Disney World’s faux UK city full with pub and chippy left me speechless
Walt Disney World has a fake UK town in its EPCOT theme park with its own pub, chippy and tea rooms – so naturally I had to go and see what Americans think the UK is like
A trip to the pub was a must
I’m sat outside the pub, a pint in one hand and some chips in the other, enjoying the sunshine and some people watching. Only, I’m not actually anywhere in the UK, and most of the people who pass by are wearing Mickey Mouse ears. In fact, I’m actually sat in the middle of a fake UK town, in the EPCOT theme park at Walt Disney World, Florida.
EPCOT is made up of a series of pavilions inspired by countries around the world, and that includes the UK. Naturally, curiosity got to me about what Americans think Britain truly is like – and I have to admit, the result left me speechless.
The team behind the design and theming – dubbed the Imagineers – actually have got it pretty spot on, although this being a theme park it’s definitely got a cleaner shine and feel to it. Still, the UK pavilion boasts its own pub, chippy and tea rooms, all of which were pretty close to what you’d get back home.
The Rose & Crown Pub
The Rose & Crown Pub in EPCOT
Julie in front of the pub(Image: Julie Delahaye)
I headed straight to do some very important research, and check out whether they could recreate the pub experience. From the outside, the Rose & Crown wouldn’t look out of place in the UK. The decor and theming was impressive, and there was a decent selection of beers, ciders, whiskeys and wines. There was also an option to have a sangria which was the only item on the menu that felt a bit rogue to me.
I waited about 10 minutes to get served, which isn’t bad at all compared to what you can end up enduring on a Saturday night in a Wetherspoons. The pints were decently poured, and there were some ‘classic’ British drinks including a Pimm’s for $15.50 which, to be honest, isn’t far off what people were paying at Wimbledon this summer.
The pub is a drinks-only kind of spot, but there was a bit of seating indoors for those who did want to stay a little longer. Overall there was a good vibe, but it all felt a little too clean and wholesome compared to the kind of pub trip you could easily find in any British town.
(Side note: The Rose & Crown Pub is currently expected to close in January 2027 for refurbishment and reopen later in the year).
The chippy
The menu at the chippy in EPCOT(Image: Julie Delahaye)
The chippy; another British classic. EPCOT is renowned for its excellent food, and the queue for this chippy suggests that they’re delivering with the beer-battered fish and chips at the aptly-named Yorkshire County Fish and Chips . A portion of both cost $14.49 (approximately £10) which didn’t feel half bad, and the portions looked pretty sizeable. There was also a condiments counter with the likes of ketchup, mayonnaise and vinegar, although I couldn’t see an option for curry sauce, which I suspect could be controversial with some visiting Brits! Unfortunately, the queue was quite long when I was visiting, and I decided to spend my time/money on a different pavilion given that I knew I could get decent fish and chips back home.
The tea garden
The tea rooms had the vibes of a countryside village(Image: Julie Delahaye)
I’ll admit – I only had a quick look around this bit, because I wasn’t particularly bothered about stopping for a cup of tea. However for tea enthusiasts, this is a tranquil little spot, and given it’s in partnership with Twinings, you know it’s going to be a decent cuppa. You can take a tour of the tea gardens full of plants used to create the likes of Earl Grey, Lady Grey, Jasmine Green, and Chai, and of course there’s also a shop where you can pick up some of your favourite brews.
My experience of tea rooms and tea shops is limited – I’ve stopped off once or twice on a weekend break, but usually because I’ve been told about a great Full English or brunch spot (and I’m willing to admit that I’m entering my ‘garden centres are a nice place for a Saturday morning’ era). Still, given it was in the middle of a huge theme park, this area felt really relaxed and wholesome – a nice break from the crowds.
The overall vibe
A theme park is never going to feel exactly like home, but EPCOT gets pretty close. The pub and chippy definitely offer a taste of what British culture is like, and the tea rooms felt like a wholesome little corner of the resort. Overall, I managed to overcome my British cynicism, and was pleasantly surprised at just how great the theming was. It’s the ideal spot to enjoy a pint in the sunshine – so cheers to that!
