The Evergreen Inn

The smell of bacon drifting up ancient stairs, rain tapping at leaded windows, that particular creak of floorboards in a building that's stood for centuries.

This is a traditional inn with a modern twist — guest house rooms inside and camping pods in the garden for those who want a bed with a roof but still fancy sleeping outdoors. It suits couples after a Cotswolds base without the full camping commitment, walkers doing the Oxford Canal towpath, or anyone exploring Banbury and the villages beyond. Dogs are welcome by arrangement, so worth asking when you book if you're bringing one along. The pods give you that cosy cabin feeling while the inn rooms offer proper country hospitality.

You're year-round here, which is rare for pods, making it a solid winter option when canvas feels a step too far. Campfires are a maybe — check when you arrive as it likely depends on conditions and where you're pitched. Expect a warm welcome, a proper breakfast if you're in the main building, and that half-inn, half-campsite vibe that works surprisingly well.