The best UK gin distilleries for tours and tastings

Beefeater

London, England

It’s a classic for a reason. Beefeater has been going strong since 1862 – but its London Dry gin still wins as many awards (including a Silver medal at the IWSC 2022) as the best of the craft upstarts. If you’re going to get an education on the trajectory of ‘mother’s ruin’, where better than at its historic Kennington headquarters – where a visitor centre launched in 2014. Hosted, interactive tours last for 1.5 hours and include a tasting of three spirits from the range, plus a G&T at the bar at the end. A ‘VIP’ tour  at £45 adds a welcome cocktail and a visit to the still house: home to the brand’s original Victorian pot stills. LR
20 Montford Place, London SE11 5DE
From £25
beefeatergin.com

Bond Street Distillery

Leicestershire, England

A visit to Bond Street Distillery, launched in 2019 in the market town of Hinckley by gin lover and entrepreneur Sally Faulkner, is a truly social affair. There are two bars to choose from – the lively, balloon-glass-filled Bond Street Social, and intimate, upstairs venue The Crow’s Nest, which gets lively with gig nights on Thursdays. The Victorian building has been lovingly refurbished from its original function as part of the Brocklehurst Hosiery Company. A comprehensive ‘Gin School’ offers ample opportunities for learning about, and of course drinking, the distillery’s key gins. LB
127 Upper Bond St, Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 1RT
£120 for one, £175 for two
thebondstreetdistillery.co.uk

Copper in the Clouds

Ware, England

Out on a farm in the Hertfordshire countryside, monthly micro-distillery tours take place introducing visitors to the playful, illustrated bottles of Copper in the Clouds. The brand’s fruity gin expressions include an IWSC Silver-winning lychee and raspberry gin. The small scale of the distillery, founded in 2018, gives enthusiasts a chance to get up-close and personal on a 90-minute tour with the makers, learning how they craft their spirits and enjoying an energetically flavoured gin and tonic in their company. LR
Dowsetts Farm, Collier’s End, Ware SG11 1EF
From £30
copperintheclouds.co.uk

Downton Distillery

Downton, Wiltshire

Formerly based next to Parson’s Manor, the home of famous explorer Sir Walter Rayleigh, the spirit of adventure still runs through every part of this award-winning gin distillery. It has since moved to the biodynamic vineyard of Domaine Hugo overlooking the Wiltshire Downs, from which founder and head distiller Hugh Anderson oversees gin production. Visitors have the option of either a short or long tour with different itineraries for each, although both offer opportunities to taste the award-winning gin. After a recent appearance on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch with IWSC Judging Committee member Olivier Ward, make sure to book in early if you intend to visit. CG
Botley Farm, Wick Lane, Downton, Wiltshire, SP5 3NW
Short Tour, £25; Long Tour, £50
downtondistillery.com

The Henley Distillery

HENLEY, ENGLAND

Meet Tony and Mac, the pair of alembic stills producing Henley’s small-batch creations and named after Master Distiller Jacob Wilson’s two gin-loving grandfathers. They take pride of place inside a repurposed threshing barn in Henley-on-Thames. Here, visitors can partake in a brief tour and tasting. Or they can opt for an in-depth introduction to the spirit by operating their own mini pot still in a masterclass that takes place in a barn festooned with fairy lights and fitted with a horsehoe-shaped bar – ideal for that all-important gin-fuelled post-lesson debrief. LR
Hampstead Farm, Binfield Heath, Henley-on-Thames RG9 4LG
From £20
thehenleydistillery.co.uk

Gyre & Gimble

Norwich, England

With its own gin academy and a bar up above serving zero waste cocktails, Gyre & Gimble has firmly established itself on the Norwich scene – and that’s despite launching in the midst of a pandemic. Its Alice in Wonderland-referencing spirits include an IWSC Gold-award-winning gin featuring discarded Pinot Noir pomace collected from a nearby vineyard. At the academy, you can select from a range of 30 botanicals to craft your own gin, with four G&Ts provided for liquid inspiration throughout the course. Finish up with a flight of Negronis at the bar, with twists on the drink showcasing Gyre & Gimble’s Nohow London Dry. LR
14 Charing Cross, Norwich NR2 4AL
From £75
gyreandgimble.co.uk

