If you’ve never even imagined staying in an English pub, maybe it’s time you reconsidered. Outdated ideas about pubs, like comparing them to bars, could be keeping you from finding some real gems.

Today’s pubs offer unique and distinctly British accommodations, conveniently located, moderately priced, and usually serving pretty good food.

Their rooms range from clean and basic to boutique hotel stylishness; their menus from English pub classics to genuine gastronomy. Moreover, for budget-minded travelers, pub rooms often cost 30 to 50 percent less than equivalent quality hotel accommodations.

01 of 07 – The Orange Tree: Richmond, London

The Orange Tree, located in the outer London borough of Richmond, Surrey, has been a fixture on Kew Road since the late 18th century. Its late Victorian brick and terracotta striped facade were added when the pub was rebuilt in the 1890s.

Richmond’s famous Orange Tree Theatre was founded in an upstairs room in 1971 and was located here until 1991. Today, the pub sits right beside the new theater, handy for a pre-theater drink or meal.

In 2014, the Orange Tree closed its doors for renovations, resulting in a total makeover by its owners, Young’s Pubs. When it reopened, a 13-room boutique hotel took over the space above the still popular pub.

This west London location is very convenient for visitors who wish to be within easy reach of Central London while being out of the city’s hustle and bustle. From Richmond Station, about 100 yards away, it’s less than half an hour to London’s West End on the District Line or 20 minutes to London Waterloo on mainline trains. Additionally, it’s within walking distance of Richmond Park.

02 of 07 – The Barrow House: Egerton, Kent

If a quiet stay in a country pub close to plenty of attractions is what you’re after, the Barrow House in the tiny Kentish village of Egerton might suit your preferences perfectly.

The white clapboard village pub dates from 1576, crafted from timbers used in sailing ships and cob and straw plaster. It was once known as The George. The current owners, ex-London chef Dane Allchorne and his wife Sarah, renamed it after a prehistoric barrow that you can hike across the Kent Weald to visit. It has been modernized inside but retains much traditional 17th-century oak timber framing and slate floors.

The Barrow House is ideally positioned for a few days of touring Kent, its oast houses, gardens, castles, and family attractions. Top attractions within about 10 miles or less of the pub include the Leeds Castle, known as the loveliest castle in England; Sissinghurst Castle & Gardens; Pluckley, reputed to be the most haunted village in England; and Ashford International Station for Eurostar, along with other trains to Continental Europe.

03 of 07 – The White Cliffs Hotel and the Cliffe Pub & Kitchen: St.-Margaret’s-at-Cliff

Facing the long drive from London to the ferry port at Dover can be daunting. Staying overnight before an early sailing makes a lot of sense, but the hotels in the port are singularly uninspiring.

Luckily, the White Cliffs Hotel and its Cliffe Pub & Kitchen offers a comfortable alternative and is the perfect stopover before leaving for a continental vacation. The pub on the High Street, St Margaret’s at Cliffe, is only about 5 miles from the ferry port. It is a 16th-century, white clapboard coaching inn with 16 rooms in the main building, mews cottages, and old school rooms.

04 of 07 – The Windmill: Clapham Common, London

You’d hardly believe you’re in London when you look out of the windows of this historic pub and see grassy meadows, mature trees, and, in good weather, sunbathers around a pond.

The Windmill, another Young’s pub, is embedded in Clapham Common, a 220-acre south London park. However, it’s just a 10-minute walk to either Clapham Common or Clapham South Underground Stations. Additionally, from either station, it’s under 15 minutes on the Northern Line to London Bridge Station and the center of town.

The Windmill’s 17th-century facade camouflages a modern addition that appears at first glance like another building in the residential enclave of Windmill Drive. In fact, it’s a modern, 42-room, 3-star hotel.

05 of 07 – The Victoria: Sheen, London

Sheen is a posh, tucked away residential corner of Richmond, and the Victoria, run by the small Jolly Fine Pub Group, is so secluded amid suburban villas that you’ll need a car and GPS to locate it. However, it’s worth the effort for a very different experience. This cozy local gastropub has seven tidy guest rooms, a dark and woody traditional pub, a sunny conservatory, and a sheltered beer garden.

The Victoria can be easily accessed from Heathrow and is a 15-minute walk along Fife Road to the Sheen Gate to Richmond Park.

06 of 07 – The Malt House: Fulham, London

The Malt House is a spacious urban pub in West London, located less than half a mile from Chelsea Football Club at Stamford Bridge. If you think this means the pub will be busy during Chelsea matches, you’d be right. However, most of the time, it is simply a lively London establishment tucked into a hidden square just five minutes from Fulham Broadway Underground Station.

07 of 07 – The Red Lion: East Haddon, Northamptonshire

The Red Lion in East Haddon, Northamptonshire, is more of a traditional country inn than a pub in the strictest sense. Nevertheless, as country inns go, it is a classic made of golden stone with an impressive thatched roof and slate floors.

This pub is ideally located for visiting Princess Diana’s childhood home, Althorp, and Holdenby House, which was once a royal palace and a civil war prison for King Charles I. However, it is advisable to have a car and navigation system to find it in its rural setting.

The Red Lion features seven rooms, including a loft with a romantic freestanding bath beside the bed. Other rooms may feel quirky or cramped based on personal taste. The toilet and shower facilities are quite compact. Room rates start at £95 for one and £110 for two, with occasional weekend rates.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services (in this case, lunches) for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, we believe in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.