England’s Best Pub Walks: 10 Top-Rated Routes With a Proper Pint Stop

If you’re looking for pub walks that feel like proper English summer—big skies, tired legs, and a pint earned the old-fashioned way—Millets has just done the homework for you. The outdoor retailer has unveiled its top-rated pub walks in England, picking routes that score highly with reviewers and (crucially) feature a pub along the way.

The list leans into what Britain does best: cliff paths that test your calves, woodland loops that calm the mind, and ridge walks that make you feel briefly heroic—right up until you remember you promised the kids it was “just a nice stroll.”

Below are Millets’ top ten pub walks in England, followed by a separate shortlist of accessible, family-friendly routes where wheelchairs, pushchairs and “are we nearly there yet?” all stand a fighting chance.

Top 10 pub walks in England

Here’s the quick, scan-friendly version—because nobody wants to scroll for miles before they even start walking them.

If you’re building weekends around pub walks, this is the sort of list that lets you choose your level of suffering with adult precision: “We’ll do something scenic” (translation: coastal climbs), “Something gentle” (translation: still 10km), or “Something quick” (translation: Lake District views in under two hours, then straight to lunch).

Three standout routes (with the pub stops Millets highlights)

1) Seven Sisters and Friston Forest Circular

Situated near Eastbourne, this 12.7km loop mixes cliff drama with forest calm—chalky views that look like they’ve been staged for postcards and then forgotten about by reality. Highlights include the famous chalk cliffs and a National Trust café, with pub stops named as ‘The Tiger Inn’ (East Dean), ‘The Selsey Arms’ (West Dean), and ‘The Cuckmere Inn’ (Exceat).

This is the kind of pub walk where you start with optimism, hit the cliffs, and finish with a deep respect for gravity.

2) Seaford to Eastbourne

Millets describes this one as challenging—and it is—yet the payoff is classic South Coast: white cliffs, English Channel views, and that salty wind that convinces you you’re healthier than you actually are. Starting in Seaford, walkers can stop at ‘Old Plough’ and ‘The Wellington Pub and Bed & Breakfast’. The trail ends in Eastbourne near ‘The London & County’ – JD Wetherspoon.

If you like your pub walks with a side of “I’ve earned this,” put it high on the list.

3) Mam Tor and The Great Ridge via Elbow Ridge

Near Hope, Derbyshire, this circular route is a Peak District greatest-hits album: panoramic ridgelines, big open views, and the sort of fresh air that makes you talk about moving to the countryside until you remember winter exists. Millets flags sights including Blue John Cavern and Mam Tor, with nearby pubs including ‘The Castle’ and ‘Ye Olde Nags Head’ in Castleton.

It’s a proper classic—one of those pub walks that makes you feel like you’ve done something substantial, even if the pub is doing most of the emotional heavy lifting.

England’s best accessible, family-friendly walks with pubs

Millets also pulled out routes designed to work for families and accessibility needs, using ratings and reviews to shape the shortlist.

Elterwater to Skelwith Bridge, Lake District

A 5km out-and-back that’s popular for birding, hiking and mountain biking—and notably described as accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs, with rivers and waterfalls providing the scenery. Millets notes a stop at ‘Chesters By The River’ for a vegan café experience with pub lunch options.

Bristol and Bath Railway Path, South West England

Flat, practical, and well-suited to walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users, with a steam train station en route. Millets suggests ending at ‘The Locksbrook Inn’ for a drink and snack—exactly the kind of civilised finish these pub walks are built around.

Central London Circular

Starting at Charing Cross Station, this 7.4km city loop crosses Waterloo Bridge and the Thames before circling back via Trafalgar Square. It’s sightseeing with a step count—plus more pubs than you could reasonably justify in one day, even if you’re “just stopping for a lemonade.”

advice for family walks

Natalie Byrne, an outdoor enthusiast at Millets, emphasises the importance of choosing accessible routes for family walks: “A walk is the perfect excuse to get all the family together and moving! To allow the whole family to get involved, it is a great idea to choose a route that is accessible to both wheelchairs and prams.

It is also recommended that you check the difficulty of your walking route as well as the estimated time that it will take for the whole family to walk it.

Of course, if you have any younger children or any slower walkers, allow for extra time to stop on your walk.”

Natalie also highlights the significance of packing the right equipment: “Packing the correct equipment can make all the difference between a good walk and a difficult walk.

I recommend a sturdy pair of walking boots that will support your ankles and be comfortable on longer walks.

It is also a good idea to pack some lightweight waterproof clothing for the family. We may be coming up to summer, but British weather cannot be trusted, and no one wants to sit post-walk in the pub in wet clothes!”

The sensible way to choose a pub walk (without ruining the day)

A quick reality check before you commit:

• Match distance to daylight and attention spans. A “5-hour” walk rarely includes snack negotiations.
• Pick one main feature: cliffs, ridge, waterfalls, forest, or village charm. The best pub walks have a clear “hook.”
• Plan the pub as part of the route, not a rescue mission. Know where it is and roughly when you’ll hit it.
• Pack like a Brit: waterproofs even in July; it’s tradition for a reason.