Food and Drink

Only one thing surpasses the sublime experience of gastronomy in its finest form: and that’s gastronomy enjoyed in idyllic surroundings.

At Bray, a quintessentially English village on the River Thames in Berkshire, the two come together quite beautifully. Now you can enjoy some of the finest food in the world, while settling in to an enchanting cottage in Bray for a long and unforgettable weekend. For any serious gastronome, and for people who simply enjoy the finer things in life, heaven on earth is at Bray.

In the UK, only four restaurants hold the coveted three Michelin stars; it’s therefore extraordinary that two of them are located in Bray.

The Fat Duck

A very different proposition is The Fat Duck, whose three stars have been won through the same attention to standards – but an altogether different take on cuisine.

Here, the owner and chef Heston Blumenthal reveals his fascination with how the brain influences our appreciation of food. Be prepared to be taken on a magical journey with lots of hidden surprises.

The Waterside Inn

The Waterside Inn was founded by the brothers Michel and Albert Roux, following the success of Le Gavroche in Mayfair, London. Their spirit and vision remains very much alive: the Chef Patron is now Michel’s son, Alain. He maintains the standards that have seen the restaurant retain its three stars, without interruption, since 1985. A superb restaurant situated on the Water’s edge – romantic and very special!

There are many other restaurants and gastro pubs, all combining to re-inforce Bray’s reputation. They include The 1 Michelin Star Hinds Head, The Crown (also owned by Heston) and a stunning Italian restaurant – Caldesi in Campagna. Right on the doorstep at the water’s edge of the Thames in Bray, is the Riverside Brasserie serving delicious English cuisine.

The Hinds Head

A picturesque village made famous by its unusually principled vicar, Bray is about as British as it gets – and nowhere more so than The Hind’s Head, which has been serving the inhabitants and all manner of visitors since the 1400’s, when it was first established as a hunting lodge and coaching inn.

Our menus reflect this illustrious and highly individual lineage, offering versions of classic British dishes – the famous and the unjustly forgotten – all cooked with exceptional technical dexterity and consummate culinary imagination. In our Michelin-starred restaurant, the classics truly come alive.

The Crown  at Bray

At The Crown, we have set out to create a local hub and community. A country pub that the locals are proud to welcome all.

The Crown serves simple yet perfectly executed traditional pub food and a crowd pleasing selection of drinks.

Caldesi in Campagna

Passionate Montepulciano-born owner-cum-food-author Giancarlo Caldesi and his wife Katie run this chic, sophisticated restaurant. It comes with a cosy conservatory and a lovely covered terrace complete with a wood-fired oven. Flavoursome Italian dishes feature Tuscan and Sicilian specialities.

Local Area

Just a 50 minute journey from London will bring you into the heart of Bray village where your hosts at Bray Cottages will be waiting with their personal welcome and they will be only too happy to suggest or arrange a host of activities to suit even the most discerning guests.

Marlow Market Town

A picturesque drive to the market town of Marlow where you can enjoy light lunch at the “Hand and Flowers” – the only pub in England which has been awarded 2 Michelin stars

River Thames Cruises

Enjoy superb cruises on the River Thames with one of Captain Steve’s five luxury boats.

Oxford

A day in the historic, medieval town of Oxford, the seat of the famous university, home to “Alice in Wonderland”, the famous Bodleian Library, as well as churches, museums and a castle. Spend the day exploring the cobbled streets and beautiful riverside walks, parks and gardens before returning to Bray.

Hambledon Vineyard

A drive to the delightful village of Hambledon for a tour of the oldest English vineyard established in 1952 or a scenic drive to explore charming English villages nearby such as Henley-on-Thames and Cookham.

Afternoon Tea at Cliveden


A light lunch (or picnic) with a visit to the magnificent Cliveden country estate for a delightful English afternoon tea.

Fishing

For fishing enthusiasts, Bray cottages team can arrange for a day’s excursion to the nearby trout fishing lake where you can fish for Rainbow and Brown trout between 2lb to 8lb in weight.

Wentworth Golf Course

For golf lovers there is an opportunity to enjoy the three 18-hole championship golf courses at Wentworth located just a short drive away. Wentworth is one of the world’s finest golf and country clubs.

Windsor Castle

A must see is the royal town of Windsor including the famous castle, one of the favourite homes of the royal family. Stroll through the castle, the ancient cobbled streets and enjoy some retail therapy in the “designer shopping” quarter. Take a light lunch at the Gilbey’s Wine Bar in Eton followed by a privately conducted tour of Eton College.

Royal Ascot


Royal Ascot is a national institution and the centrepiece of the British social calendar. Each year, for the third week in June, tradition, pageantry, fashion and style combine at one of the most beautiful settings in the country. What is easily overlooked, in the frenzy that follows the fashionistas and their hats, fascinators and dresses, is that there is outstanding racing on offer. The £4.5 million in prize money, raced for under the royal gaze, attracts some of the finest equine horseflesh, jockeys and trainers in the world.

Henley Royal Regatta

Like Royal Ascot, Henley is a feast for lovers of rowing and stands as the best known regatta in the world. Over its five days there are more than 200 races of an international standard, ranging from famous Olympians to crews making their debut at the event