What’s an Inn in the UK?
Inns are traditional spots offering lodging, food, and often a cosy pub—all under one roof. You’ll usually find them in the countryside or along scenic routes, and they make perfect stopovers for travellers after a bit of character and warmth.
I’d always fancied staying at an old inn in the countryside—why not? It’s such a classic British experience. While driving through the countryside, you’ll spot plenty of charming old inns with signs simply saying “INN”—calling you in for a pint and a cosy night.
What I love is you can have a pint (or two!) of local ale in the pub downstairs, then just head upstairs to bed. No need to worry about taxis or driving home.
There’s something special about the warm, welcoming atmosphere of countryside pubs. Sipping on a pint by the crackling fireplace, especially on a chilly winter’s night, feels like stepping straight into a scene from a film.
I like staying at regular hotels too, but when I’m travelling around the UK, I’m always drawn to these historic old inns. Each one has its own charm, and exploring them feels like uncovering hidden gems!
A Valentine’s Day Retreat in Symonds Yat
This Valentine’s Day, we stayed at The Old Court Hotel in Symonds Yat, right on the border of Wales.
By the time we searched, most rooms were fully booked, so we snapped up the last available room—a compact double. It was small but cute and cosy. They also had bigger rooms, including Traditional Four Poster Bedrooms with those grand old-fashioned four poster beds. I couldn’t help thinking—I’d love to stay in one of those next time and feel like a real princess!
Since it was a rainy day, we headed straight to the inn. The staff welcomed us warmly. The hotel had both a traditional pub and a dining area, but only the dining area was offering a special Valentine’s dinner that night. Since we were in the mood for classic pub food, we booked a table at the pub for 6:30 pm instead—can’t beat a good pint and a hearty pie in a cosy pub, right?
Actually, we arrived earlier and couldn’t resist popping into the pub right away to start sampling the local beers.
The menu had so many tempting options—from starters to hearty mains.
For starters, we shared deep-fried Brie cheese, crispy on the outside and perfectly gooey inside.
For mains, we both went for pies—because when in Britain, right? I chose the shepherd’s pie, which was exactly what I needed on that cold, rainy day. I’d been wanting to try a lamb shepherd’s pie for ages, since I’d only ever had the beef version before. My boyfriend went for the cottage pie topped with puff pastry, and it was delicious too.
Of course, we ended up sharing a dessert—apple and blackberry crumble, served warm with ice cream. Can you believe it was actually my first time trying apple crumble? It totally hit the spot!
One fun little detail I loved: there was a chalkboard in the pub with anagrams for customers to solve. Do you know what an anagram is? It’s a word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase. We had a go, but honestly, they were tricky! We couldn’t crack two of them(4 and 5)… Any tips?
Breakfast & First Time Trying Black Pudding
The next morning, breakfast was served in the dining room, with both cooked options and a small buffet.
Of course, I went for a Full English Breakfast—and yes, it came with black pudding! I’d been curious to try black pudding for a long time, and this felt like the perfect chance. I’ll be honest… it wasn’t exactly my favourite (a bit too oily for me), but I was still thrilled to finally tick it off my list.
Having a classic Full English at a cosy old inn with my love? Such a perfect way to start the day.
A Walk in the Woods
The weather was still rainy and grey, so we weren’t quite in the mood for a big hike. But we did take a gentle walk through the nearby woods, which felt refreshing and peaceful.
Driving through the valley afterwards was one of my favourite parts—wide open landscapes, weaving through tiny villages, spotting cute little cottages along the way.
On the way back, we passed through Chepstow, a small town we’d visited before. It brought back such nice memories.
And just before heading home, we stumbled upon a cosy little café, where we treated ourselves to coffee and cake—exactly what we needed to round off the trip.
Our little escape to Symonds Yat made for such a memorable first Valentine’s Day in the UK.
Already dreaming of our next cosy countryside inn—got any favourites to recommend?
