If you were to head 11 miles north of Liverpool or 16 miles west of Wigan, you’d stumble across an unassuming village that’s home to around 8,300 people.
While those who’ve visited say it’s a ‘peaceful’ and ‘wonderful’ little spot, it’s fair to say there’s not a lot to keep you occupied in Aughton, Lancashire.
According to Tripadvisor there are three main things to do: go to church, or visit the Oaks Golf Club either for a round of golf or a pamper session at the spa.
Despite this, people from all over Europe and even as far as the US return to the village each year for one simple reason: the food.
Aughton is a must-visit for foodies with not one, not two, but three Michelin Star restaurants. They have an impressive five stars between them and are all within walking distance of one another.
Where to eat in Aughton
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Moor Hall, a hotel with a modern British restaurant, is the most notable. It has three stars to its name, which means the Michelin gods have deemed the food ‘exceptional’.
If that weren’t enough, the restaurant also boasts a Michelin Green Star for its sustainable practices (most of the seasonal produce is grown in the grounds of the hall), as well as five AA Rosettes. It was just named the second best restaurant in the UK in the National Restaurant Awards 2025.
Headed up by chef Mark Birchall, the restaurant serves a Provenance tasting menu for dinner which is priced at £235 per person (this is going up to £265 from July 1). There’s also a four-course lunch menu for £125 per person (£145 as of July 1).
The restaurant has a cheese room containing some of ‘the best British and Irish Farmhouse cheeses’, as well as a wine cellar.
The AA Awards 2024 awarded Moor Hall’s wine list as the ‘best in England and overall’, and there are two options for wine pairings with a meal, including a £145 Prestige pairing or a Rarity pairing for £295. An alcohol-free pairing is also available for £85 and features single vintage teas from around the globe.
There are hundreds of five star reviews on Google, which hail the food as ‘amazing’, ‘fantastic’ and ‘the best in the country’.
Kate Weil wrote: ‘Been here several times. It is quite simply the best restaurant in the country. Staff are exceptional, food is beyond belief and the wine is everything. Michelin and quality hospitality at its best. Love coming here, worth every penny.’
Similarly, Saveena Pomian said: ‘Difficult to express this experience in words. You feel every course is the best thing you have ever tasted, only to be beaten by the next! From the amuse bouche including a delectable warm black pudding in a crisp shell to the most amazing beef tartare that burst with freshness on the palate. This was followed up by native lobster with a delicate flavour and then a moist Guinea hen with a perfect side of offal ragout.
‘The carefully chosen ginger ice cream freshens ready for an apple and blackberry pudding. There is an amazing choice of English cheeses followed by an exciting choice of petit fours. We had 12 ‘courses’ in all and the wine pairing was perfect.’
They added: ‘The atmosphere is relaxed and the service is spot on. Attentive without being obtrusive. An absolutely fantastic gastronomic experience’
Moor Hall is also home to the second of Aughton’s three Michelin Star restaurants, The Barn.
This is a sister restaurant to the main dining space and shares the same ethos, however dining here is much more affordable. Set in a rustic barn, a three course lunch will cost £48 per person, while a set dinner menu is £56 per person.
Example dishes might include Chalk stream trout, radish, sea greens and malted wheat or Roasted Sladesdown duck served with organic carrots, red kale and girolles. On Sundays, you can tuck into a hearty roast dinner with 60-day-aged Belted Galloway Sirloin or Herdwick Lamb Rump with yorkshire puddings and some other fabulous trimmings.
The third and final spot is sō–lō, another modern British restaurant set in an ‘understated’ and informal setting.
Created by chef Tim Allen, the menu features culinary influences from around the world, mixing flavours and textures with seasonal ingredients.
Guests can choose between a £105 tasting menu for dinner, a £52 three-course lunch or a £64 Sunday lunch menu that features dishes such as Cumbrian Heritage Sirloin, Ham, Egg & Chips and an artisanal cheese plate.
‘Unstuffy’ sō–lō has garnered a big online following with dozens of impressive reviews. Phil Steele posted on Google that his meal there was ‘incredible excellent’, while Nidtima Maroengsit commented: ‘Had an amazing experience. The food is fantastic, especially the Sunday roast – truly a must-try. The staff are so friendly and helpful, making the whole dining experience even better. Highly recommend it!’
Others said it was ‘as close to perfection as you can get’.
How to get to Aughton
If you’re in London, you’ll have to be prepared to spend a fair chunk of time getting to Aughton.
The train is the quickest way to get there but there is no direct service.
You’ll want to start at London Euston and take an Avanti West Coast train to Liverpool Lime Street. From here, you’ll want to head to Liverpool Central and then get the Merseyrail towards Ormskirk, getting off at Town Green (Aughton).
Moor Hall is a 15-minute walk from the station, while sō–lō is just five minutes away.
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And if you’re heading on a trip soon, here’s some advice about what you should and shouldn’t eat on the plane, from someone who spent 12 years working in cabin crew…
What else is there to do in Aughton?
Aughton is mostly residential, so there’s not too much to do but the wider parish does have two shopping areas, two train stations, churches and a village hall.
As well as visiting the local Michelin star restaurants, there are a few other pubs and eateries in the village, including The Dog and Gun Inn, Daily Dose Coffee, The Stanley Arms and Arthur’s of Aughton.
And nature lovers can head to the Gorse Hill Nature Reserve to see various wildlife or visit the cafe.
For more to do, you can head to nearby Ormskirk, where you’ll find farms to visit with the kids, the WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre, the West Lancashire Light Railway, Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve, and various walking and cycling routes.
Beach lovers aren’t far from the coast, as Formby Beach is just a nine mile drive from Aughton, or if you’re more of a city person, Liverpool is a little over 30 minutes by car or train.
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