Escape to the Vineyard

A page dedicated to Vineyard Escapes in the U.K, because sometimes visiting for a few hours just isn’t enough. There are some absolutely gorgeous vineyards you can stay at, especially some of the newer places which have done some amazing renovations in the last couple of years. Whether you’re looking for tranquil escapes or foodie havens, if it’s vineyard views you’re looking for this will be your favourite page! Here is my list of the best Vineyard retreats to book now.

ASHLING PARK ESTATE

photo credit Ashling Park Website

Location: Chichester, Sussex
Rate: £225 per night (two people) £330 per night (four people)

Ashling Park Estate has just started taking bookings for their new lodges built by Will Hardie from Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces, well I am already expecting great things. In the aptly named ‘Wine Wonderland’ there are five lodges, a mix of one and two bedroom, each one named after a stage in the vineyard cycle. Complete with an open plan kitchen, dining and lounge space with roll top bathtubs in the bathrooms. Spend your afternoon on the vineyard, follow with a long relaxing soak with a glass of wine and cosy up by the log burner in the evening. Happy Days.

TINWOOD ESTATE

Photo Credit: Tinwood Estate Website

Location: Chichester, West Sussex
Rate: £195 per night

Three luxury lodges overlooking the vineyard, each one with comes with a private terrace to take in the view and enjoy some fizz from the fully stocked wine fridge and a Nespresso machine for morning coffee! There is also jacuzzi in all three bathrooms and an onsite sauna. Pets are welcome and you can rent out bikes for free to explore the surrounding area.

There are no cooking facilities in the lodges but Chichester is only 10 minutes away by car and has plenty of restaurants to choose from!

OXNEY ORGANIC

Photo Credit: Oxney Organic Website

Location: High Weald, AONB, Rye
Rate: from £125 per night

Oxney Estate is located 15 minutes outside of the coastal town of Rye and the only U.K Vineyard escape with Shepherds Huts- they are rustic, stylish and cosy, perfect for a little intimate getaway. There are two available to book and each one comes with a bottle of their bubbly in the hut and includes a tour of the vineyard. They also have Barn Houses which sleep up to eighteen people for larger events and gatherings (fingers crossed post 21st June).

If you are visiting a trip to Rye is a must, you can cycle down from the vineyard or it’s a short drive. A beautiful medieval town with cobbled streets, delicious seafood restaurants, deli’s, antique and art shops galore. Marino’s Fish & Chips is some of the best fish and chips I’ve had in a long time, absolutely worth the wait if there is a bit of a queue and if you can resist tucking in take it down to Camber Sands beach and enjoy it with a sea view with some fizz from the vineyard.

TILLINGHAM

Location: Rye, Sussex
Rate: from £165

Oh so cool Tillingham Vineyard has eleven rooms in what used to be a former hop barn. This is the one to book if you’re looking for an all encompassing vineyard, foodie, coastal escape. The rooms have been beautifully done up with some wonderful paintings and art in the rooms with an air of serenity which immediately makes you feel relaxed. The ground and others buildings are made up of large open plan spaces for relaxing in- a wine shop come wine bar with an outdoor terrace overlooking the vineyard, a dutch barn serving fresh wood fired pizzas outdoors and an upper level more formal dining restaurant with amazing views of the vineyard and estate. P.s the two head chefs are from St. John and Rochelle Canteen in London, need I say more?

If you feel like leaving this haven during your stay, Rye and the glorious sandy beaches of Camber Sands are 15 minutes away by car.

RATHFINNY ESTATE

Photo Credit: Rathfinny Estate Website

Location: Afriston, Sussex
Rate: from £100 per night

Rathfinny Estate is the place to book if you’re looking for a vineyard foodie retreat. The Flint Barns have been renovated into 10 rooms in varying sizes and include some family rooms too with gorgeous views of the South Downs & Vineyard. There are two restaurants you can book- The Dining Room in The Flint Barn & their Michelin plate restaurant Tasting Room. The Tasting Room menu changes weekly and seasonally and looks absolutely delicious with an added bonus of being able to add on a Rathfinny wine flight to try their wines! In the warmer months you can also book one of their vineyard hampers to picnic alfresco amongst the vines.

Oh and it’s a 10 minute drive to the coast from the Estate, sounds like the perfect break, does it not?

WOODCHESTER VALLEY

Photo Credit: Woodchester Vineyard Website

Location: Stroud, Cotswolds
Rate: from £125 per night

Woodchester Valley Vineyard is just outside of the beautiful village of Stroud, the area is elevated with sloped hills and gorgeous views of the surrounding Cotswolds countryside. They offer three types of accommodation- luxury vineyard guest rooms which sleep two, a farmhouse which sleeps four and an amazing valley house which sleeps 12. All of these have been finished to a high standard complete with Cotswold charm.

The location is great for walking routes and cyclists and Stroud has a great selection of restaurants, cafés, shops and deli’s to keep you fed and watered. I particularly recommend the Egypt Mill Hotel, pub and restaurant- a 16th century mill with riverside views, so picturesque!

POULTON HILL ESTATE

Photo Credit: Poulton Hill Estate Website

Location: Cirencester, Cotswolds
Rate: £600 per night for the whole wing, minimum 3 night stay

In the heart of the Cotswolds, Poulton Hill Estate has been open since 2010 and is run by two superwomen. A wing of the estate house has been newly renovated to a very high standard and is oh so stylish. There are three double rooms all with private bathrooms, a beautiful open plan kitchen, dining and lounge area and includes use of the tennis courts on their grounds. This is a great place for a get together with family or friends!

