The Cotswolds is not just a feast for the stomach; it is a wonderful place for a drink, too. Alongside its famous food scene, the region has a thriving and increasingly celebrated drinks culture, from a tiny Victorian brewery still powered by a water wheel to an award-winning distillery making both gin and single malt whisky, and a growing band of vineyards producing English sparkling wine to rival Champagne. Best of all, many of these producers welcome visitors for tours and tastings, making them a brilliant addition to any trip.
This guide covers the best Cotswolds breweries, gin distilleries and vineyards to visit, with notes on what each makes and how to experience it. Tour times, prices and tasting options change with the seasons, so always book ahead and check the latest. It works alongside our guides to Cotswolds food and drink and the best pubs in the Cotswolds.
The Best Cotswolds Breweries to Visit
Real-ale lovers are spoilt in the Cotswolds. The star is Hook Norton (“Hooky”), just over the eastern edge near Banbury, one of the finest examples of a Victorian tower brewery in the country and still family-owned. Its excellent two-hour tours run seven days a week, taking you up and down the five-storey tower past the original steam engine before a tasting, and the brewery is also home to a team of magnificent shire horses. The brewery tap, the nearby Pear Tree Inn, pours the full range.
Closer to the heart of the Cotswolds, the tiny and impossibly picturesque Donnington Brewery near Stow-on-the-Wold brews just two beers, BB and SBA, sold through its string of lovely tied pubs. In a lovely development, after more than 150 years it has recently begun offering official tours (currently on Fridays), so for the first time you can see this water-powered gem from the inside; do check the current schedule and book ahead. Down in the south, Stroud Brewery is a pioneering organic and B-Corp brewery with a buzzy taproom and monthly tours, while Corinium Ales runs an atmospheric little taproom, the Doghouse, in Cirencester Park.
Gin and Whisky: The Cotswolds Distillery and Sibling
The flagship of the region’s spirits scene is the Cotswolds Distillery at Stourton, near Shipston-on-Stour. Founded in 2014, it makes both gin and, notably, single malt whisky, becoming the first distillery to produce whisky in the Cotswolds, and it has gone on to win a string of awards, including gold at the World Whiskies Awards. Its tours run daily (booking essential, and bring ID), taking you through both the gin and whisky-making processes before a guided tasting, and there are blending and cocktail masterclasses for those who want to go deeper. There is also a shop and a café on site.
For gin specifically, head to Sibling Distillery at Charlton Kings on the edge of Cheltenham, run by four siblings who make their gin entirely from scratch. Their two-hour tours, complete with tastings and a relaxed, fun atmosphere, are hugely popular and tend to sell out, so book well ahead. Between them, these two distilleries showcase just how serious the Cotswolds has become about craft spirits, and a tour of either makes a memorable and very enjoyable day out.
Cotswold Vineyards and English Wine
English wine has come of age, and the Cotswolds has its own excellent vineyards, several of which welcome visitors. Woodchester Valley Vineyard, just south of Stroud, is a family estate making award-winning traditional-method sparkling wines as well as still whites and rosés; its pre-booked tours and tastings are a lovely way to learn about English winemaking, and it even offers accommodation. Near Cirencester, the small family-run Poulton Hill Estate offers relaxed vineyard tours and cellar-door tastings, with seasonal events through the warmer months.
On the north-western fringe near Newent, Three Choirs is one of England’s oldest commercial vineyards, with daily tours, an on-site restaurant and rooms to stay, making it a real destination. A vineyard visit, with a tasting in the sunshine looking out over the vines, is one of the most surprising and delightful experiences the Cotswolds has to offer, and a wonderful way to discover just how good English wine has become. Remember that most vineyards require advance booking and are seasonal, so plan ahead.
How to Plan a Cotswolds Drinks Tour
If you want to visit more than one producer, a little planning helps, not least because someone needs to stay sober to drive. The safest and most relaxing options are to arrange a designated driver, book a taxi, or join an organised tour, so everyone can enjoy the tastings. It is also worth grouping your visits by area: the distilleries and Hook Norton sit towards the north-east, while Stroud Brewery, Woodchester Valley and the southern producers cluster around the Five Valleys.
