The 10 Best English Vineyards to Visit for Tours & Tastings

The best English vineyards to visit sit mostly in the South East of England, across Sussex, Kent, Hampshire and Surrey. Ten of the most rewarding are Bolney Wine Estate, Leonardslee, Nyetimber, Rathfinny and Ridgeview in Sussex, Chapel Down, Gusbourne and Westwell in Kent, Hambledon in Hampshire and Denbies in Surrey. Each one offers tours and tastings, and each suits a slightly different kind of day out.

Visiting them has never been more popular. Around 300 UK vineyards and wineries are now open to the public, and they welcomed 1.5 million visits in 2023, up 55% on the year before, according to figures from WineGB reported by Harpers. So which estate should you pick first? It depends on what you want from the day.

Our quick picks, by the kind of visit you want:

• Best for history: Hambledon (planted 1952) and Bolney (planted 1972)
• Best for an overnight stay: Rathfinny and Leonardslee
• Best for a big day out: Chapel Down and Denbies
• Best for sparkling wine fans: Nyetimber, Gusbourne, Ridgeview and Bolney
• Best for a small, relaxed visit: Westwell

What Are the Best English Vineyards to Visit?

There is no single best English vineyard to visit. The right choice depends on what you enjoy most: history, food, sparkling wine, a long walk or a night away. The ten estates below are some of the most established vineyards in England for tours and tastings, and they cover every style of visit.

We have grouped them by county, then listed them alphabetically, so you can plan by area. The table gives you a quick comparison before the detail.

Vineyard	County	Known for	Best for
1. Bolney Wine Estate	West Sussex	English sparkling wine from one of England’s earliest commercial vineyards, first planted in 1972	Sparkling wine with real heritage, all year round
2. Leonardslee	West Sussex	Estate-grown sparkling wine on a historic garden estate	Fine dining and an overnight stay
3. Nyetimber	West Sussex	One of England’s best-known sparkling wine houses	Sparkling wine fans who like to plan ahead
4. Rathfinny	East Sussex	Chalk hillside vineyard on the South Downs near Alfriston	Walkers, picnics and short breaks
5. Ridgeview	East Sussex	Family-run sparkling wine estate, founded in 1995	A relaxed sparkling tasting near Brighton
6. Chapel Down	Kent	WineGB’s Best Large Cellar Door in 2026	First-timers who want plenty to do
7. Gusbourne	Kent	Sparkling wine from Appledore, with a tasting room open daily	A polished tasting with lunch
8. Westwell	Kent	WineGB’s Best Small Cellar Door in 2026	A small, laid-back visit
9. Hambledon	Hampshire	England’s oldest commercial vineyard, planted in 1952	History lovers
10. Denbies	Surrey	England’s largest single-estate vineyard, with 265 acres of vines	An easy day trip from London

Why are most English vineyards in the South East?

The South East is England’s warmest, driest corner, and much of it sits on chalk and sandy soils that drain well. Those conditions, which winemakers call terroir, suit Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the main grapes in English sparkling wine. Kent has the most vineyard land and West Sussex is second, according to WineGB’s 2025 figures.

Sussex also gained protected status in 2022, as Decanter reported. Known as a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin), it means wine labelled “Sussex” must be grown and made in the county. Our guide to English wine regions explains where the country’s vineyards are and what each area does best.

The Best Vineyards to Visit in Sussex

Sussex has the widest choice of vineyard visits in England, from family estates with deep roots to newer names with restaurants and rooms. Most sit on or near the South Downs, so the views are a large part of the appeal.

1. Bolney Wine Estate, West Sussex

Best for: English sparkling wine with over 50 years of heritage, plus a long lunch

Bolney Wine Estate, near Haywards Heath in West Sussex, helped pioneer modern English wine. More than five decades on, it is best known for English sparkling wine. Janet and Rodney Pratt planted the first vines in 1972, when Bolney was one of just six commercial vineyards in the country. Country Living picked Bolney as one of 12 English vineyards to visit in 2026, noting it is less than an hour from central London by train.

