The 12 Best Vineyards Near London

When you think of premier winemaking destinations, your mind likely goes to the rolling hills of Tuscany or the verdant vineyards of New Zealand. It might come as a surprise to know that England is actually home to plenty of vineyards that have been producing wine for decades, and not only that but winning international awards for it too.

The best English wines tend to be of the sparkling variety, but all kinds of products are crafted and sold from local vineyards all over the country. In this article, we share our recommendations for some of the best vineyards near London, to help inspire you to plan a visit next time you’re staying close to the capital. 

Chapel Down is one of the largest wineries in England, which is just one of the reasons why it’s top of our list of the best vineyards near London. Best known for their award-winning sparkling wines, the vineyards here benefit from soil conditions that are very similar to that of Champagne, leading to high-quality British wines including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Bacchus varieties.

If you’re looking to visit one of the best UK vineyards, there’s no doubt that Chapel Down is a strong contender. Located in the village of SmallHythe near Tenterden in Kent, it’s easy to reach Chapel Down by car, or the nearest train station that connects with London is only 20 minutes away. You can enjoy a range of different tours and wine tasting experiences here, with a variety of options that include meals at the vineyard’s 2AA Rosette restaurant, The Swan.

The wines produced at Gusbourne are grown in vineyards in both Kent and West Sussex, but it’s the Appledore estate in Kent that you’ll want to visit for a vineyard tour and tasting. Whilst Gusbourne only planted their first vines in 2004, they quickly made an impression on the English wine scene with their sparkling varieties in particular.

Not only is the estate beautiful, but at Gusbourne they also take a sustainable approach to winemaking and utilise biodiversity to ensure their vineyards benefit from as much natural goodness as possible with minimal intervention. Whether you choose a wine tasting experience or a full tour of the estate, you’ll benefit from expert insight and idyllic surroundings, all only an hour from St Pancras station.

Another of the best vineyards in England that is particularly famous for its sparkling wine is Nyetimber, which prides itself on only using grapes grown on the estate. Not only are the products of the vineyard multi-award winning, but they also help to support the company’s social responsibility initiatives, which include prioritising sustainability in their growing approach and supporting the local community.

Nyetimber only opens its doors to visitors for several days each year, running tours of the estate and exclusive wine tasting sessions along with the chance to buy their wines at cellar prices. If you’re staying in or near London during the summer when these tours take place, it’s well worth making the trip to one of the best English vineyards in West Sussex.

One of the better-known vineyards in England, Ridgeview is a family estate located in the South Downs National Park in Sussex. They’re best known for their sparkling wine and have the accolade of being crowned IWSC Winemaker Of The Year in 2018, which was the first time it had been presented to an English producer. They’re also a certified B Corp, using a variety of sustainable practices to grow and harvest their grapes and also to run their onsite restaurant The Rows & Vine.

There are a variety of vineyard tours and tasting experiences available for guests at Ridgeview, including a wine and cheese session where wines from the estate are paired with local Sussex cheeses. It’s about an hour on the train from central London and then only a short taxi ride from Burgess Hill station, with wine tasting trips available all year round.

If you consider yourself to be a bit of an avant-garde wine expert then Tillingham is certainly one of the best vineyards near London for you to visit. Specialising in natural and biodynamic wine, the farm and vineyards are holistically and sustainably managed and the 70-acre site itself is incredibly beautiful, with views of the vines, river and woodland.

It’s easy to spend a whole day at Tillingham, with a Michelin Green star restaurant, shop, wine tasting rooms, wine bar and an outdoor pizza barn open in the summer. Vineyard tours and tasting experiences are available to book every day, which include a guided tasting of four of the estate’s wines and are limited to six people for a more personal experience. The journey from London to Rye takes just over an hour and is well worth the excursion for quite a unique experience.

Spread across 400 acres of the countryside in Kent, Balfour Winery is part of the Hush Heath Estate. Producing beer and cider alongside wine, they’re most famous for their Balfour Brut Rosé which was the first English wine to win both a gold medal and Trophy at the International Wine Challenge in 2007. It’s one of the most popular wineries near London to visit, particularly if you’re a fan of pink sparkling wine.

The impressive size of Balfour Winery means that there are plenty of options for things to do when you visit, including a selection of tasting experiences that range from tours of the estate to wine tasting masterclasses and meals with tailored wine pairings. There’s also a restaurant onsite that makes the most of local and seasonal ingredients and has outdoor seating which is lovely in the summer. If you’re looking for a more casual experience, you can enjoy a self-guided tour of the vineyard followed by a drink.

The vineyard is easy to reach by car, but there’s also a shuttle bus service that runs at the weekend from Marden Station.