Hawkridge Distillery

Newbury, Berkshire

Since the distillery’s first creations in 2018, the Hawkridge team has developed its own award-winning range of spirits. Counted among the company’s clients are many of the world’s finest hotels, restaurants, retailers and celebrities. The purpose-built distillery and visitors centre sits in a converted 17^th-century barn, sympathetic to the original craftsmanship of the building. The distillery experience begins with a short history of gin-making, followed by a tour of the cathedral-like distillery, giving you a detailed description of their traditional gin production processes. With a recent IWSC 2024 gold medal win under their belt for their Silchester Farm Wingless Eagle London Dry Gin, you can be confident about their expertise. CG
Danetree, Coombe Road, Compton, Newbury Berkshire RG20 6RQ
Distillery tour, £25; Gin Making School, £75 or 130pp
hawkridgedistillers.com

The Maidstone Distillery

MAIDSTONE, KENT

History indicates that gin has been made in Maidstone for more than 200 years and it continues today at The Maidstone Distillery, based in some of the old market buildings in the town centre. There’s nothing old-fashioned about the distillery itself or the bar where the tours take place; the design is geared towards impressing and entertaining visitors, rather than simply allowing them a look at a utilitarian production facility. Tours take 90 minutes and begin with a double G&T at the bar, followed by insights into how the distillery creates its spirits in the ‘experience room’, the tour itself and finally a return to the bar for a guided tasting. Cocktail masterclasses and gin-making courses are also available separately. WM
5 Market Buildings, Maidstone, ME14 1HP
£25
themaidstonedistillery.com

MASONS OF YORKSHIRE

YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND

Karl and Cathy Mason started with a Facebook page called ‘G&T Friday’, where they tried and tested their way through gins. They soon decided they could do better, and established their own label in 2013 – but just six years into production, disaster struck for ‘Yorkshire’s first gin’ when a fire broke out at the distillery. Thankfully, the recovery was swift, with a new warehouse opening just outside Bedale later that year. A tour of the new Masons facility – which is still welcoming its first visitors, thanks to the pandemic – takes in a trip to the laboratory, where the ginmaker is riffing on its core range to create new flavoured expressions, from English lavender to that very Yorkshire thing: tea. The experience ends with a G&T of your choice, which seems rather fitting, actually. LR
Trinity Place, Conygarth Way, Leeming Bar, Yorkshire DL7 9EE
£25
masonsofyorkshire.com

Mousehall Estate

Tidebrook, East Sussex

Another distillery situated in a beautiful place in the UK, Mousehall Estate sits in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in East Sussex. Wine lovers may be intrigued to see that the owners of Mousehall are Gary and Kathy Jordan of South Africa’s Jordan Wine Estate – its Kathy herself who is the guide for the distillery tour. In addition to learning about how Mousehall’s gin is made, the tour includes a five-part tasting of the gin and a sample of the brand’s vodka, followed by a complimentary Gin & Tonic. The wine connection means that Mousehall also has its own winery, with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier vineyards on the land. WM
Mousehall, Tidebrook, Wadhurst TN5 6PG
£25
mousehall.com

Plymouth Gin

Devon, England

This one’s for the history buffs. Plymouth Gin happens to be home to the oldest working distillery in England, with the main stillhouse dating back to 1400. After the comprehensive gin tasting and tour, guests get the chance to meet the master distiller and taste the Plymouth Original Gin and its IWSC Silver-medal-winning Sloe Gin, then take a pew in the medieval hall that houses the Refectory Bar and Cocktail Lounge for both traditional and creative gin cocktail serves. LB
60 Southside St, Plymouth PL1 2LQ
From £15
plymouthdistillery.com

Pocketful of Stones

Penzance, Cornwall

A brand created by four men with plenty of drinks experience gained from various hospitality roles in London, Pocketful of Stones is located in the centre of Penzance, just a short walk from the railway station, in Cornwall. The brand’s portfolio of spirits is not limited to gins, so there’s a brandy, whisky, liqueurs and even an absinthe to try if you visit the distillery, which also incorporates an enticing bar that opens Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. As well as learning about how the spirits are made and sampling the range, you’ll also hear more about the rather unusual backstory to Pocketful of Stones and how it made the transition from a pub basement in London’s Fitzrovia to a dedicated building on the Cornish coast. WM
13 Causewayhead, Penzance TR18 2SN
£10
pocketfulofstones.co.uk