The sparkling wines to try at Bolney:

• Bolney Bubbly: A non-vintage traditional method sparkling wine made from the classic Champagne grapes, fresh and easy to love
• Blanc de Blancs: A single-vintage sparkling wine made only from Chardonnay, with citrus, apple, brioche and hazelnut notes
• Cuvée Noir: A rare English sparkling red wine, which a City AM writer described as “duskily plummy” after a visit in June 2025

Jargon explained: Blanc de Blancs

Blanc de Blancs means “white from whites”. It is a sparkling wine made only from white grapes, usually Chardonnay, and tends to taste fresh, citrusy and elegant.

What else a visit to Bolney includes:

• Tours and tastings: Run all year, from short cellar door tastings to longer vineyard tours that pair wines with Sussex cheese or seasonal food. Tours include a guided tasting of five estate wines, according to Visit Brighton
• Fine dining: The Bolney Restaurant (formerly the Eighteen Acre Restaurant) has a first-floor balcony with views over the vines and seasonal, locally sourced menus
• Recognition: The estate received a VisitEngland Quality Food and Drink Accolade in its 2024 to 2025 Visitor Attraction Accolades
• Casual and outdoor dining: The walk-in Bolney Café and Wine Bar has a ground-floor terrace where dogs are welcome, and you can taste wines by the glass
• Walking: Sussex Life named Bolney its best Sussex vineyard walk for a leisurely lunch, on the five-mile, dog-friendly Bolney Stage and Wykehurst Park Circular
• Red wine heritage: Great British Chefs credits Bolney with helping to put English red wine on the map, and its Pinot Gris was the first English wine served at Wimbledon
• Getting there: About a 15-minute taxi ride from Haywards Heath or Burgess Hill stations, according to Hot Dinners

2. Leonardslee Family Vineyards, West Sussex

Best for: Fine dining and a night away

Leonardslee, near Horsham, grows sparkling wine grapes on 38 acres of a historic garden estate, according to Wine Paris. It is one of England’s newer wine names, yet it has risen quickly in international wine tourism rankings.

Leonardslee placed No. 56 in The World’s Best Vineyards 2025, and The World’s 50 Best named it one of England’s best vineyard stays. In the 2026 extended list, it sits at No.71, as Wine Industry Advisor reported.

3. Nyetimber, West Sussex

Best for: Sparkling wine fans who like to plan ahead

Nyetimber is one of the names that brought English sparkling wine to the world stage. Its first vines were planted in 1988, and it ranked No.32 in The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2025. It was also the first wine producer to be named Best Drinks Producer at the BBC Food and Farming Awards in 2025, as Retail Times reported.

Nyetimber is not a drop-in vineyard. Visits run through booked open days and events, including 2.5-hour open-day tours, according to Islands. Check dates early, as places are limited.

4. Rathfinny Wine Estate, East Sussex

Best for: Walkers, picnics and short breaks

Rathfinny spreads across the chalk hills of the South Downs, just outside the village of Alfriston. Decanter named it the best English vineyard for picnics, with tables set beside the vines. Planning your own? Here is what to pack for a vineyard picnic.

Rathfinny also suits a longer stay. Its Flint Barns has 10 bedrooms, so you can taste, dine and walk the Downs without driving home.

5. Ridgeview Wine Estate, East Sussex

Best for: A relaxed sparkling tasting near Brighton

Ridgeview sits on Ditchling Common in the South Downs National Park. Mike and Chris Roberts founded it in 1995, and the second generation now makes around 500,000 bottles of sparkling wine a year, according to Sussex Modern.

Ridgeview is open every day for drop-in visitors, with tours you can book ahead, as Experience West Sussex notes. It returned to the World’s 50 Best Vineyards extended list in 2026, at No.92.

Are there wine trails in Sussex?

Yes. Sussex has several groups of vineyards close enough to visit together. The tourism guide Experience Sussex lists more than 30 Sussex vineyards by area, including two named routes.

• Rother Wine Triangle: A cluster of East Sussex vineyards near Rye and Battle, including Oxney Organic Estate and Tillingham
• Wealden Wine Trail: East Sussex vineyards in the Wealden area, including Rathfinny
• Mid Sussex: Bolney, Ridgeview, Leonardslee and Nyetimber all sit within easy reach of each other

You can also leave the car at home. VisitBritain points to guided wine tours that run from central London to vineyards in Kent and Sussex.

The Best Vineyards to Visit in Kent

Kent has more vineyard land than any other English county, and its estates are some of the easiest to reach from London. In 2026, two Kent producers won the first-ever WineGB Cellar Door awards, which judge the visitor experience rather than the wine.

