English Wine Week starts next week, making it the perfect excuse to get involved in one of the country’s booming industries. More vineyards are opening their doors for tours, tastings and long, leisurely lunches — many of them set in some of the most beautiful corners of the countryside.
If you're wondering where to begin, we asked our Australian friends Loz Barton and Steph Toomey, the women behind Girls Who Walk to Pubss, to share their favourite vineyard walks, all reachable by train from London. Better still, with no need for a car, if one glass turns into two, you're already sorted.
“The first time we visited one, back in 2016, our families thought we were mad to be raving about English sparkling!” they laugh.
“We’ve loved watching the scene grow ever since and try to weave vineyards into our walks whenever we can. Sometimes they’re the main event; sometimes they are simply a stop along the way. Either way, they remind us why we do this: finding brilliant local gems on foot, all within easy reach of London.”
Here, they share 10 of their favourite vineyard walks to try this English Wine Week.
Billingshurst to Pulborough via Nutbourne, West Sussex
"This must be one of our most popular walks. Without fail, we get at least one message every weekend from someone who has done it and loved it. We think it is the winning combination of a beautiful route, plus a winery and a pub within minutes of each other. Nutbourne itself is gorgeous, with plenty of places to settle in with a glass, and the team there are always so welcoming."
Book your train ticket to Billingshurst
Appledore to Ham Street via Gusbourne, Kent
"This one feels like stepping straight into the quintessential English countryside. Appledore is wonderfully quaint, with a couple of pubs for an early tipple before heading on to Gusbourne. The winery is effortlessly elegant and very hard to leave. You can do tastings, order a cheeseboard and soak up the sunshine in the beautiful grounds."
Book your train ticket to Appledore
Hassocks to Plumpton via Artelium, West Sussex
"A lovely walk through the South Downs, with the winery as the main attraction near the end. We had a beautiful meal here, and there is a fabulous terrace outside for more casual glasses of wine at sunset. Afterwards, it is only a 20-minute walk to the station."
Book your train ticket to Hassocks
Robertsbridge return via Oastbrook, East Sussex
"A stunning walk that takes in some of the best of East Sussex, including a winery, a couple of pubs, a castle and the incredible gardens at Great Dixter House. Oastbrook was a real gem, made even better by its wonderful owner, America, who talked us through a tasting of their delicious wines."
Book your train ticket to Robertsbridge
Burgess Hill return via Ridgeview, West Sussex
"This one is all about the winery. It is a quick and easy walk from Burgess Hill station, and then suddenly you find yourself at Ridgeview. Go on a sunny day and you can enjoy a glass on the rooftop among the trees. Heaven."
Book your train ticket to Burgess Hill
Charing circular via Westwell, Kent
"Someone once told us that Westwell was somehow linked to Hot Chip and Bloc Party, and the millennials in us had it on our radar ever since. When we finally did the walk, we found it was so much more than that. It is a fabulous independent winery producing brilliant low-intervention wines, one of which is apparently best paired with Wotsits — need we say more?"
Book your train ticket to Charing
Sturry circular via Wootton Farm, Kent
"We stumbled across Wootton Farm thanks to Loz’s questionable navigation skills, but what a happy accident that turned out to be. They had local wine and cider to taste, and it is such a lovely spot with a great atmosphere. It was part of an epic walk that also included three pubs and a swim, weather permitting — one of our favourites."
Book your train ticket to Sturry
Leatherhead to Dorking via Denbies, Surrey
"It would not be an English vineyard list without Denbies. It is probably one of the more commercial names here, but there is no denying it is in a wonderful spot, surrounded by some excellent walking routes."
Book your train ticket to Leatherhead
Eynsford to Shoreham via The Mount, Kent
"Five pubs and a vineyard on one walk — what more could you want? The Mount is such a beautiful spot. We have been a few times, in different seasons, and, controversially, autumn might be our favourite. The orange tones of the foliage seen through the restaurant windows were so beautiful, and their chilled red was a delight."
Book your train ticket to Eynsford
Guildford to Gomshall via Albury, Surrey
"Sadly, Albury was closed on the day we did this walk, but we tried their sparkling at our pub stop instead, which was the next best thing. This is such a good route, taking in the vineyard, a gin distillery, a village used as the backdrop for films including The Holiday, and lunch in a fabulous pub with a working mill running through it."
