The quality of English wine has never been higher and, as the industry matures, so too does the experience for visitors to the country’s vineyards. There are now more than 900 and many estates offer much more than a simple tasting room experience, having evolved into destinations where guests can immerse themselves in the landscape, the wines and even stay the night. Whether it’s a luxury hotel, a cosy cottage tucked amongst the vines or a treehouse hidden on an estate, English vineyard stays now rival those found in France, Italy or Spain – no passport required.
Driven by a growing interest in English wine and a desire amongst Brits for memorable getaways closer to home, these stays offer the chance to wake up among the vines, sample wines just steps from where they’re made and explore some of the country’s most scenic spots. From design-led boltholes to earthy accommodation that celebrates the beauty of nature, the best English vineyard stays combine comfort with character and, of course, a glass or two of something local.
12 of the best English vineyard stays
Ashling Park
Chichester, West Sussex
Time spent living near the vineyards of Switzerland seduced Gail Gardner into convincing her family to plant vines on their estate in the hamlet of West Ashling, near Chichester, in 2018. Since then, not only have they worked hard to produce still and sparkling wines of distinction but to transform their corner of the world into the perfect spot for a getaway. On the edge of the vineyard sit five one- and two-bedroom lodges (pictured) named and decorated to reflect a stage in the vineyard’s life cycle; Budburst, Flowering, Veraison, Harvest and Fall. Each feature luxuriously sized beds, rolltop baths, cosy living areas warmed by wood burners, and a picture window and terrace for all-weather panoramic views of the vines. There’s a small kitchen, should you want to self-cater, and a restaurant on site too offering farm-to-table dining using ingredients grown and reared locally in Sussex. Should you fancy a change from wine, there’s a gin school, where you can blend a choice of 24 botanicals to make your own bespoke gin. Rebecca Pitcairn
From £250 per night for two people including breakfast, from £450 also including dinner and a tour
West Ashling Chichester, England PO18 9DJ
Black Chalk
Andover, Hampshire
In Hampshire’s Test Valley, enjoy a birds-eye view of the vines below from the comfort of a treehouse that overlooks Black Chalk’s vineyards, set six metres above ground. Built and run by Wild Escapes, using local materials and cutting-edge techniques to minimise the impact on the surrounding landscape, the four Scandanavian-style, pet-friendly houses are the first treehouses in the UK to have been built on a vineyard. While you can’t get much closer to nature, there is no compromise on luxury with king-size beds, a woodburner and a complimentary bottle of Black Chalk Classic on arrival, which you can sip while soaking in the outdoor zinc bathtub. The winery is a short walk away, operating group tours of the 30 acres of vines followed by a tasting – or book a private tasting in the comfort of your treehouse. Picnics among the vines are available in summer, or there’s the option to go truffle hunting in the nearby woods in winter. RP
From £272.50 per night for two people (two night minimum). Up to two additional adults or children charged at £20 per night. Dogs £25 per night
Black Chalk Vineyard and Winery, Fullerton Rd, Andover SP11 7JX
Busi-Jacobsohn
Rotherfield, East Sussex
Swedish expats Douglas and Susanna put down roots (quite literally) on the fringes of Tunbridge Wells back in 2015, planting five hectares of Burgundy clones on a slope backing onto their new family home. Next door, they also transformed a former stable house into a chic cottage stay. Rustic, this is not: the three-bedroom property still features its original vaulted ceilings and is fit with all the modcons, plus a wood burner and vintage rugs for an added layer of comfort. What marks Busi Jacobsohn out as a vineyard stay, though, is its off-the-radar charm. The estate is only open to visitors by appointment, so you’re unlikely to find yourself caught up in among the day-tripping summer throngs. Instead, enquire upon booking to arrange your own bespoke tasting and tour – and to get better acquainted with the boutique brand’s sparkling cuvées that dance between citrus and mineral notes. Laura Richards
£148 per night, 5-night minimum
Busi Jacobsohn Wine Estate, Blackdon Farm, Eridge Green, TN3 9HX
Denbies Wine Estate
