Private Kent wine tour
Your own driver and guide for the day, visiting two Kent vineyards. Good for birthdays, hen parties and work outings.
Starts Ashford International station, Kent
Kent · Sussex · Surrey · Hampshire · and beyond
Vineyard tours across England
Our hand-picked list of England’s best vineyard tours and tastings, from Chapel Down in Kent and Rathfinny in Sussex to Denbies in Surrey and Hambledon in Hampshire, all in one place.
The most popular English wine tours
If you’re staying in London, a day tour with transport is the easy option: someone else drives, and lunch is sorted. If you’re already near the vineyards, a tour and tasting at a single estate costs far less.
- A short list, checked before we add it
- Free cancellation on most bookings
- Nobody has to drive
Full-day wine tour in Sussex and Kent
Two or three vineyards in the East Sussex and Kent countryside, with a guided tour at each and tastings, and no driving for you to worry about.
Starts Hotel pickup in East Sussex and Kent, including Hastings, Cranbrook and Pluckley
Sussex by vintage bus from Brighton
A 1960s Routemaster to two Sussex vineyards, with a picnic of Sussex produce among the vines. A fun one for birthdays.
Starts Brighton station, Brighton
Hambledon vineyard tour and tasting
Seasonal note: Paused for harvest in October 2026, with a seated tasting in its place. Tours return in November.
England’s oldest commercial vineyard, planted in 1952. A walk through the vines and the gravity-fed winery, then three of their sparkling wines.
Starts Hambledon Vineyard, Hambledon, Hampshire
More tours we like
A vintage bus from London with train tickets included, an e-bike ride on the South Downs, a guided walk to a Sussex vineyard, and tastings at two of Kent’s best-known estates.
Sussex vintage bus tour with train from London
Return train tickets from London to Sussex, then a vintage bus to two vineyards, with lunch at one of them.
Starts London, by train to Sussex
Sussex and Surrey wine tour from London
A pioneering Sussex estate, a sparkling wine specialist and a small vineyard in the Surrey Hills, with transport from London.
Starts London
E-bike the South Downs with a tasting at Albourne
Seasonal note: Albourne’s tasting room is closed for winter and reopens in spring 2027, so check what your date includes.
An e-bike ride over the South Downs and a tasting at Albourne Estate.
Starts Albourne, near Brighton, West Sussex
Guided walk and vineyard tour from Alfriston
A guided walk through the South Downs countryside, lunch at a village pub and a visit to an award-winning vineyard.
Starts Alfriston, East Sussex
Balfour vineyard walk and tasting
A walk through the vines at Hush Heath, home of Balfour, and a tasting of three of their wines.
Starts Balfour Winery, Staplehurst, Kent
Gusbourne sparkling wine tasting
A tasting of four of Gusbourne’s vintage sparkling wines at the estate on the edge of Romney Marsh.
Starts Gusbourne Estate, Appledore, near Ashford, Kent
Choose a region
Most English vineyards are in the south-east, within about two hours of London. Pick the one that’s easiest to reach from where you’re staying: the wine is excellent in all four.
Sussex
Sparkling wine on the chalk of the South Downs. Tours leave from London, Brighton and Horsham, by vintage bus, minibus, e-bike or on foot.
Sussex wine toursKent
Chapel Down, Gusbourne and Balfour, plus the most day trips from London. Easy by train from St Pancras.
Kent wine toursSurrey
Denbies near Dorking, one of the largest vineyards in England, under an hour from Waterloo or Victoria.
Surrey wine toursHampshire
Hambledon, the country’s oldest commercial vineyard, and a quieter wine scene around Winchester and the Meon Valley.
Hampshire wine toursPlanning your own route? Our vineyard directory covers 65 vineyards open to visitors, and the Wealden Wine Trail links sixteen of them in East Sussex. Further afield, there are tours in the Chilterns and around Henley and in the West Country, and our guide to England’s wine regions covers the rest.
Christmas gifts
A vineyard day makes a good present
Most of these tours can be booked for a date next spring or summer, and many have free cancellation, so there’s little risk in buying early.
Cellar door wine tour from London
Tastings at several vineyards in Kent and Sussex, with lunch and the driving taken care of.
Starts London Bridge, central London
Sussex by vintage bus
The Routemaster day out, with a picnic in the vineyard. A good one for a birthday or a hen party.
Starts Brighton station, Brighton
Planning your day
- When to goMay to October is the main season. The vines are in leaf from late spring, and harvest runs through September and October. Many cellar doors stay open for tastings through the winter.
- What it costsA day tour from London with transport, tastings and lunch is usually £150 to £175 a head. A tour and tasting at one vineyard is £25 to £40.
- Getting thereTake a tour that includes transport, or take the train and a short taxi ride. Don’t plan on driving between tastings.
- What to wearFlat shoes you don’t mind getting muddy, and a layer. Vineyards are on slopes, and even summer tastings can be breezy.
Bring the vineyard home
The English bottles we would pick, from Nyetimber and Chapel Down to the small estates, and where to buy each one. Sparkling, rosé and still wines, with prices checked every week.
Buy English wineQuestions people ask
Where is the best place in England for a wine tour?
Sussex and Kent have the most vineyards open to visitors and the most bookable tours. Surrey is the quickest to reach from London, and Hampshire is home to Hambledon, England’s oldest commercial vineyard.
Can I do an English wine tour as a day trip from London?
Yes. Several tours pick up in central London and visit two or three vineyards in Kent, Sussex or Surrey, with lunch included, and bring you back the same evening. See our wine tours from London.
Is English wine any good?
English sparkling wine regularly wins international awards and is made the same way as Champagne, from the same grapes, on similar chalk soils. Still whites such as Bacchus are worth trying too.
When is the best time of year to visit an English vineyard?
June to September for green vines and outdoor tastings, or September and October to see the harvest. Tours run through much of the year, but some estates cut back their tour days in winter.
How much does an English wine tour cost?
A full day from London with transport, tastings and lunch usually costs £150 to £175 per person. A tour and tasting booked at a single vineyard is usually £25 to £40.