Wine tourism is rapidly becoming a major trend in UK travel, with over 1.5 million visits to vineyards and wineries recorded in 2023, marking a 55% increase from 2022. In response, WineGB has released the Visit a Vineyard Guide 2025 (pdf), a comprehensive resource promoting the diverse and distinctive experiences available across the country. There are 300 vineyards and wineries in the UK currently open to the public, offering everything from tours and tastings to fine dining, cellar door shops, on-site accommodation and vineyard picnics. Unique attractions include winery slides, wine trains, festivals, and wildlife walks, showcasing the variety of experiences that appeal to both domestic and inbound tourists.
Wine tourism now contributes around 25% of average winery income in the UK, according to WineGB’s Tourism Report 2024. Additionally, 60% of surveyed producers expect visitor numbers to grow by more than 20% in the next five years. The interest from overseas visitors is also significant, with VisitBritain’s MIDAS Report from December 2022 revealing that 42% of inbound tourists, around 16 million people, are highly interested in visiting a UK winery during their stay.
Tourism as a whole plays a vital role in the UK economy. English tourism supports 200,000 small and medium-sized businesses, employs 2.6 million people, and contributes £71.6 billion annually through domestic visitor spending.
Several key wine-related events are scheduled for 2025. In April, The Naked Grape’s Spring Wine Festival will take place on 19 April. In May, the Canterbury Wine Festival will run from 16 to 17 May, followed by Welsh Wine Week from 30 May to 8 June. June will feature the Wine Garden of England Summer Celebration on 7 June, English Wine Week from 21 to 29 June, the Vineyards of the Surrey Hills Summer Spectacular on 28 and 29 June and Vineyards of Hampshire Fizz Fest on 29 June. Finally, the South Coast Wine Festival is scheduled for 8 to 10 August.