Dorking, Surrey
Denbies may well be one of the largest vineyards in England, with 265 acres under vine and a busy visitors’ centre at its heart, but sitting on the terrace of the Vineyard Hotel couldn’t be more peaceful. The 17 en suite rooms feature subtle references to their prime location in the Surrey Hills wine country, while key cards for the room can also be used to operate the Enomatic wine machine. The Orangery Restaurant, where breakfast and dinner are served, is positioned to achieve the best views of the vines and there are two cabanas in the garden, which can be hired for private dinners and tastings. The adjacent Wine Library has been designed to mimic aspects of the wine making process – the building is curved replicating a wine barrel, while the walls are lined with riddling racks and bottles of Denbies wines from vintages dating back to 1993. In keeping with the sustainable ethos of the wine estate, which was the first in the UK to produce certified Net Zero wine, the hotel is carbon neutral. It’s also dog friendly. RP
From £145 per room per night
Denbies Vineyard Hotel, London Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6AA
Leonardslee Wine Estate
Mannings Heath, West Sussex
The 38-acres of Leonardslee vineyards, which sit across two sites on the outskirts of Horsham, were planted in 2017 with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. A trial plot of Pinotage – the first of its kind in the UK – was also planted in 2018 in homage to the owners, the Streeter family, and their South African wine estate Benguela Cove. Formerly the clubhouse of Mannings Heath Golf Club and with views across the existing 18-hole course, The Vineyard Hotel opened in spring 2024 and has nine rooms, including two suites with roll top baths and a raise terrace facing out over the golf course. Vineyard tours involve whizzing round the 70,000 vines in a golf buggy followed by a tasting of their trio of sparkling wines, also launched in 2024: the 2020 Blanc de Blancs, 2021 Brut Reserve and 2021 Brut Rose, which were produced under the direction of winemaker Johann Fourie. Guests at the hotel get free access to the 240-acre Leonardslee Lakes and Gardens, where you can see wallabies and go for afternoon tea or Michelin-starred lunch and dinner at Interlude. RP
From £195 per room per night
Hammerpond Road, Mannings Heath, Horsham, West Sussex, RH13 6PG
Oastbrook Estate
Robertsbridge, East Sussex
Buried into a bank nestled among grapevines on the Oastbrook Estate in the heart of the Rother Valley sits a cosy grass-roofed cottage that looks like something straight from a J.R.R.Tolkien novel. Deceptively large inside, this wooden hideaway, with rounded doors and windows, sleeps four and has its own private garden with a hot tub overlooking the circa 20,000 vines growing in the surrounding vineyards. If you find the Vinyard Hollow fully booked (it often is) then there’s the Scandi-inspired Avalon Waterside Lodge, which also has a hot tub and private jetty over the lake, and, in summer, luxury bell tents with king-size beds, wine coolers, electric showers and a click-and-collect bar service – the ultimate glamping experience. Tours and tastings are run by owners America and Nick Brewer, while their teenage daughter, Gabby, hosts child-friendly vineyard tours. RP
Prices range from £165 to from £360 per night
Park Farm Oast, Junction Rd Bodiam, Robertsbridge TN32 5XA
Oxney Estate
Rye, East Sussex
Escaping off-grid is easier said than done these days but spending the night in one of two shepherd huts tucked away on the edge of the vineyards at Oxney Estate makes things a little easier – particularly as there is no phone signal or WiFi. Spend a screen-free weekend among the vines while sampling the still and sparkling wines from what is the largest single-estate English organic wine producer in the country. If that all sounds a little too remote – or you’re travelling in a larger group – there are also three barns and a Jacobean vineyard cottage. The Medieval market town of Rye is just six miles away and the white sand dunes of Camber a little further beyond. RP
From £320 per night including a tour, tasting and picnic lunch
Hobbs Lane, Beckley, Rye, East Sussex TN31 6TU
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Rathfinny Estate
Alfriston, East Sussex