Jargon explained: cellar door

The cellar door is the part of a winery that welcomes the public. It usually means the shop and tasting room, where you can try and buy wine on site.

6. Chapel Down, Kent

Best for: First-timers who want plenty to do

Chapel Down, at Tenterden, was named Best Large Cellar Door at the 2026 WineGB Awards, a category for vineyards with 10,000 or more visitors a year. Its Grand Reserve 2019 also took the Classic Cuvée trophy at the same awards.

The estate is just over an hour from London, according to Business Traveller, which makes it a good first vineyard trip.

7. Gusbourne, Kent

Best for: A polished tasting with lunch

Gusbourne grows Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier at Appledore, near Rye. It was Britain’s highest-ranked entry in The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2025, at No.28, as Time Out reported.

Its tasting room, The Nest, opens from 10am to 5pm every day of the year, and published tour prices range from £25 to £95 per person, according to Visit Kent.

8. Westwell Wines, Kent

Best for: A small, laid-back visit

Westwell, at Charing, won Best Small Cellar Door at the 2026 WineGB Awards, a category for vineyards with fewer than 10,000 visitors a year. Business Traveller describes a visit with no grand architecture, but plenty of character and creativity. It is a good pick for a quieter afternoon.

The Best Vineyards in Hampshire and Surrey

Hampshire and Surrey are home to two of the most famous names in English wine: the oldest commercial vineyard and the largest single estate. Both are well set up for visitors.

9. Hambledon, Hampshire

Best for: History lovers

Hambledon is where modern English wine began. In March 1952, Major General Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones planted what wine writer Stephen Skelton calls the first true commercial vineyard of the modern era, as the Académie du Vin Library records.

Hambledon was Highly Commended in the Large Cellar Door category at the 2026 WineGB Awards. Business Traveller highlights its wide range of tours, including a behind-the-scenes vineyard safari in a Land Rover Defender.

10. Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey

Best for: An easy day trip from London

Denbies, near Dorking, is one of England’s largest single-estate vineyards, with 265 acres of vines in the Surrey Hills, first planted in 1986. Its visitor centre opens 362 days a year, and it sits close to main line train stations, according to Surrey Hills.

Which English vineyards are easiest to reach from London?

Several of the best vineyards near London are within about an hour of the capital:

• Surrey: Denbies, close to Dorking’s train stations
• Kent: Chapel Down at Tenterden and Gusbourne at Appledore, both around an hour away by road
• West Sussex: Bolney, about an hour’s drive from London or a short taxi ride from Haywards Heath station on the London to Brighton line

What Happens on a Vineyard Tour and Tasting?

A typical vineyard tour in England is a guided walk around the vineyard and winery, followed by a seated tasting of several wines. Most last between one and three hours, and you do not need any wine knowledge to enjoy one.

On most tours, you will see:

• The vines: How the grapes are grown, pruned and picked through the year
• The winery: The presses, tanks and barrels where juice becomes wine
• The tasting: Usually three to six wines, often with food such as local cheese

Jargon explained: traditional method

The traditional method is how Champagne and most English sparkling wine are made. The bubbles form during a second fermentation inside each bottle, which gives fine, lasting bubbles.

For more detail before you book, take a look at these guides:

• First-timers: 9 things to know before your first wine tasting
• What to wear: How to dress for a wine day out
• Wine words: 130+ wine terms explained for beginners
• Costs, driving and timings: Planning a wine tasting in Sussex
• Coming from London: A Sussex vineyard day trip from London
• How the bubbles get there: Which sparkling wine method makes the best wine?

When Is the Best Time to Visit a Vineyard in England?

The best time to visit a vineyard in England is between May and October, when the weather is warmer and the vines are in leaf, as GB News notes. For the busiest and most exciting time, aim for harvest in late September and early October.

Harvest dates change each year with the weather. In 2025, a few vineyards started picking in late August, most began by mid-September, and most finished in the first week of October, according to Farming UK. For a look at grape picking in a working vineyard, read about Bolney’s 2026 harvest.

