The short answer
Five vineyards are a walk of twenty minutes or less from a station: The Mount, Warehorne and Westwell in Kent, and Denbies and Chilworth Manor in Surrey. Denbies is the easiest of all, about fifty minutes from London Waterloo and a fifteen-minute walk at the other end. Eleven more are a short taxi ride, and Balfour in Kent runs a free shuttle from Marden at weekends.
Walkable from the station
No taxi, no bus, no lift needed. Distances and walking times are the ones each vineyard gives on its own website.
| Vineyard | County | Station | From the station |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Mount Vineyard | Kent | Shoreham | Ten-minute walk, and Shoreham is 40 minutes from London |
| Denbies Wine Estate | Surrey | Dorking | Fifteen-minute walk; about 50 minutes from Waterloo, 60 from Victoria |
| Warehorne Vineyard | Kent | Ham Street | Ten to fifteen-minute walk |
| Chilworth Manor Vineyard | Surrey | Chilworth | Under a mile |
| Westwell Wines | Kent | Charing | A mile |
Hampshire is the gap. Hattingley Valley, Black Chalk, Raimes, Exton Park, The Grange and Louis Pommery England all sit well away from a station, so plan on a taxi from Winchester, Alresford or Andover, or a driver who is not drinking. Hambledon is the exception, a taxi from Petersfield.
A longer walk, if you like walking
- Ridgeview, SussexBurgess Hill is a 30 to 40-minute walk, or ten minutes by taxi. The wine bar and shop open all year and walk-ins are taken if there is room, so you do not have to commit to a tour.
- Domaine Evremond, KentChilham station is a 30-minute walk. Walk-ins can taste on the terrace or in the cellar door on a first-come basis.
- Artelium Wine Estate, SussexPlumpton station is under 30 minutes’ walk. Walk-in tastings are taken, though groups of more than four should book.
- Charles Palmer Vineyards, SussexWalk in from Winchelsea on the 1066 Country Walk.
- Birchden Vineyards, SussexWalk across the fields from Groombridge, on the Spa Valley Railway from Tunbridge Wells.
A short taxi from the station
Book the return leg before you start drinking, especially on a Sunday. Two of these stations have no rank at all.
| Vineyard | County | Station | Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greyfriars Vineyard | Surrey | Guildford, 35 minutes from Waterloo | Eight minutes. The vineyard advises against the bus, which means crossing a dual carriageway on foot |
| Court Garden | Sussex | Burgess Hill | Ten minutes |
| Bolney Wine Estate | Sussex | Haywards Heath | Fifteen minutes |
| Rathfinny Wine Estate | Sussex | Berwick or Polegate | A short ride |
| Wiston Estate | Sussex | Worthing or Horsham | About 20 minutes |
| Simpsons’ Wine Estate | Kent | Canterbury West, on the high-speed line from St Pancras | A short ride |
| Godstone Vineyards | Surrey | Caterham, Woldingham or Oxted | About two miles from each |
| Nyetimber | Sussex | Pulborough or Billingshurst | Book the taxi in advance |
| Gusbourne | Kent | Appledore | No taxis or buses at the station, so book ahead or come by taxi from Ashford International |
| Hambledon Vineyard | Hampshire | Petersfield | The bar and restaurant take walk-ins; tours must be booked |
| Stopham Vineyard | Sussex | Pulborough | The nearest station |
The one with a free shuttle
Balfour at Hush Heath in Kent runs a free shuttle bus between Marden station and the winery from Friday to Sunday. From Monday to Thursday you need a pre-booked taxi. The estate walk is free and needs no booking, and the Winemakers’ Kitchen is open seven days a week for lunch.
By steam train
Two Wealden Wine Trail vineyards sit on the Spa Valley Railway, the heritage line that runs from Tunbridge Wells.
- Wildwood Vineyard, EridgeAn off-grid family vineyard in woodland. Tours and guided tastings most weekends from May to September, with a cheese plate and a children’s nature trail. You can arrive by the steam railway.
- Birchden Vineyards, GroombridgeWalk across the fields from Groombridge station.
Let someone else do the driving
If the vineyard you want is not near a station, a tour that collects you is the next best thing. Several start in central London and take care of the driving between vineyards.
Or browse the vineyard directory county by county for the nearest station to each vineyard.
Questions people ask
Which English vineyard is easiest to reach from London by train?
Denbies near Dorking. It is about 50 minutes from London Waterloo and a 15-minute walk from Dorking station, and it opens every day of the year except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. The Mount Vineyard at Shoreham in Kent is a close second, 40 minutes from London and a ten-minute walk.
Can you visit a vineyard without a car?
Yes. Five vineyards in the south-east are a walk of 20 minutes or less from a station, another five are a longer walk, and eleven more are a short taxi ride. Balfour in Kent runs a free shuttle from Marden station from Friday to Sunday.
Do I need to book, or can I turn up?
It varies. Ridgeview, Artelium and Domaine Evremond all take walk-in tastings, and Denbies needs no booking for its shop or places to eat. Most tours and tutored tastings have to be booked, and the smaller estates often open only at weekends or on set days, so check before you buy a ticket.
Should I book a taxi in advance?
For the rural stations, yes. Appledore station in Kent has no taxis or buses at all, so the vineyard asks you to arrange one before you arrive or take a taxi from Ashford International instead. Nyetimber also asks visitors to book a taxi from Pulborough or Billingshurst ahead of time.