4 Best Restaurants in The Thames Valley, England

It's worth detouring a bit for this supremely appealing pub on the village green at Great Tew, about 8 miles northwest of Woodstock. The small restaurant offers a traditional but creative menu, which includes dishes like pea and shallot ravioli or a panko breaded mushroom burger. The bar stocks fruit wines and local ales and offers a small cocktail list; there's a fine selection of mugs and jugs hanging from the beams too. Book ahead on weekends. If you can't bear to leave, a spiral stone staircase leads to five guest rooms.

One of the original gastronomy-focused hotels, Le Manoir was opened in 1984 by chef Raymond Blanc, whose culinary talents have earned the hotel's restaurant two Michelin stars—now held for an incredible 38 years and running. Decide from among such innovative French creations as spiced cauliflower velouté with langoustines, beef fillet with braised Jacob's ladder, or Dover sole with brown butter and rosemary. Or you can try one of the fixed-price menus starting from £229; the six-course set-price lunch (£190) is marginally easier on the wallet. There is a separate vegetarian menu as well. With more than 1,000 wines in stock, mostly French, you'll find the perfect glass to accompany your meal. You need to book up to three months ahead in summer. Elegant guest rooms are available, but at upwards of £800 in summer for even a standard double, you could just as well get a taxi back to almost anywhere south of Scotland. The pretty town of Great Milton is 7 miles southeast of Oxford.

One of the top restaurants in the country, and ranked by many food writers among the best in the world, this extraordinary place packs in fans of hypercreative, hyperexpensive cuisine, who enjoy it for the theater as much as for the food. Culinary alchemist Heston Blumenthal is famed for the so-called molecular gastronomy he creates in his laboratory-like kitchen, and his name has become synonymous with weird and funky taste combinations. Famously, his signature dishes include bacon-and-egg ice cream and snail porridge. All senses are stimulated here in wildly creative ways, not just the taste buds. It's the very definition of not for everyone, but those with a taste for adventure (and deep pockets) find it a magical experience. The three-Michelin star Fat Duck is located in a discreet building in the small village of Bray; look for the duck-inspired implements hanging outside. Reservations are issued monthly for a period of four months in advance, and the booking process is strict; call or see the website for details.

Locals congregate in a pair of low-ceiling rooms at this tiny 17th-century establishment by the gates of Windsor Great Park. Those under 18 aren't allowed inside the pub (although they can be served at a few outdoor tables), but adults will find a suitable collection of wine, espresso, and local beer, plus an excellent menu with dishes like roasted cod with butter sauce and samphire or steak frites with brandy and peppercorn. On Sunday the pub serves a traditional, hearty lunchtime roast.