Chilterns wine tour: three boutique vineyards
Pickup from Amersham station, then three small Chilterns vineyards, meeting the people who make the wine, with tours and tastings at each.
Starts Amersham station, Buckinghamshire
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Buckinghamshire · Oxfordshire
Chilterns and Henley wine tours
North-west of London, the chalk hills of the Chilterns and the Thames valley around Henley are home to a cluster of small vineyards. Both tours here start from a railway station, so you can leave the car at home.
Tours you can book
Henley wine tour: three vineyards with lunch
Three boutique vineyards around Henley-on-Thames, with the owners, tastings and lunch paired with the wines.
Starts Twyford station, Berkshire
Vineyards you can visit
The vineyards here are small, family-run and mostly planted for sparkling wine on the same chalk that runs under the North and South Downs. Few open every day the way the big Sussex and Kent estates do, which is why a guided day is the easiest way to see several. If you would rather go on your own, these welcome visitors:
- Chiltern Valley, HambledenAt Old Luxters above the Hambleden valley, near Henley, with vines first planted in 1982. A winery, brewery and liqueur maker in one, it runs a tour and tutored tasting of about one and a half to two hours, and has a cellar shop, a food truck and bed and breakfast rooms.
- Fairmile, Henley-on-ThamesA sparkling wine vineyard on the edge of Henley, within walking distance of the station. Tours run all year by appointment, and the cellar door opens on Tuesday and Saturday mornings and Thursday lunchtimes.
- Oaken Grove, FawleyA short drive from Henley in the Chiltern Hills, with regular tours and tastings and events through the summer. Check its website for dates.
- Harrow and Hope, near MarlowOn the slopes above the Thames by Marlow. Visits are by booked tour with a tasting.
- Daws Hill, RadnageOn a south-facing hillside in the Radnage valley near High Wycombe, offering tours and tastings at the vineyard and winery.
- Brightwell, near WallingfordSells its wines from the vineyard house from Friday to Sunday, 12pm to 6pm, and runs bookable tours and tasting events.
Opening times at small vineyards change with the season and the harvest, so check each one's own website before you set off.
Getting there
- AmershamThe Chilterns tour picks up at Amersham station, at the end of the Metropolitan line and on the line from London Marylebone.
- Twyford and HenleyThe Henley tour picks up on the forecourt of Twyford station or in Henley-on-Thames. Twyford is on the Elizabeth line and on main-line trains from London Paddington.
- Amersham pick-up pointThe minibus waits on King George V Road, three minutes' walk from Amersham station: turn right out of the station and it is the first road on the right. Pick-up is at about 9.30am and you are back by about 4pm.
- Driving insteadMost of these vineyards are down narrow lanes with limited parking, and on a tasting day someone has to stay sober. Both tours take care of the driving, which is much of their appeal.
Want more choice? Surrey is the other vineyard area close to London, and our wine tours from London include transport from the city.
Questions people ask
Are there vineyards in the Chilterns?
Yes. The Chilterns have a cluster of small vineyards, and a guided tour from Amersham visits three of them in a day.
Can I do a wine tour from Henley-on-Thames?
Yes. A full-day tour visits three boutique vineyards around Henley, with lunch, picking up at Twyford station or in Henley.
Which Chilterns wine tour should I choose?
Both last about six and a half hours, visit three small vineyards and include lunch. Choose the Amersham tour if you are coming from north or central London on the Metropolitan line, and the Henley tour if the Elizabeth line or Paddington suits you better, or you are staying near Henley.
What kind of wine is made in the Chilterns?
Mostly sparkling wine made the traditional way, from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grown on chalk, along with some still whites, rosés and reds. The vineyards are small, so many of the wines are only sold at the cellar door or locally.
Can I visit Chilterns vineyards without a tour?
Yes, but plan ahead. Chiltern Valley near Hambleden runs bookable tours all year, Fairmile in Henley opens by appointment, and several others open only on set days. See the list above and check each vineyard's website.
Are Chilterns wine tours suitable for a group?
Yes. Both are small-group days with transport between the vineyards, so they work well for a birthday or a few friends. For a group of your own, see the private wine tour from London.