2 Best Restaurants in The Southeast, England

Located near the castle in Herstmonceux and set within a 17th-century brick farmhouse with wood-beamed ceilings, this charming restaurant features imaginative, modern French fare. Opt for "Vincent’s 5-Course Menu Dégustation" (£70 per person); it changes with the seasons but may include pan-fried king scallops with pine nuts and tarragon, venison medallion with black peppercorn and juniper cream sauce, and Crêpe Suzette. For those who prefer to order à-la-carte, main courses are priced at £34.

Once the home of Victorian novelist William Makepeace Thackeray, this mid-17th-century tile-hung house is now an elegant restaurant known for creative French cuisine, with à la carte dishes like roast stone bass with artichoke sauce and confit pork belly with blue cheese ravioli. A starter, main (plus side), and dessert will easily set you back £65, so if you're feeling hungry, it's probably best to just opt for the prix fixe, seven-course "Chef's Tasting Menu" (£78 per person, plus £55 for wine pairing).