A stay at this 600-acre Sussex Estate, a cork’s throw from Alfriston, one of England’s prettiest villages, comes with two great advantages: the chance to try their excellent wines, in a tasting or at either of their restaurants, without worrying about driving anywhere afterwards; and a host of scenic options for walking off any excesses the following day. Owners Sarah and Mark Driver have converted the flint-flecked Flint Barns into accommodation – ten comfortable bedrooms and a cosy shared lounge – plus casual restaurant. Just across the courtyard is a two-bedroom, fully equipped cottage, for families or pairs of friends. The fine-dining restaurant is beside the boutique, five minutes’ walk from the Flint Barns, past the vines. So no driving needed there, either. Nina Caplan
From £175 per night
Rathfinny Wine Estate, Alfriston, East Sussex BN26 5TU
Sandridge Barton
Stoke Gabriel, Devon
A few years ago, one of Devon’s longest established vineyards, Sharpham, moved downriver to Stoke Gabriel, where it now operates under the Sandridge Barton brand. Here they have converted former farm buildings, including a milking shed, into a new visitor centre, winery and restaurant, operated in partnership with renowned Devon small plates establishment Circa. A four-bedroom farmhouse is ideally located across the farm path, while elsewhere on the estate, you’ll find a romantic two-bedroom 1850s boathouse on the banks of the River Dart, as well as a six-bedroom party house complete with indoor pool. Guests can enjoy tastings of wines – including the experimental Don’t Feed the Ponies range – in the new tasting room, bar or among the vines and there’s a range of tours including an in-depth two-hour Vineyard Safari in the estate Land Rover. RP
From £1,000 for four nights
Sandridge Barton Wines, Lower Well Farm, Waddeton Road, Stoke Gabriel, Devon, TQ9 6RL
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Tinwood Estate
Goodwood, West Sussex
Once a lettuce farm, Tinwood Estate has been transformed over the last couple of decades into a great place for a day out, with picnics, afternoon teas, Sunday lunches, tours, tastings and an iconic vineyard party in summer. However, it also has eight luxury wooden lodges so you can easily spend a whole weekend here or use it as a base to explore Goodwood Estate or the city of Chichester nearby. Lodges have jacuzzi baths and private decked terraces overlooking the vines, and a stay isn’t complete without popping into the communal barrel sauna. Guests also get free use of bikes so they can explore the estate and perhaps other vineyards further afield on two wheels (Ashling Park and Upperton are a couple of the local estates). Rebecca Pitcairn
Lodges cost from £255 per night and sleep two people. Overnight guests get 20% off a vineyard tour
Tinwood Farm, Halnaker, Chichester, West Sussex PO18 0NE
Woolton Vineyard
Canterbury, Kent
Wine and cider lovers will enjoy a visit to Woolton Farm, where the Mount family have been growing fruit for over 100 years. Now home to Woolton Wines and Kentish Pip ciders, the farm is just 15 minutes’ walk from Bekesbourne train station.
Alongside a 14th century thatched tasting barn, which sits within the confines of a pretty, secluded garden, there are eight furnished bell tents nestled among the Cobnut trees. Each comes fitted with a double futon mattress, quilts and pillows (extra camping mats for up to two children can be provided), as well as a power socket and lamp. However, guests can also pitch up with their own tent or campervan and stay in Ellen’s Meadow, which sits across from the one-acre vineyard. Rebecca Pitcairn
Pitch-up from £30, furnished bell tents from £130 per night. Available April to September only
Woolton Farm, Bekesbourne, Canterbury, Kent CT4 5EA
Wraxall
Shepton Mallett, Somerset
First established in 1974 and thought to be the oldest surviving vineyard in Somerset, Wraxall is owned by Lexa Hunt and David Bailey (no, not the famous photographer). When the couple moved into the next-door property, they had no desire to run a vineyard but took it on when the six acres came up for sale because they feared it might become a caravan park. Despite no viticultural experience, they jumped in feet first and soon built a contemporary glass-fronted tasting room at the top of the vineyard, converting the old winery and adjoining buildings into one-, two- and four-bedroom cottages to suit visiting couples, families or larger groups. A small plates menu is served at The View, often accompanied by live music, and a sourdough pizza van pitches up once a month. Rebecca Pitcairn
Guided tastings are available year-round at £15 per person and nightly stays start at £135 per night (minimum two-night stay at weekends)
Wraxall Rd, Wraxall, Shepton Mallet, BA4 6RQ