Another of the best places for sparkling wine tasting near London, Tinwood Estate near Chichester is family-owned and produces a variety of different sparkling wines that are all grown across the 275-acre farm. Located towards the edge of the South Downs, it’s a lovely spot year-round with a busy events calendar on top of the different tours and tasting sessions on offer.

Wine tasting tours at Tinwood involve a guided walk around the estate to learn about its history, as well as trying their three signature sparkling wines under the guidance of an expert. Another popular tour includes a traditional afternoon tea, or you can enjoy British-style small plates at the Vineyard Kitchen restaurant. In the summer, visitors can also enjoy a picnic hamper from the restaurant out in the grounds.

Since 1991, Nutbourne has been a renowned winery near London, owned by the Gladwin family who took over the estate after the first vines were planted in 1979. You’ll find both still and sparkling wine varieties produced here, all made from grapes exclusively grown on the estate. No matter your preferences, you can sip from red, white, and rosé when you visit.

Wine tasting tours are offered at Nutbourne between Spring and early Autumn, including a tour of the vineyard and the chance to try six different varieties that are grown here. Self-guided tours are available year-round, or for a gastronomic experience you can enjoy a picnic amongst the vines, a grazing platter on a platform with views of the estate, or special events pairing local food with live music.

If you’re looking for a vineyard near London that’s got a food offering just as impressive as its wine, Kinsbrook Vineyard in Sussex is a strong contender. Managed by some of the youngest vineyard owners in the UK and describing itself as ‘progressive’, it’s a trendy spot with an exceptional restaurant that has a regularly changing menu based on sustainably sourced local ingredients. Both breakfast and lunch are on offer, so it’s well worth a visit even if you’re not planning on trying the wine.

With wine tasting tours running year-round, you can enjoy a guided walk through the vineyard and a guided tasting of three of their signature wines. We’ve already recommended a trip to the restaurant, but there’s also an on-site grocery store offering a fantastic selection of sustainable produce and gifts, including wine, cheese, and meat from an in-house butcher. Not only can you enjoy fine food and wine at Kinsbrook, but you can then take it all home with you!

As the oldest commercial vineyard in England, Hambledon is frequently recommended as one of the best places for wine tasting near London. Established in 1952 and located on the edge of a small village in Hampshire, it’s a historic home of innovation in English winemaking and a fantastic place to visit.

The cuvée varieties produced at Hambledon are sparkling wines, with classic and rose options available if you’re taking part in a wine tasting or purchasing after your visit. On a wine tasting tour, you’ll be led around the beautiful vineyards, down to the cellars and through the winery as an expert talks through the history and processes involved in creating Hambledon wine. You can make your tasting even more special by opting for afternoon tea alongside it or a trip to the restaurant in nearby Mill Down House for an exceptional fine dining experience.

Another of the big names in English winemaking, the Bolney Wine Estate has five vineyards spread across the South Downs that produce award-winning wine. The selection of different wine-tasting experiences you can choose from here is one reason why it's such a popular winery near London. From sunset tours to wine and cheese tastings and an ultimate three-hour wine and food experience, the estate is well-equipped for wine fans with a variety of preferences and experiences.

As well as touring the vineyards, you can also visit the Eighteen Acre Café on the estate which has indoor and outdoor seating with lovely views of the vines. There’s also a vineyard shop where you can stock up on products before you leave.

For one of the largest vineyards near London, take a trip to Denbies near Dorking in Surrey. It’s a family-run, single-estate vineyard that has been producing wine since the 1980s and is a great place to spend an entire day if you’re looking for the best places for wine tasting trips. 

There are several miles of footpaths that wind their way around Denbies estate which you’ll traverse on a walking tour, or if you’d rather not explore on foot then there’s also an option to take a tour of the vineyards on a small train. Indoors, wine tasting tours here can also include a range of different dining experiences, hosted at either The Gallery Restaurant or the Denbies Vineyard Restaurant. As well as wine, the estate also houses a brewery and a gin distillery, so there’s something to suit all tastes when you visit!

England might not have a reputation for wine making that can compare with many other European countries, but the varieties that are grown here are certainly worth paying attention to. A day of wine tasting can be a lovely experience if you’re staying near London and want to celebrate an occasion or enjoy an activity that prioritises great food and drink, especially as so many of the vineyards near London have excellent restaurants. Surrounded by the beautiful English countryside, a trip to a vineyard is an ideal way to spend your time.

For more recommendations on the best food and drink experiences to enjoy whilst staying in the UK, take a look at our blog. Or, if you’re searching for somewhere to stay near London that is close to one of the wineries featured in this article, browse our collection of beautiful luxury houses to rent in the south east.