The Red Lion at Amersham-on-the-Hill is one of the more surprising pubs in the area: a building dating from the 1600s with a large, tranquil garden centred on a pond complete with koi carp, a wooden bridge, vintage machinery and a scattering of classic motorcycles that create an atmosphere impossible to manufacture. On a summer afternoon it is one of the most restorative places to sit in the area, and the low-ceilinged interior with its period details is equally rewarding in winter.
The kitchen produces honest food with a Sunday roast — the lamb shoulder roasted with particular care — that earns consistent praise, while the specials board adds seasonal variety. The beer selection is well-kept and the staff are warm and engaged. This is a pub for those who value the genuinely unusual over the predictable, run by a team that has clearly kept it worth visiting across the generations.