Ramsbury

Marlborough

Situated in the heart of Wiltshire, Ramsbury is one of only a handful of single estate gin distilleries in the UK, meaning almost every ingredient in their gins is grown, sourced or produced within the boundaries of the estate. Visitors have the choice of three different experiences: an all-day affair that takes guests on a ‘countryside safari’ of the estate before stopping in at the distillery for an intimate tour and tasting, a bespoke gin school experience for a more hands-on occasion and a shorter, more traditional distillery tour, there’s something for everyone (and every budget). CG
Stockclose Farm, Marlborough SN8 2NN
The Experience Tour, £95; Gin School, £85
ramsbury.com

Shakespeare Distillery

Stratford upon Avon

As the name might suggest, this is one for history buffs and literature fans alike. Shakespeare Distillery’s award-winning visitor centre first opened its doors in 2019. Guests can enjoy distillery tours and gin schools, as well as the distillery shop, and for those in need of a rest, a visit to the coffee and cocktail lounge might be needed. In the summer, the distillery tours take to the River Avon, offering visitors the chance to set sail on gin-tasting cruises, drifting by some of the riverside sights including the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Holy Trinity Church, Shakespeare’s burial place. CG
Drayton Manor Drive, Stratford upon Avon CV37 9RQ
Distillery tour, £19.50; Gin Tasting Cruise, £30
shakespearedistllery.com

St Giles Gin

Norwich, England

Named after both an area in London synonymous with gin shops and the street in Norwich where founder Simon has his own gin shop, St Giles offers intimate gin-making workshops. This experience includes a tour of the distillery, a guided gin-making session using a copper pot mini still, naming, bottling and labelling your own 50cl bottle of gin to take away, plus a tasting session of a range of St. Giles gins. Limited to a maximum of four visitors, this is a perfect opportunity to gather some friends and spend two hours immersed in gin. CG
North Walsham Road, Norwich NR12 7BG
Gin experience, £75 per person, minimum two people
stgilesgin.com

Tarquin’s

Padstow, Cornwall

Around 15 minutes’ drive south of Padstow in Cornwall, where the brand has one of its own shops, Tarquin’s distillery sits on a windswept hill above the coast. The 90-minute tour consists of a Gin & Tonic on arrival, followed by an outline of the brand’s history, a masterclass on the botanicals used in production, a walking tour of the distillery and a tutored tasting of Tarquin’s four core gins. A nice extra touch is the option to wax your own bottle of the flagship dry gin, giving visitors a personalised keepsake from the visit as well as an excellent gin to drink once back home. There’s some great eating and drinking to be done in and around Padstow, and for those who enjoy their wine too, Camel Valley is only half an hour away by car. WM
Higher Trevibban Farm, St. Ervan, PL27 7SH
£18
tarquinsgin.com

Tiny Tower Liquor

London, England

Back in 2016, Martello Hall bar and micro-distillery opened in Hackney and gave London’s second gin craze some serious edge. Since then, the bar has spawned siblings all over town – and scaled up its production with the recent launch of Tiny Tower Liquor, a label under which to sell gin from across its sites and its urban distillery, Teatro Hall in Ealing. Tiny Tower’s HQ is home to a much larger copper still – sitting pretty at 150 litres – and here, you can taste your way through a flight from the range, take yourself on a two-hour blending bender or finesse five recipes at a cocktail masterclass. CG

61 New Broadway, London W5 5AH
Tasting, £25; classes from £60
teatrohall.com/distillery

Whitley Neill

London, England

Perhaps the UK’s most recognisable gin producer, Whitley Neill is the only gin distillery within the boundaries of the City of London. Despite this fame, Whitley Neill HQ in The City of London Distillery and Bar seems to be a well-kept secret. It’s the perfect place to learn about the history of the iconic brand amongst the copper stills before enjoying a well-earned gin tasting in the bar above. Looking for something more hands on? Whitley Neill also offers gin-making classes and records your recipe so that they can offer you a refill of the gin you created at a later date. CG
Tennyson House, Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PA
Tours, £25; gin making classes from £125
cityoflondondistillery.com