Have a little read of my Cotswolds Travel Guide for more inspiration and tips for other places to visit in the surrounding area.

DENBIES VINEYARD HOTEL

Photo Credits: Denbies Vineyard Website

Location: Dorking, Surrey
Rate: from £145 per night

Denbies Vineyard is one of the largest vineyards in the U.K, located just outside the beautiful village of Dorking. The Hotel newly opened within the last couple of years with a great terrace restaurant overlooking the vineyard. The grounds are vast and perfect for picnics and long walks with a viewpoint at the top of the estate of Box Hill. If you don’t fancy walking I suggest booking one of their wine train tours which takes you to the top and you can have a glass of fizz along the way!

There is also a lovely farm shop and deli on site and Dorking Village is worth a potter, with plenty of little cafes, art and antique shops. Michelin starred Sorrel Restaurant is also highly recommended offering a fabulous set lunch at £50 a head.

CASTLEWOOD VINEYARD

Photo Credits: Castlewood Vineyard Website

Location: Dorset
Rate: from £700 a week, shorter stays available

Castlewood is an absolutely beautiful estate, working farmhouse and vineyard with views for miles.

They have two grade two listed cottages dating back to the 18th century. One called Newhouse and the other Wonover, both have three bedrooms and sleep up to six adults, Wonover also has a wonderful hot tub to take in the views from which always goes down well! This would be an idyllic retreat and is in the tiny village of Musbury, with lots to do in the surrounding area and child and family friendly. The owners are so warm and welcoming and let me tell you, once you’ve seen their tasting barn and tried some of their wines, you won’t want to leave!

River Cottage HQ is ten minutes away, Lyme Regis is also around ten minutes away and The Pig Hotel at Combe is just over twenty minutes away- so you have plenty of places to visit, eat and be merry if you need.

THREE CHOIRS VINEYARD

Photo Credit: Three Choirs Website

Location: Newent, Gloucestershire
Rate: from £134 per night


Three Choirs is one of England’s oldest vineyards and probably the very first UK Vineyard break I came across quite a few years ago now. They have vineyard rooms and luxury vineyard lodges available to book with packages available to include tours and dinner at their restaurant. Located at the tip of the Cotswolds this is a popular choice as it easily accessible from many parts of the UK and great for exploring the Cotswolds too!

OASTBROOK VINEYARD

Photo Credit: Oastbrook Estate Website

Location: Robertsbridge, Sussex
Rate: from £250 per night

The Hobbit House at Oastbrook Vineyard is a truly unique place to stay, in the midst of the vineyards I haven’t seen any place like this before. A great choice for a get together with friends and family as it has two king size bedrooms, both of which are ensuite. It has a beautiful open plan kitchen and lounge, as well a private garden with a hot tub, BBQ area and newly added swimming pool.

The house is walking distance to Bodiam Castle, it also a 5 minute drive from Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard and 20 minutes from Hush Heath Estate– also both worth a visit!

TOPPESFIELD VINEYARD

Photo Credit: Toppesfield Vineyard Website

Location: Toppesfield Village, Essex
Rate: £240 per night

Toppesfield Vineyard has built a contemporary villa overlooking their vineyard. It’s spacious, airy, open plan and sleeps two people. Ideal for a little romantic escape and love that it has a jacuzzi / hot tub overlooking the vines! Stock up on goodies and retreat for a couple of days, enjoying being the only people staying on the vineyard.

Bookings available through AIRBNB

LLANERCH VINEYARD HOTEL

Photo Credit: Llanerch Vineyard Website

Location: Hensol, Wales
Rate: from £200 per night, special offers available to include room, dinner, breakfast, wine & vineyard tour

Llanerch Vineyard Hotel is just over 20 minutes outside of Cardiff, they have a range of rooms including dog friendly ones with vineyard and Welsh countryside views. The restaurant menu focuses on seasonal and local produce and is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday Roasts (win) as well as serving Afternoon Tea. Their wine range is called Cariad Wines and tours and tastings can be booked for an additional £14pp. There is also a cookery school on the estate which also looks wonderful- an all encompassing vineyard escape.

JABAJAK VINEYARD

Photo Credit: Jabajak Vineyard Website

Location: Whitland, Wales
Rate: from £130 per night

Vineyard, restaurant and rooms set on seven tranquil acres of land. Their motto is ‘arrive as strangers, leave as friends.” This a family run estate, their restaurant focuses on sustainability uses local suppliers, and grow a lot of their own produce on site. They are eight ensuite rooms available to book which are spread throughout the property. It’s in a great area for exploring South Wales and is twenty minute drive to the coast!


Also look at…

Wold Wine Estate for glamping pods on their vineyard in Nottingham

The newest addition to The Pig group – The Pig in the South Downs has its own vineyard, which in a year or so is going to be looking fantastic

Lympstone Manor in Devon also has its own vines and their first English wine was released last year though seems to be only currently available at the hotel. With beautiful rooms and a Michelin starred restaurant from Michael Caines this is a great getaway spot.

Coming soon….

Trevibban Mill in Cornwall is currently building some luxury eco lodges on their vineyard, I’ll share some details as soon as they’re available.

Wraxhall Vineyard in Somerset have almost finished renovating their luxury cottages