London
Wine tasting in London
London trades more fine wine than almost any city in the world, and much of it still passes through a few streets in St James's and Mayfair. That makes it one of the best places to taste wine you would never buy by the bottle. Here is where to go, from guided classes to bars where you pour your own.
13 November 20265 min read
Picolo Editorial
In short: wine tasting in London
For a guided tasting with history, book Berry Bros. & Rudd on St James's Street, which has traded wine since 1698. Hedonism Wines in Mayfair pours rare bottles by the measure from its tasting machines, and Vagabond's self-pour bars are the most relaxed way to compare many wines. The Stafford, a few minutes' walk from Berry Bros., has its own cellars beneath the house and is our first choice.
Last checked: November 2026.
Guided tastings and classes
Berry Bros. & Rudd, St James's
Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchant was founded in 1698 as a grocer's opposite St James's Palace and still trades from 3 St James's Street. The old cellars beneath the shop have been restored for tastings and dinners. The Wine School teaches there and in Pickering Place, the narrow courtyard beside the shop. Book well ahead, as the popular evenings sell out.
Humble Grape
Humble Grape has seven wine bars across London, built around small, independent producers, many of them organic. Each month there are themed tastings by grape, region or food pairing, from £11 a head, and 45-minute Wine 101 classes for beginners at £10. A good start if you want to learn without committing a whole evening.
Taste rare wine by the measure
Hedonism Wines, Mayfair
Hedonism on Davies Street opened in 2012 and stocks around 6,500 wines and 3,000 spirits. Five tasting machines pour nearly 50 wines by the measure, so you can try bottles that would otherwise cost hundreds of pounds. The shop also hosts tastings with winemakers. Come on a weekday afternoon, when it is quieter.
Vagabond
Vagabond runs self-pour wine bars across London. You load money onto a card, slot it into the machines and choose a pour from a taste to a full glass, and any unspent balance is refunded. It is the easiest way to compare ten wines in an hour, and the staff are on hand when you want advice.
Learn over dinner
Vinoteca opened in Farringdon in 2005 with the European wine bar as its model, and now also has sites in Chiswick, the City and Borough Yards. Choose it when you would rather learn over a long dinner than in a classroom. See also our best restaurants in London.
Combine it with a vineyard
England now makes sparkling wine that holds its own against champagne, and the vineyards of Kent and Sussex make an easy day out from London. See our guide to day trips from London.
Picolo picks the hotel for you
Picolo is the hotel guest's best friend. We take on the role of guide and do the work before you book: we look at the hotels in the area, where they stand, what guests say and what is actually there. Then we choose the one hotel that suits this particular trip best. For a wine weekend in London the choice fell on The Stafford, a short walk from Berry Bros. & Rudd and with centuries-old cellars of its own. Guests rate it 9.4 out of 10 on Hotels.com.
Our first choice in London
The Stafford London
The Stafford stands on St James's Place, a quiet cul-de-sac off St James's Street, a few minutes' walk from Berry Bros. & Rudd and Green Park station. Beneath the house lie wine cellars around 380 years old. They served as an air-raid shelter during the Second World War and now hold a small museum of wartime posters and newspapers. The American Bar is hung with memorabilia left over the decades. After a tasting round the corner, you are back in five minutes.
Frequently asked questions about wine tasting in London
Where can you do wine tasting in London?
Start with Berry Bros. & Rudd on St James's Street, Britain's oldest wine merchant. It holds tastings in its cellars and runs a wine school. Hedonism Wines in Mayfair pours nearly 50 wines from tasting machines, and Vagabond's self-pour bars let you compare many wines at your own pace.
How much does a wine tasting in London cost?
Prices vary widely. Humble Grape's themed tastings start at £11 a head and its Wine 101 class costs £10. At Vagabond you pay per pour, from a small taste upwards. Guided tastings and dinners at Berry Bros. & Rudd cost more, and measures at Hedonism depend on the bottle. Check current prices with each venue.
Can you visit a vineyard on a day trip from London?
Yes. Kent and Sussex, south of London, have many vineyards making English sparkling wine, and several offer tours and tastings. Some can be reached by train from London in about an hour, while others are easier by car. Book ahead, as many vineyards take visitors only on set days.
Which London hotels are best for wine lovers?
Stay in St James's or Mayfair to walk to the best wine merchants and tasting rooms. The Stafford on St James's Place has wine cellars around 380 years old and is a few minutes from Berry Bros. & Rudd. Our guide to luxury and boutique hotels in London has more options.
Sources
The history of Berry Bros. & Rudd comes from the company's own history page. Details on Hedonism come from Hedonism Wines, on Humble Grape from its tastings page and on Vinoteca from Vinoteca's story. How Vagabond's machines work is described by Wine Anorak. The cellars at The Stafford are described by The Hotel Guru and Roomer. The photograph of Berry Bros. & Rudd is by Edwardx, via Wikimedia Commons. Hotel photographs are from Hotels.com (Expedia Group). Last checked November 2026.
Cheers from London
Picolo Editorial