WYRD GIN (NEW FOREST SPIRITS)

HANGERSLEY, HAMPSHIRE

Wyrd Gin is produced in the New Forest in Hampshire, so the distillery is perfectly placed to combine with a day out exploring the national park. Head distiller Mark is the guide for the distillery tours and is a trained chemist, so has all the know-how you could wish for if you’re after the fine details of crafting a quality spirit. The tour includes a range of samples to try, as well as a complimentary Gin & Tonic on arrival, and lasts 90 minutes. If you’re looking for lunch or dinner in the area, it’s good to know that the distillery is only half an hour’s drive from Angela Hartnett’s restaurant at Limewood Hotel and The Pig at Brockenhurst. Wyrd also offers ‘Distil Your Own Gin’ experiences if the tour whets your appetite for spirit production. WM
Forest Corner Farm, Hangersley, Ringwood BH24 3JW
£25
wyrdspirits.com

Boatyard Distillery

County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

The best way to explore Fermanagh’s waterways is by boat, which luckily is also one of the best ways to visit the Boatyard Distillery. Set on Lough Erne near the county town of Enniskillen (which, according to local legend, once had its own gin palace), it’s the first legal distillery in Fermanagh since 1890. The distillery is family-run – with the sweet gale botanical used in its gin grown on the family farm – and a small affair, but with a generous tour offering that includes a tasting and two gin cocktails. LB
Tullybay Marina, 346 Lough Shore Rd, Drumcrow East, Enniskillen BT93 7DX
Tasting, talk and tour, £55
boatyarddistillery.com

The Copeland Distillery

Donaghadee, Northern Ireland

Just off the harbour of Donaghadee in County Down, Copeland’s coastal spirits – named after the offshore islands once used as a base for smugglers bringing booze into Ireland – include rum and blended whisky, but its Classic Irish and Navy Strength gins were where the story began. It’s an impressive site, an old bottling company and historic picture house redeveloped in 2019 to encompass the company’s three pot stills. Learn more about the building’s heritage, take a view across the production floor and sample from the distillery’s citrussy range on a 90-minute yarn-filled tour. LR
Manor St, Donaghadee BT21 0HF
Tour £22.50
copelanddistillery.com

Balmenach Distillery

Cromdale, Scotland

This one’s for the true gin enthusiasts. Scotch whisky distillery Balmenach has been producing Caorunn gin since 2009 and is the only gin in the world to be distilled in a copper berry chamber, an innovative method of vapour infusion using a technique from the 1920s originally used for perfumes. Tours take visitors on a journey through the distillation process, including an in-depth guided nosing and tasting session of the Scottish botanicals that go into the gins, such as their IWSC 2024 gold medal winner, Scottish Raspberry Gin. The tour includes a G&T made with Caorunn gin in the distillery’s bothy. CG
Balmenach Road, Cromdale, Scotland PH26 3PF
From £15
caorunngin.com

Bruichladdich Distillery

Isle of Islay, Scotland

While Islay is synonymous with peat-heavy whisky, Botanist Gin is expanding the island’s spirits portfolio. The Botanist is made at Bruichladdich Distillery on the banks of Loch Indaal on the Isle of Islay, famous for producing Octomore whisky. However, for those keen to understand the inner workings of the gin side of the distillery, tours are available to introduce visitors to the history of gin-making on Islay, their still, named Ugly Betty, and the distillation process itself. It’s only right that after all that learning, visitors are treated to a tutored tasting of the award-winning The Botanist Islay Dry Gin, The Botanist Hebridean Strength and several exclusive editions in the range. For those wanting to brush up on their cocktail-crafting skills, the distillery also offers cocktail masterclasses, covering everything from the humble G&T to the Negorni. CG
Bruichladdich Distillery, Isle of Islay, PA49 7UN
The Botanist Gin Experience, £35; The Botanist Cocktail Class, £40
thebotanist.com

