Kent Wine Tours

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Self-guided

The Kent wine trail

Kent has more vineyards open to visitors than almost anywhere in England. These three routes link the best of them, with where to start, what each one offers and what to book ahead.

Checked against each vineyard’s own visitor information in September 2026. Balfour, Biddenden, Warehorne, Yotes Court and Mereworth were rechecked on 1 October 2026.

The routes in brief

  • The Weald: Balfour, Biddenden, Chapel Down, Woodchurch, Gusbourne and Warehorne. The most vineyards, best over a weekend from Tenterden.
  • The North Downs and Canterbury: Westwell, Domaine Evremond, Simpsons’ and Barnsole. Chalk and sparkling wine, with Canterbury as a base.
  • West Kent: Squerryes, Yotes Court and Mereworth. The closest to London.

Nine of these belong to the Wine Garden of England, Kent’s own group of wine producers. Whoever drives will need to skip the tastings, or book taxis between stops. To try the wines at home first, see our pick of English wines to buy, with bottles from Balfour, Chapel Down, Gusbourne, Westwell and Simpsons’.

Route one: the Weald

Start at Balfour near Staplehurst and head south-east through Biddenden to Tenterden, then on to the edge of Romney Marsh. Each hop is about 15 to 20 minutes by road. See the Weald on a map.

  • Balfour at Hush Heath, StaplehurstBest known for Balfour Brut Rosé, on a 400-acre estate. Self-guided estate walk without booking, guided tours and tastings all year, and lunch daily in the Winemakers’ Kitchen. Free shuttle from Marden station from Friday to Sunday. Book the walk and tasting. Our full guide to Balfour.
  • Biddenden Vineyards, BiddendenKent’s original vineyard, founded in 1969, making cider and juice as well as wine. Self-guided tours from May to September cost £15 with a tasting flight of three wines, and guided tours cost £30 (prices checked October 2026). There is also a shop.
  • Chapel Down, TenterdenOne of England’s biggest producers. Open all year for guided tours, a self-guided vineyard walk, the tasting bar, and a shop open every day from 10am to 5pm. The Swan, its restaurant, is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and Tenterden is a few minutes up the road for lunch. Our full guide to Chapel Down.
  • Woodchurch Wine Estate, WoodchurchA family estate between Tenterden and Ashford, founded in 2009. Open all year, with free self-guided tours and guided tours.
  • Gusbourne, AppledoreVintage-only sparkling wine on the edge of Romney Marsh. Tours and tasting flights at The Nest, its cellar door, open daily 10am to 5pm, with walk-in wine and platters most Fridays to Sundays. Take a pre-booked taxi from Ashford International. Book a tasting. Our full guide to Gusbourne.
  • Warehorne Vineyard, WarehorneA young vineyard near Ham Street. Cellar door open Saturday and Sunday, with a guided tour and tasting at £15 (checked October 2026). A ten to fifteen minute walk from Ham Street station. Book a tour. Our full guide to Warehorne.

Route two: the North Downs and Canterbury

From Charing along the Stour valley to Chilham, then round Canterbury. Two of these are reachable on foot from a station. See the North Downs and Canterbury on a map.

  • Westwell Wines, CharingExperimental, low-intervention wines, including pet nats and amphora wines. Cellar door, bar and shop open Friday to Sunday. A mile from Charing station. Book a tour. Our full guide to Westwell.
  • Domaine Evremond, ChilhamThe English estate of the Champagne house Taittinger, whose first wine came out in 2025. Cellar door open Wednesday to Sunday for tastings and tours. Half an hour’s walk from Chilham station.
  • Simpsons’ Wine Estate, BarhamSparkling and still wines on North Downs chalk, with a helter-skelter in the tasting room. Pre-booked tours only, adults only. About 15 minutes by car from Canterbury West.
  • Barnsole Vineyard, StapleA small family vineyard first planted in 1993. Open Thursday to Sunday and bank holidays, 11am to 4pm, with a free drop-in tasting; a one-hour tour with a tasting is £20, booked by phone or email (checked October 2026). Children and dogs welcome, but no picnics.

Route three: west Kent

The quickest from London, between Westerham and Maidstone. Sevenoaks and Tonbridge make good starting points. See west Kent on a map.

  • Squerryes, WesterhamSparkling wine from a 2,500-acre family estate, with a two-rosette winery restaurant. Tasting experiences and a cellar door and deli. Book a tour.
  • Yotes Court Vineyard, MereworthWineGB Best Newcomer in 2021. Cellar door, wine barn and lawn open Wednesday to Sunday from April to October, 12pm to 5.30pm, no booking needed, with tours, tastings and picnics in the vines bookable from £27.50 (checked October 2026). Dog friendly. Book a tour.
  • Mereworth Wines, MereworthSparkling wine from its own vineyards at Wateringbury. Winery tours, a bar and kitchen, afternoon tea. Open Thursday to Sunday, late on Friday and Saturday, and by appointment from Monday to Wednesday.

Rather not drive?

Let someone else do the driving

These tours cover the Weald route in a day, with transport from London and lunch included.

Private Kent wine tour

Private · Two vineyards · Pickup available

Your own driver and guide for the day, so everyone can enjoy the tastings.

Starts Ashford International station, Kent

Find out moreBook now

Going by train? See Kent vineyards by train. Over the border in East Sussex, the Wealden Wine Trail links sixteen more vineyards.

Good to know

Questions people ask

Is there an official Kent wine trail?

Not as a signed route. The Wine Garden of England, a group of nine Kent producers, promotes visits to its members, and this guide groups them and other Kent vineyards into three routes you can follow yourself.

How long does the Kent wine trail take?

Each route makes a good day with three or four stops. The Weald route has the most vineyards and works well over a weekend, staying in Tenterden.

Can I do the Kent wine trail without a car?

Partly. Westwell, Warehorne and Domaine Evremond are walkable from a station, and Balfour runs a free weekend shuttle from Marden. For the rest, book taxis between stops, or take a day tour from London.

Which Kent vineyards are in the Wine Garden of England?

Balfour, Biddenden, Chapel Down, Domaine Evremond, Gusbourne, Simpsons’, Squerryes, Westwell and Yotes Court.