The most iconic locations to have lunch in the south of England

BIBURY COURT HOTEL
In this Jacobean estate located on the borders of charming village Bibury, a quick drive from Cirencester, the Bibury Court eating venue has been awarded a few accolades and prizes for its modern gourmet meals. Head chef Anthony Ely was hired from The Clarence Hotel in Dublin (notoriously acquired by The Edge and Bono from U2) in the mid 00s, and composes food including linguini with oxtail, root vegetables and red wine, and crisp Bibury trout with herb gnocchi, ragout of wild Fowey mussels and butternut squash. Bibury Court is also an inn.

THE FOX AND HOUNDS
You will not come across a more charming gastropub than this. The bar is a cranny decorated with dried out hops, and it will serve a broad range of local beer. The food offering is good but it's the experience of an appropriate hamlet tavern that is the draw.

THE FOX INN
A professionally-run gastropub with a stunning patio and a menu that is under no circumstances anything other than top notch. If you have time, inquire about directions to the XII century St Nicholas Church, a 10-minute hike away. It's a wonderful, secluded space with medieval wall paintings that was truthfully undetectable for several years in a wood.

THE KINGHAM PLOUGH
Managed by Emily Watkins, previously of Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck. Watkins offers effortless meals of local food cooked with excellent precision. Check out the Hereford beef or the crunchy, breaded duck egg. They also grate fresh horseradish root into their cocktails and offer pig's ears for your pet for a small fee.

THE OLD BUTCHER'S
Prior to this a Butcher's, which shut down after a Tesco grocery store showed up, it's now probably the most famous dining places in the community.

THE ROYAL WELL TAVERN
Chef Humphrey Fletcher has been hired with the River Café and Kensington Place and cooks up wonderful braised sea trout with samphire and brown shrimp and steak frites. Entrepreneur Sam Pearman originates from Gloucestershire and at some point used to work at Langan's Brasserie in London. He recently purchased The Wheatsheaf in North Leach in the south of Britain and the indications are encouraging.

WHATLEY MANOR
A Relais & Chateaux member, Whatley Manor has 2 eateries - Swiss brasserie Le Mazot and Michelin-recognised The Dining Room. Both are run by chef Martin Burge, who has received a couple of accolades for his modern reinvention of traditional French gourmand dishes. Not surprisingly, Burge was employed at both Pied a Terre and Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons before transferring to Wiltshire. Whatley Manor is also a hotelan .

THE WILD RABBIT
Lady Bamford's new tavern with hotel rooms, in calm Kingham, is rather plainly the foodie relative of her day spa at Daylesford. As you enter it, you see a light wooden bar, pale flagstones and pale open-brick walls. Behind the bar, Oxford University students are presenting customers with artisan ales. Haphazard furniture is set up close to a log fire, or looking over on to the small town.