Every season has something to offer:

• Spring (March to May): Buds open and fresh green shoots appear, and visits are quieter
• Summer (June to August): The vines flower and grapes form, with picnics and outdoor tastings at their best, plus special events during English Wine Week each June
• Autumn (September to October): Harvest, the liveliest time, with grapes picked and pressed
• Winter (November to February): Bare vines and hand pruning, and yes, many vineyards stay open in winter for cosy indoor tastings and festive events

For a fuller month-by-month picture, see our seasonal guide on when to visit an English vineyard, or follow the vineyard year, season by season.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the oldest vineyard you can visit in England?

Hambledon in Hampshire is England’s oldest commercial vineyard, planted in 1952. Bolney Wine Estate in West Sussex followed in 1972 as one of just six commercial vineyards in the country, and is now best known for English sparkling wine.

Which county has the most vineyards in England?

Kent has the most vineyard land in England, followed by West Sussex, based on WineGB’s 2025 figures. Sussex as a whole produces over a quarter of all UK wine.

Do you need to book a vineyard visit in the UK?

Guided tours almost always need booking, especially at weekends. Many vineyards also welcome drop-in visitors to their shop or tasting room, but it is best to check opening times before you travel.

How much does a vineyard tour cost in England?

Prices vary by estate and experience. As a guide, published tour prices at Gusbourne in Kent run from £25 to £95 per person, with longer tours and food pairings at the top end.

Can you visit English vineyards by train?

Yes, several are close to stations. Denbies is near Dorking station in Surrey, and Bolney is close to Haywards Heath in West Sussex. For rural estates, plan a short taxi ride from the nearest station.

Sources

• Harpers: Visits to UK wineries up 55%: 300 vineyards open to the public and 1.5 million visits in 2023
• The Wine Drinker: WineGB Industry Report 2025: Hectares under vine and leading counties
• Vineyard magazine: PDO status granted for Sussex wine: Sussex share of UK wine production
• Decanter: Sussex wine producers celebrate after earning PDO status: Sussex PDO approval in 2022
• Experience Sussex: Discover Sussex vineyards: Bolney’s 1972 founding and Sussex wine trails
• City AM: Best vineyards to visit this English Wine Week: Bolney’s sparkling wines, terrace restaurant and travel time from London
• Country Living: 12 beautiful English vineyards to visit this summer: Bolney listed, with rail time from London
• Sussex Life: The best places to combine vineyards with a walk in Sussex: Bolney walking route and dining
• Hot Dinners: Vineyards to visit in the UK: Bolney’s tour and tasting and nearest stations
• Great British Chefs: Bolney Wine Estate, pioneers of English wine: Bolney’s 1972 founding, red wine heritage and Wimbledon
• Wine Paris: Leonardslee Family Vineyards: Leonardslee vineyard size and grapes
• The World’s 50 Best: England’s best vineyard stays: Leonardslee ranking and hospitality
• Wine Industry Advisor: The 50 Best Vineyards 51 to 100 list for 2026: Nyetimber, Leonardslee and Ridgeview rankings
• The World’s 50 Best Vineyards 2025: the list: Nyetimber at No.32 and first planted in 1988
• Retail Times: Nyetimber wins Best Drinks Producer: BBC Food and Farming Awards 2025
• Islands: 4 of the world’s best wineries come from England: Nyetimber open-day tours
• Decanter: Best English vineyards to visit: Rathfinny picnics and Flint Barns rooms
• Sussex Modern: Ridgeview’s Mardi Roberts: Ridgeview’s founding and production
• Experience West Sussex: Ridgeview Wine Estate: Daily drop-in visits
• WineGB: The wines and vineyards that defined the 2026 WineGB Awards: Cellar Door award winners
• Business Traveller: The best vineyards to visit in the UK: Chapel Down, Westwell and Hambledon visitor experiences
• Time Out: Two British vineyards named among the best in the world: Gusbourne at No.28
• Visit Kent: Gusbourne: Opening hours and tour prices
• Académie du Vin Library: Historic British vineyards: Hambledon’s 1952 planting
• Surrey Hills: Denbies Wine Estate: Denbies vineyard size, opening days and rail access
• GB News: The trending English vineyards to visit: Best months to visit
• Farming UK: UK wine industry hails outstanding 2025 harvest: 2025 harvest timing
• VisitBritain: Discover English wine at some of the UK’s best vineyards: Guided wine tours from London to Kent and Sussex