8 bars & cafés our route editors picked in the United Kingdom, across 7 destinations, gathered in one list. Expect bars, cafés and tasting rooms, with Edinburgh contributing the most (2).
Our curated picks
8 bars & cafés in the United Kingdom, grouped by destination. Destinations with the most picks come first; this is not a ranking.
Edinburgh 2 picks
The Bow Bar
Edinburgh · On our Scotland’s Highland Rail Line route
Traditional pub on Victoria Street with cask ales and a deep whisky list.
Tip: Ask staff for a dram recommendation; small, so go early.
Photo: The Bow Bar · Google
The White Hart Inn
Edinburgh · On our Edinburgh & the Cairngorms route
One of Edinburgh's oldest pubs, on the Grassmarket below the castle, with regular live folk music.
Photo: Mike Shaw · CC BY-SA 4.0
Aviemore & the Cairngorms 1 pick
The Old Bridge Inn
Aviemore & the Cairngorms · On our Edinburgh & the Cairngorms route
Long-running pub by the Spey on the edge of Aviemore, serving food beside an open fire.
Tip: Book a table for dinner over the holidays.
Photo: Bill Kasman · CC BY-SA 2.0
Bath 1 pick
The Bell Inn
Bath · On our London, the Cotswolds & Bath route
Community-owned pub on Walcot Street with live music most nights.
Photo: The Bell Inn · Google
Fort William 1 pick
Ben Nevis Distillery
Fort William · On our Scotland’s Highland Rail Line route
Distillery at the foot of Ben Nevis with tours and tastings.
Tip: Book a tour; ask for a dram of the 10-year-old.
Photo: Herbert Frank from Wien (Vienna), AT · CC BY 2.0
Inverness 1 pick
Hootananny
Inverness · On our Scotland’s Highland Rail Line route
Pub with live Scottish trad music sessions most nights.
Tip: Sessions start in the evening; free entry downstairs.
Photo: Beverly Pettigrew Doss · Google
London 1 pick
The George Inn
London · On our London, the Cotswolds & Bath route
London's last galleried coaching inn, 17th century and owned by the National Trust.
Tip: Grab a courtyard table in summer.
Photo: Ewan Munro from London, UK · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Cotswolds 1 pick
The Porch House
The Cotswolds · On our London, the Cotswolds & Bath route
Inn in Stow that claims to be England's oldest, with beams and open fires.
Photo: The Porch House · Google
How we picked these
Every entry is a stop on at least one of TripsCircle's hand-curated routes, chosen by our route editors, who wrote the reason to go shown with each place. These are our curated picks, not a scored ranking: we haven't rated or reviewed them against each other. The list is grouped by destination, and within each destination places that appear on more routes come first.
Prices ($ to $$$$) and visit lengths are rough guides from our route notes, not quotes. Check opening hours before you go.
About this list
How did you choose the bars & cafés in the United Kingdom?
Each one is a stop on a TripsCircle route that our editors built by hand, and each comes with a written reason to go. This page shows all 8 of them. They are curated picks, not a ranked score.
Which part of the United Kingdom has the most bars & cafés on this list?
Edinburgh has the most (2 of 8), followed by Aviemore & the Cairngorms (1) and Bath (1).
More lists for United Kingdom
Best bars & cafés nearby
Destinations on this list
- Edinburgh 2 on this list
- Aviemore & the Cairngorms 1 on this list
- Bath 1 on this list
- Fort William 1 on this list
- Inverness 1 on this list
- London 1 on this list
- The Cotswolds 1 on this list
Turn this list into a plan
Open a curated route in TripsCircle, add the spots your crew wants, vote with polls and keep everyone on one shared itinerary.