Glenrinnes Distillery

Keith, Scotland

Glenrinnes, the home of Eight Lands, is nestled at the foot of Ben Rinnes to the east of Inverness and those exploring this far north are treated to a unique experience. More than just a distillery, Glenrinnes sits in 6,000 acres of countryside and is used to farm native animals such as Aberdeen Angus and Shorthorn cattle. Tours offer the chance to learn more about the techniques, equipment and effort that goes into the spirits made here, followed by a tutored nosing and tasting of their gins, one of which scored 95 points at the 2024 IWSC. For those seeking something more unique, there is the option to join the VIP experience, which offers a half-day tour of the farm, chance to feed the animals, guided tour of the distillery and trip up the Ben Rinnes mountain that looms over the distillery, followed by a tutored tasting and a light lunch of local produce. CG
Keith, Scotland, AB55 4DB
Distillery tour £15; VIP Experience, from £400
eight-lands.com

Holyrood Distillery

Edinburgh, Scotland

Another essential Edinburgh stop-off, Holyrood is based at the foot of Arthur’s Seat. While whisky is at the core of the operation (this is Scotland, after all), the distillery has been branching out into experimental rum production as well as a range of classy, textured gins tipped for mixing in a Martini. Its Height of Arrows gin label offers a pure expression of juniper and also sees the team experiment in cask-aged offerings. At the distillery, see for yourself inside the on-site ‘spirits lab’ where the team take you through a tasting before unleashing you on your own craft cocktails to take with you back to the bar at the end of each session. LR
19 St Leonard’s Ln, Edinburgh EH8 9SH
From £28
holyrooddistillery.co.uk

Isle of Harris

Hebrides, Scotland

There can’t be many gin distilleries in the world with surroundings as dramatic as this one. Based in Tarbert on the Hebridean island of Harris, the Isle of Harris distillery sits a few metres from the shore and offers lovers of its seaweed-infused gin the chance to sample the product while hosts share the story of its creation a stone’s throw from where the signature ingredient is sourced. The distillery also makes its own whisky, which you can try on the tour along with the gin, and the local sandy beaches are as good as the drinks. It may be a little out of the way but a visit to this particular distillery is virtually guaranteed to be special. WM
Tarbert, Isle of Harris HS3 3DJ
£25

harrisdistillery.com

Praban na Linne

Isle of Skye, Scotland

The Isle of Skye conjures images of whisky but it’s on the south-eastern coast of the island at Eilean Iarmain where you’ll find the Gaelic Gin still house, the home of Uisge Lusach gin. It’s tucked in amongst some historic buildings on the water’s edge overlooking the stone pier. The distillery’s shepherd’s hut is where tastings take place, giving visitors spectacular views across Loch Hourn to enjoy while sampling the gins (and the brand’s whiskies too, if you wish). The brand won medals for each of the three whiskies and two gins it entered in this year’s IWSC, so you’re likely to be as impressed by the spirits as you are by Skye’s stunning scenery. WM
Eilean Iarmain, Sleat, Isle of Skye IV43 8QR
gaelicwhisky.com

Tobermory

Isle of Mull, Scotland

Visiting the rugged Isle of Mull is a magical experience, Tobermory’s colourful row of seafront houses the place to aim for once you’ve stepped foot off the ferry. What makes it even more of a worthy destination is its Tobermory distillery, which admittedly has its history in Scotch production (first established in 1798) – but is making just as much of a name for itself in the 21^st century gin world. A 45-minute tasting session allows you to explore the range of three gins – each of which make good use of unique coastal and Hebridean botanicals, from samphire to wild heather. LR
Ledaig, Tobermory, Isle of Mull, PA75 6NR
£18
tobermorydistillery.com

Silver Circle Distillery

Monmouthshire, Wales

The most easterly distillery in Wales is perfect for gin fans searching for an experience in nature. Located in the very centre of the Wye Valley, the distillery is surrounded by dense woodland, lush fields and picturesque rivers. The tour features the chance to get to grips with the locally foraged botanicals that go into their signature Wye Valley Gin, alongside a guide to the distillery itself. Looking for something more hands on? Silver Circle also offers visitors the opportunity to create their own gin. With the guidance of one of their distillers you can blend, measure and bottle your gin, and most importantly, name and label it yourself. CG
Penallt, Monmouthshire NP25 4RP
Distillery tour, £20; Gin Making experience, £110
silvercircledistillery.com