Guides
Best Pub Gardens
Sip back & relax in the great British outdoors! Our guide to the best Swindon pub gardens, patios and terraces
UPDATE: Please note, we're 100% sure these gardens are open, but with staff shortages etc. potential tsunamis and the on-going effects of global warming it's always best to check with the pub direct to avoid a wasted trip.
It’s not so long ago that a trip out for a drink in the open air meant venturing into the uncertain world of pubs with fibreglass tree houses and tables that acted like see-saws.
These days - thankfully - things have improved somewhat, with pubs better equipped and more sophisticated – and a number of other choices for sipping back and enjoying a warm summer’s day or balmy evening.
So we’ve taken a stroll through the patios and terraces as well as the gardens of pubs in our area to find out which are the best for visiting when it’s too hot to be indoors.
Arkell's Strawberry Thief, Swindon
31 Mackay Crescent, Tadpole Garden Village, Swindon, SN25 2RA
Telephone: 01793 937211
Stunning new pub in Tadpole Garden Village with a fantastic terrace.
- Cask Marque
- Country Setting
- Facilities for the Disabled
- Garden Or Patio
- Pub Food
- Restaurant Or Dining Room
The Sun Inn, Swindon
Coate, Swindon, SN3 6AA
Telephone: (01793) 523292
Just the place for all the family, especially before or after visiting neighbouring Coate Water or the Richard Jefferies Museum. The garden includes a children’s playground and on sunny days the barbecue area is busy. You may even catch a live band playing outdoors in the thatched shelter.
- Accommodation & Rooms
- Cask Marque
- Children Welcome
- Childrens Play Area
- Dog Friendly (Bar Only)
- Garden Or Patio
- Pub Food
- Restaurant Or Dining Room
The Fox and Hounds, Wroughton
Markham Road, Wroughton, SN4 9JT
Telephone: 01793 815415
One of the best pubs in the area for food, the garden makes the ideal place to eat al Fresco or just enjoy the afternoon with a swifty or two. Regular outside live music in the summer + dome dining, too!
- Accommodation & Rooms
- Cask Marque
- Country Setting
- Dog Friendly (Bar Only)
- Facilities for the Disabled
- Farmyard Paddock
- Function Room
- Garden Or Patio
- Pub Food
- Restaurant Or Dining Room
The Clifton
Clifton Street, Old Town, Swindon, SN1 3PY
Telephone: 01793 523162
Voted Swindon Pub of the Year in 2022 and no wonder, The Clifton's garden, just off Kings Hill, is a super place to relax, enjoy a drink and catch up with friends.
- BT SPORT
- Cask Marque
- Dog Friendly (Bar Only)
- Garden Or Patio
- Pool Table
- Pub Food
- SKY SPORTS
The Brewers Arms, Wanborough
High Street, Wanborough, Swindon, SN4 0AE
Telephone: (01793) 790707
Terrace with its own outside garden bar open in the summer + large grass area behind too with kids play area. Pods & more covered tables open at the front, too.
- Cask Marque
- Garden Or Patio
- Pub Food
- Restaurant Or Dining Room
The Red Lion, Castle Eaton
The Street, Castle Eaton, Swindon, SN6 6JZ
Telephone: 01285 810280
The first pub on the Thames at Castle Eaton makes this another country pub in Swindon well and truly on the to-do list. Add in some very good cooking and riverside views and you almost have the perfect summer destination for drinking & eating.
- Accommodation & Rooms
- Boule Pitch
- Country Setting
- Dog Friendly (Bar Only)
- Facilities for the Disabled
- Garden Or Patio
- Pool Table
- Pub Food
- Riverside or Lakeside Location
The Old Boathouse, South Cerney
Lake 6, Cotswold Water Park, South Cerney, Nr Swindon, GL7 5FP
Telephone: 01285 864000
Enjoy a super view of the lake here from the terrace, just a short drive down the A419 from Swindon. Food served all-day.
- Children Welcome
- Country Setting
- Dog Friendly (Terrace only)
- Garden Or Patio
- Pub Food
- Restaurant Or Dining Room
- Riverside or Lakeside Location
The Runner, Swindon
Wootton Bassett Road, Swindon, SN1 4NQ
Telephone: (01793) 523903
Terrace by the river in Swindon town centre?... Yes! Possibly Swindon's most dog-friendly pub offers a great menu and a big garden too.
- Cask Marque
- Childrens Play Area
- Dog Friendly (Bar Only)
- Garden Or Patio
- Pool Table
- Pub Food
- Restaurant Or Dining Room
The Kingsdown, Upper Stratton
Upper Stratton, Swindon, SN2 7PE
Telephone: (01793) 824802
Drive past The Kingsdown and you'll only get a sneak peak of their wonderful pub garden.
It's one that locals and visitors in the know have enjoyed for years - whether that's a quiet drink with family and friends, a live music event or the chance to enjoy the pub food al fresco.
