Looking for an epic gastronomic adventure? From cookery workshops with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to private vineyard tours and epic food-focused festivals, read on to find out our pick of the best foodie holidays to book this year.
Foodie holidays worth booking
Wilderness
Cornbury Park’s Wilderness festival is another highlight in any foodie’s calendar. Expect a vibrant cultural mix of everything from music to wellbeing, talks and debates to feasting and dining.
On the food front, the country’s best culinary names head here every year to show off their expertise with epic feasting menus that sell out almost instantly. 2022’s line-up included Skye Gyngell, Adam Handling, Niklas Ekstedt, Will Devlin and The Social Pantry.
Get prepared early and book your tickets for this unmissable festival.
3 – 6 AUGUST 2023
CORNBURY PARK, OXFORDSHIRE, OX7 3HL
WWW.WILDERNESSFESTIVAL.COM
Raymond Blanc Cookery School at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Looking as if it’s been plucked out of Oxfordshire’s Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons is the brainchild of celebrated chef Raymond Blanc OBE. The hotel itself looks fit for a fairytale, surrounded by lawns, flowers and orchards, as well as a vegetable and herb garden that both kitchen and cookery school use to create sublime dishes using organic produce.
The acclaimed manor house is filled with cosy bedrooms, filled with warming comforters, tassel curtains and original wooden beams.
Onsite you’ll find the restaurant where Blanc’s vision comes to life. The restaurant earned two Michelin stars upon opening 38 years ago and still to this day retains them. The restaurant itself is filled with natural decoration, with warm wood and muted tones, serving up seven-course dinner options, as well as veggie and vegan menus.
The hotel also boasts the Raymond Blanc Cookery School, offering courses for all experience levels, from half-day introductory courses to residential programmes. Learn from Blanc’s team of experts and you’ll soon be knocking out restaurant worthy dinners in no time.
CHURCH ROAD, GREAT MILTON, OXFORD, OX44 7PD
WWW.BELMOND.COM
Wine Tour at Rathfinny Estate
Combine your love of wine with a trip to the East Sussex countryside and visit Rathfinny Estate. The family-owned wine estate produces some of the world’s finest vintage sparkling wines, as well as boasting a lovely on-site B&B to soak up the surrounding countryside.
Book yourself in for a wine tour and tasting, exploring the estate and learn from the experts on how they turn their grapes into Sussex sparkling wines. Finish the afternoon with dinner at their fine dining Michelin recommended Tasting Room restaurant for modern British dishes or head to the Flint Barns Dining Rooms for seasonal, produce-led dishes before heading up to bed in one of the Barns’ cosy rooms.
ALFRISTON, EAST SUSSEX, BN26 5TU
WWW.RATHFINNYESTATE.COM
Cookery Classes at Chewton Glen
Renowned for their luxury treehouses, Chewton Glen is also a prime spot for foodies. Located in New Forest, the five-star hotel and spa offers some excellent culinary classes for those looking to up their skills and become a pro in the kitchen.
Taught by one of their chef tutors or special guest chefs – James Martin is a regular frequenter leading some of their most popular classes – you can opt for full-day, half-day and even junior and teen courses. Book in for one and you’ll soon be mastering everything from South East Asian street food to Mediterranean tapas, Korean bibimbap to perfecting puddings.
NEW FOREST, HAMPSHIRE, BH25 6QS
WWW.CHEWTONGLEN.COM
Cookery Workshops at Thyme
For a true countryside experience, it’s got to be the Cotswolds’ Thyme. This cosy boutique hotel is home to just about everything you could need from a UK break, from their calming Meadow Spa to the onsite farm and kitchen garden.
It’s a true foodie haven too, with its own cookery school on the site. Scroll through their upcoming classes to get a peek inside what you can expect from next year’s calendar. Expect to soon be whizzing up everything from seasonal favourites to perfecting fresh pasta.
Spent a long weekend here exploring all of the hotel’s offerings and we guarantee you won’t want to leave.
SOUTHROP, LECHLADE, COTSWOLDS, GL7 3PW
WWW.THYME.CO.UK
By The Handbook
Wilderness
Raymond Blanc Cookery School at Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons
Wine Tour at Rathfinny Estate
Cookery Classes at Chewton Glen
Cookery Workshops at Thyme
