Kent
Kent vineyards to visit
Kent used to be the county of hops, and the oast houses where they dried still stand in the fields. Many of those fields are now vines. Several of England's best-known sparkling wine estates are here, an hour or so from London.
14 November 20265 min read
Picolo Editorial
In short: Kent vineyards
Chapel Down near Tenterden offers a tour and tasting for £30, with lunch at the Swan. Gusbourne near Rye makes some of England's most admired sparkling wine, and Balfour at Staplehurst has a free vineyard walk and tours from £15. Simpsons near Canterbury and Westwell near Charing are smaller and personal. Chilston Park, a country house near Lenham, is our first choice for a night.
Last checked: November 2026.
The Kentish Wine Way
Kent has around 120 commercial vineyards. In August 2026 Visit Kent and the estates launched the Kentish Wine Way, a county-wide trail of tours, tastings and places to eat and stay. It is a good place to start planning, since many smaller estates open only on set days.
The big names
Chapel Down, Tenterden
Chapel Down at Small Hythe is one of England's largest producers, with more than 400 hectares owned, leased or sourced. A tour and tasting costs £30 and takes in the tanks and presses, and the Swan restaurant has two AA rosettes. The vineyard at Kit's Coty, on the North Downs near Aylesford, also belongs to Chapel Down.
Gusbourne, Appledore
Gusbourne was founded in 2004 by Andrew Weeber and has 60 hectares of vines on a hill not far from Rye. Its visitor centre, The Nest, hosts tutored tastings from £30, which must be booked ahead. In summer there are picnic packages and visits from guest chefs.
Balfour, Staplehurst
Balfour was first planted in 2002 and has more than 50 hectares of vines ringed by ancient woodland. The self-guided vineyard walk is free, with a map, and tours start at £15. The View restaurant has a large wooden deck over the estate.
Smaller estates worth the detour
Simpsons, Barham
Simpsons lies just outside Canterbury and is owned by Charles and Ruth Simpson, who also make wine in the Languedoc. Its 2018 Roman Road Chardonnay won Best in Show at the 2020 Decanter World Wine Awards. On Friday evenings in season it runs Sunset Session tours.
Westwell, Charing
Westwell sits on the Pilgrims' Way near Charing, about ten minutes from Ashford. The winemaking is experimental and low-intervention, and the flagship sparkling wine is called Pelegrim. Tours end with a tasting, and in summer there are pizza nights and open-air cinema.
Squerryes, Westerham
Squerryes is a 300-year-old family estate near Westerham, close to the edge of London. It makes sparkling wine from the three champagne grapes and has a restaurant, a garden café and a farm shop.
Planning a day
Pick two estates, not four. They are spread across the county, and driving between them takes time.
Book a driver. Whoever drives cannot taste. Local wine tour companies run day trips with transport.
Check opening days. Many smaller estates open only at weekends or by appointment outside summer.
For the vineyards of Sussex, Surrey and Hampshire too, see our guide to English vineyards to visit.
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 vineyard weekend in Kent the choice fell on Chilston Park, in the middle of the county and a short drive from Westwell. Guests rate it 9.2 out of 10 on Hotels.com.
Our first choice in Kent
Chilston Park
Chilston Park is a Grade I listed country house near Lenham, on an estate recorded since around 1100. Its walls date from the early 16th century, and the house took most of its present form in the 19th century. Culpepers Restaurant serves British cooking, and in summer the terrace is lit by candles. Westwell is a short drive away, and Balfour and Chapel Down within easy reach by car.
Frequently asked questions about Kent vineyards
What is the best vineyard to visit in Kent?
Chapel Down near Tenterden is the best known and the easiest to plan, with tours, tastings and the Swan restaurant. Gusbourne near Rye suits those most interested in the wine itself. Balfour has a free vineyard walk, and Simpsons near Canterbury makes award-winning chardonnay.
How much do Kent vineyard tours cost?
Most tours with tastings cost between £15 and £30 per person. Balfour starts at £15, while Chapel Down and Gusbourne start at £30. Longer experiences with lunch cost more. Prices change by season, so check and book on each estate's own website before you travel.
What is the Kentish Wine Way?
It is a county-wide wine tourism trail launched by Visit Kent and the Kent vineyards in August 2026. It gathers tours, tastings, cellar doors and places to eat and stay across the county, which has around 120 commercial vineyards. Use it to find smaller estates and their opening days.
Where should you stay for a vineyard weekend in Kent?
Stay in the middle of the county to reach several estates by car. Chilston Park near Lenham is a short drive from Westwell and within reach of Balfour and Chapel Down. Canterbury and Rye also make good bases for Simpsons and Gusbourne.
Sources
Estate details come from Decanter's guide to Kent wineries and tour prices from Club Oenologique. Details of the Kentish Wine Way come from Produced in Kent. The history of Chilston Park comes from Hand Picked Hotels. Oast House Archive and Danny P Robinson took the vineyard photographs, via Wikimedia Commons. Hotel photographs are from Hotels.com (Expedia Group). Last checked November 2026.
Cheers from Kent
Picolo Editorial