- Cask Marque
- Dog Friendly (Bar Only)
- Facilities for the Disabled
- Function Room
- Garden Or Patio
- Pool Table
- Pub Food
- Restaurant Or Dining Room
- SKY SPORTS
The Saracens Head Hotel, Highworth
High Street, Highworth, Swindon, SN6 7AG
Telephone: (01793) 762284
Plenty of room outside here incl. a NEW COVERED patio area with an outside screen. Proper pub food, too.
- Accommodation & Rooms
- BT SPORT
- Cask Marque
- Dog Friendly (Bar Only)
- Garden Or Patio
- Pub Food
- Restaurant Or Dining Room
- SKY SPORTS
The Crown Inn, Broad Hinton
Broad Hinton, Swindon, SN4 9PA
Telephone: (01793) 731302
Head south-east just a few miles outside Swindon for this lovely spot. The food matches the great view. Fish 'n chips served from their 'Get Battered' van every Friday evening, too.
- Cask Marque
- Country Setting
- Dog Friendly (Bar Only)
- Garden Or Patio
The Tawny Owl
Taw Hill, North Swindon, Swindon, SN25 1WR
Telephone: (01793) 706770
Lots of tables in the sun & undercover - or pop up the umbrella - and drink & eat from a menu full of pub classics. Good kids' menu.
- Accommodation & Rooms
- BT SPORT
- Cask Marque
- Children Welcome
- Childrens Play Area
- Dog Friendly (Bar Only)
- Facilities for the Disabled
- Function Room
- Garden Or Patio
- Live Music
- Pool Table
- Pub Food
- SKY SPORTS
The Plough on the Hill, Badbury
Marlborough Road, Badbury, Swindon, SN4 0EP
Telephone: (01793) 740342
Just off Junction 15, M4 and with a lovely view of Liddington Hill. Very good food here.
- Cask Marque
- Country Setting
- Dog Friendly (Bar Only)
- Garden Or Patio
- Pub Food
- Restaurant Or Dining Room
The Riverside, Lechlade-on-Thames
Park End Wharf, Lechlade, Gloucestershire, GL7 3AQ
Telephone: (01367) 252534
Right on the Thames at Lechlade with food served all day, plus a very useful quick-service garden bar at weekends with bottles on ice.
- Accommodation & Rooms
- Cask Marque
- Children Welcome
- Dog Friendly (Bar & Restaurant)
- Facilities for the Disabled
- Function Room
- Garden Or Patio
- Live Music
- Pub Food
- Restaurant Or Dining Room
The White Horse at Woolstone
Woolstone, Near Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7QL
Telephone: (01367) 820726
Head to the hills (or the White Horse Hill to be precise), ladies & gents, and you'll find one of the cutest pubs in old England where you can enjoy homemade pizza in the garden (Thursday & Sunday evenings) & drinks!
- Accommodation & Rooms
- Architectural Interest
- Cask Marque
- Dog Friendly (Bar & Restaurant)
- Garden Or Patio
- Pub Food
The White Hart, Stratton St. Margaret
Oxford Road, Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, SN3 4JD
Telephone: (01793) 822272
Whether it's an evening pint or a lunchtime soft drink, the new decked terrace at The White Hart is the ideal place to unwind with friends and family.
- Accommodation & Rooms
- BT SPORT
- Cask Marque
- Children Welcome
- Facilities for the Disabled
- Function Room
- Garden Or Patio
- Pool Table
- Pub Food
- Skittle Alley
- SKY SPORTS
The Sally Pussey Inn, Royal Wootton Bassett
Swindon Road, Just off Jn16, M4, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, SN4 8ET
Telephone: (01793) 852430
Just the right mix of sun & shade on the terrace at Sally Pussey's. Ideal for al fresco dining!
- Cask Marque
- Facilities for the Disabled
- Garden Or Patio
- Pub Food
- Restaurant Or Dining Room
Mackenzies
16 Wood Street, Old Town, Swindon, SN1 4AB
Telephone: 01793 430111
We couldn't do a guide to Swindon's top places to enjoy a summer drink without including Mackenzies because it's been one of the best and most popular locations when the sun's out for over twenty five years. Ideal as well come evening and night time with its very own bar open 'til late.
- Function Room
- Garden Or Patio
- Pub Food
The Fox & Hounds, Uffington
High Street, Uffington, SN7 7RP
Telephone: 01367 820 680
With views of the White Horse at Uffington on a summer's day, this pub take a lot of beating. Garden room very handy if it starts raining.
- Accommodation & Rooms
- Country Setting
- Dog Friendly (Bar & Restaurant)
- Function Room
- Garden Or Patio
- Pub Food
- Restaurant Or Dining Room
The Royal Oak, Bishopstone
Cues Lane, Bishopstone, Swindon, SN6 8PP
Telephone: (01793) 790481
A genuinely unspoilt and much-loved pub which the Michelin Guide recommend for its good food. But it has even more to offer in the summer months because of its front terrace & friendly little garden where you can enjoy weekend barbecues - and even camp with pigs in late August!
- Accommodation & Rooms
- Cask Marque
- Country Setting
- Dog Friendly (Bar & Restaurant)
- Garden Or Patio
- Pub Food
