Kent Wine Tours

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Kent

Weald vineyards to visit

Six vineyards on the clay and sand of the Weald, between Staplehurst, Tenterden and the edge of Romney Marsh. Chapel Down, Gusbourne and Balfour are here, along with smaller family estates.

Written and checked by Kent Wine Tours, an independent guide. How we choose, check and earn.

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The Weald in brief

  • Four of the six belong to the Wine Garden of England: Balfour, Biddenden, Chapel Down and Gusbourne.
  • Each hop between them is about 15 to 20 minutes by road, so three in a day is comfortable and all six suits a weekend.
  • Without a car: Balfour runs a free shuttle from Marden station from Friday to Sunday, and Warehorne is a short walk from Ham Street.

We’re an independent guide. Details checked in October 2026.

Map of the The Weald vineyards, numbered as in the list belowTenterdenAppledore stationAshford International stationHam Street stationHeadcorn stationMarden station1. Balfour at Hush Heath1Balfour at Hush Heath2. Biddenden Vineyards2Biddenden Vineyards3. Chapel Down3Chapel Down4. Woodchurch Wine Estate4Woodchurch Wine Estate5. Gusbourne5Gusbourne6. Warehorne Vineyard6Warehorne Vineyard5 miles
Map of the The Weald vineyards, numbered as in the list belowTenterdenAppledoreAshford InternationalHam StreetHeadcornMardenRye1. Balfour at Hush Heath12. Biddenden Vineyards23. Chapel Down34. Woodchurch Wine Estate45. Gusbourne56. Warehorne Vineyard65 miles
Numbers match the list below; select a pin to jump to it. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Elevation from Mapzen Terrain Tiles

The Weald vineyards at a glance

Taken from each vineyard’s own visiting information. A dash means the vineyard does not say, so check with them before you travel.

VineyardWhereBookingFoodDogsStay
Balfour at Hush HeathStaplehurstSome walk-inYes––
Biddenden VineyardsBiddendenSome walk-inYes––
Chapel DownTenterdenNot neededYes––
Woodchurch Wine EstateWoodchurch, between Ashford and TenterdenNot needed–––
GusbourneAppledore, near AshfordSome walk-inYesYes–
Warehorne VineyardWarehorne, near AshfordBook ahead–––

The vineyards

From Balfour in the north-west to Warehorne near Romney Marsh.

Balfour at Hush Heath

Staplehurst

A 400-acre estate, first planted in 2002 and best known for Balfour Brut Rosé.

Visiting: Free self-guided estate walk with no booking, guided tours and tastings all year, and the Winemakers’ Kitchen open seven days a week for lunch, with dinner on Friday and Saturday. A free shuttle bus runs between Marden station and the winery from Friday to Sunday; from Monday to Thursday you need a pre-booked taxi.

Our full guide Vineyard website Book a walk and tasting Buy the Brut Rosé, £38.99

Biddenden Vineyards

Biddenden

Kent’s original vineyard, founded by the Barnes family in 1969. Grows 12 grape varieties and makes cider and juice too.

Visiting: Self-guided tours from May to September, £15 with a tasting flight of three wines, and guided Open Tours of about an hour and a half at £30, booked ahead. Private and specialist tours all year, and a shop selling local food and drink.

Vineyard website

Chapel Down

Tenterden

One of England’s biggest wine producers, drawing on more than 700 acres of vineyards across the south-east. Named Best Large Cellar Door at the first WineGB Cellar Door Awards in 2026.

Visiting: Open all year: guided tours with a tutored tasting, a self-guided vineyard walk, a tasting bar, and a winery shop open every day from 10am to 5pm. The Swan restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Nearest stations are Ashford International and Headcorn.

Our full guide Vineyard website Day trip from London Buy the Brut, £27.95

Woodchurch Wine Estate

Woodchurch, between Ashford and Tenterden

Established in 2009 in the Kent Weald.

Visiting: Open all year, with free self-guided tours as well as guided tours.

Vineyard website

Gusbourne

Appledore, near Ashford

First planted in 2004 on the edge of Romney Marsh, and makes only vintage wines.

Visiting: The Nest, its cellar door, is open every day from 10am to 5pm. Tours and tastings are booked ahead, from a £30 sparkling tasting flight to a £50 guided tour and tasting and a £120 estate tour with lunch. The 45-minute self-guided walk and the shop need no booking, and on most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays there is wine by the glass or bottle with snacks and platters for walk-in visitors, on the terrace from May to September and indoors in autumn and winter; ring ahead to check. Dogs are welcome outdoors and on the ground floor of The Nest. Hosted experiences are for adults. Appledore station has no taxis or buses, so book one in advance, or come by taxi from Ashford International.

Our full guide Vineyard website Book a tasting Buy the Blanc de Blancs, £65

Warehorne Vineyard

Warehorne, near Ashford

A young vineyard on the edge of Romney Marsh, growing Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Cabernet Noir and the Swiss grape Divico.

Visiting: Cellar door open Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 5pm. A guided tour and tasting lasts about an hour and a half and costs £15, or a seated tasting £12, booked online. Ham Street station is a ten to fifteen minute walk.

Our full guide Vineyard website Book a tour

Planning your visit

A day from Tenterden. Start with a self-guided walk at Biddenden, then a booked tour at Chapel Down at Small Hythe with lunch at The Swan (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays), and finish at Gusbourne for a booked tasting, or a walk-in glass from Friday to Sunday. Balfour, near Staplehurst, makes a good start on a second day.

By train. Balfour’s free shuttle meets trains at Marden from Friday to Sunday. Warehorne is ten to fifteen minutes’ walk from Ham Street. For Chapel Down take a taxi from Headcorn or Ashford International. For Gusbourne, book a taxi from Ashford International or Rye, as Appledore station has no taxis. Warehorne opens at weekends only.

Somewhere to eat. Balfour’s Winemakers’ Kitchen serves lunch daily, Chapel Down has The Swan restaurant, and Tenterden is a few minutes up the road.

Elsewhere in Kent, see the North Downs and Canterbury and West Kent, or every Kent vineyard on one map.

Where to stay

Nearby

Tenterden · Pub with rooms

The White Lion

A Grade II listed pub on Tenterden High Street with oak beams and 14 bedrooms above the bar.

Check datesBook direct

Cranbrook · Inn

The George Hotel

Dating back to around 1300, The George is a Grade II listed coaching inn with 12 individually designed en suite bedrooms.

Check datesBook direct

Hawkhurst · Inn

The Queen’s Inn

A countryside hotel and restaurant on the Rye Road at Hawkhurst.

Check datesBook direct

Warehorne · Pub with rooms

The Woolpack Inn

A 16th-century inn on Church Lane, Warehorne, with five adults-only suites and breakfast included.

Check datesBook direct

Prices are often the same either way, so compare the booking site with booking direct.

Tours you can book

Questions people ask

Which Weald vineyards can I reach by train?

Warehorne, ten to fifteen minutes’ walk from Ham Street, and Balfour, by the free shuttle from Marden on Fridays to Sundays. The others need a taxi from Headcorn, Ashford International or, for Gusbourne, Rye.

How many Weald vineyards can I visit in a day?

Three is comfortable, as each is 15 to 20 minutes from the next by road. Whoever drives will need to skip the tastings, or book taxis between stops.