Two Very Different British Legends Share a Hidden Corner of England

Local lore says a snowy stroll through Great Malvern, a hillside town in central England, once inspired the lamppost scene in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." Decades later, the same hills became a quiet refuge for former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during her memoir-writing years. Today, the Malvern Hills, a scenic ridge near the Welsh border, draws new visitors, and the hillside hotel at the center of both stories, The Cottage in the Wood, now has a growing reputation for warm, thoughtful hospitality.

Local tourism planners say the hills are no longer just a British secret. Rising interest from American travelers looking for more relaxed alternatives to the Cotswolds has helped drive new overnight stays, pushing the area's visitor economy past $262 million and supporting more than 4,000 jobs. When I visited, the footpaths were busy even on a weekday afternoon, with both tourists and locals shopping, dining and exploring.

A hillside restaurant changes the game

The Malvern Hills National Landscape covers about 40 square miles of grassy summits and ancient woodland, rising from the flat Severn Plain. The highest point, Worcestershire Beacon, offers views stretching across 13 counties on a clear day; a panorama far removed from Britain's usual tourist routes.

High on the hillside sits The Cottage in the Wood, a former Georgian villa built in 1919. The hotel has long attracted notable guests, including Thatcher, but its increasingly strong culinary reputation is reshaping why people seek it out.

When I visited for dinner, the staff described how the restaurant has become a destination in its own right, bringing guests who once overlooked the area. Its 1919 Restaurant earned three AA Rosettes in 2024, placing it among a small cohort of U.K. dining rooms recognized for high standards and creative menus. For a rural setting known more for walking trails than white tablecloths, the distinction has made the property an unlikely fine-dining stop.

The restaurant's rise has made the hotel a stop for travelers who plan trips around food as much as scenery, a habit increasingly common among American visitors. Inside the tasting room, miniature gas lamps, a nod to Lewis's lamppost, tie the area's literary lore to its modern focus on food.

Rural destinations draw the crowds

Britain's broader tourism rebound is shaping what happens on the hillside. The United Kingdom welcomed 5.6 million U.S. visitors in 2024, a record year in which Americans spent $9.56 billion, averaging approximately $1,700 per trip. Many were repeat travelers looking beyond major cities for smaller towns, scenic stays and food-led itineraries. Global market data show rural and heritage destinations are among the fastest-growing parts of the tourism industry, a trend planners say is helping push the Malvern Hills, and its standout restaurant, into the spotlight.

For visitors exploring the area, part of the draw is how easily the landscape, food and stories connect. Great Malvern's surviving Victorian gas lamps, more than 80 remain, still glow along the town's steep lanes, a link to Lewis' fictional world. Hikers cross open commons and wooded slopes before stopping at St. Ann's Well or continuing to restaurants and hotels overlooking the valley.

A hidden corner waiting to be seen

Whether Americans embrace the Malvern Hills in large numbers remains to be seen, but planners say growing interest is already shaping the district. They argue that careful, steady growth will help the area keep the peaceful atmosphere that once drew Lewis and Thatcher while letting the 1919 Restaurant play a larger role in its future.

Mandy is a luxury travel, fine dining and bucket list adventure journalist with expert insight from 46 countries. She uncovers unforgettable experiences around the world and brings them to life through immersive storytelling that blends indulgence, culture and discovery, and shares it all with a global audience as co-founder of Food Drink Life. Her articles appear on MSN and through the Associated Press Wire in major U.S. outlets, including NBC, the Daily News, Boston Herald, Chicago Sun-Times and many more.