Always book tours and tastings in advance, as the popular ones sell out and some run only on certain days, and check whether food is available or whether you should plan lunch separately. With a designated driver sorted and your visits booked, a drinks tour makes a brilliant, sociable day out, and a great alternative to the usual sightseeing. Our guide to getting around the Cotswolds has more on transport options.
A Brief History of Cotswold Brewing
Brewing has deep roots in the Cotswolds. With pure water, locally grown barley and a thirsty rural population, the region has been making beer for centuries, and at its peak almost every town and village had its own brewery. Most have long since vanished, swallowed up by the big national brewers, which makes the survival of family breweries like Donnington and Hook Norton all the more remarkable. They are living links to a brewing heritage that once defined English country life.
What is exciting is that, after decades of decline, brewing in the Cotswolds is thriving again. The craft-beer revival has brought a new wave of small, independent breweries, from organic pioneers to tiny taproom operations, joining the historic names. The result is a richer, more varied drinks scene than the region has seen in generations, and a real sense of pride in local, hand-crafted beer. The same spirit has spread to spirits and wine, making the Cotswolds one of the most interesting drinks destinations in the country.
What to Expect on a Brewery Tour
A brewery tour is one of the most enjoyable and educational ways to spend a few hours in the Cotswolds. At a heritage brewery like Hook Norton, you will climb through the floors of the Victorian tower, learning how gravity is used to move the beer through each stage of the process, see the historic steam engine and the gleaming coppers, and hear the stories of generations of brewing. The tour usually finishes, of course, with the best bit: a tasting of the beers, fresh from the source.
Smaller breweries offer a more intimate experience, with the brewer themselves often leading the tour and sharing their passion for the craft. Either way, you come away with a real appreciation for the skill and care that goes into a good pint, and a new favourite beer or two. Tours typically last one to two hours and must be booked in advance, so plan ahead, and remember to arrange transport if you intend to enjoy the tasting fully.
Distillery Masterclasses and Experiences
The distilleries take the experience a step further, offering not just tours but hands-on masterclasses. At the Cotswolds Distillery, you can go beyond the standard tour to a gin or whisky blending masterclass, where you create your own bottle to take home, or a cocktail-making session. These make a fantastic gift or a memorable group activity for a special occasion, a stag or hen do, or simply a treat for anyone who loves a good G&T or a dram of whisky.
Learning how gin is made, nosing the different botanicals and understanding how a spirit develops its character, transforms how you taste it afterwards. It is a surprisingly absorbing few hours, and the enthusiasm of the distillers is infectious. As with everything, these experiences are popular and need booking well ahead, particularly at weekends and in the run-up to Christmas, when they make a brilliant gift.
The Rise of English Wine
Perhaps the most surprising development of all is the rise of English wine, and the Cotswolds is part of the story. A warming climate and chalky, well-drained soils in parts of the region have proved well suited to the grape varieties used in sparkling wine, and Cotswold vineyards are now winning awards and turning heads. English sparkling wine, made by the same traditional method as Champagne, is increasingly rated among the best in the world, and tasting it at the vineyard where it was made is a genuine thrill.
A vineyard visit also offers a lovely day out in beautiful surroundings, with rows of vines stretching across the hillsides and, often, a tasting room or terrace with views. It is a reminder of how much England’s wine scene has changed, and how the Cotswolds, with its mild climate and food-loving culture, is perfectly placed to be part of it. For couples, a vineyard tour and tasting makes a wonderfully romantic outing, as our guide to the romantic Cotswolds notes.
Award-Winning Drinks to Take Home
One of the best things about visiting the region’s producers is the chance to take some of their work home with you. Most breweries, distilleries and vineyards have a shop selling their full range, often including limited editions and bottles you will not find elsewhere, and they make wonderful gifts or a delicious reminder of your trip. A bottle of Cotswolds single malt, some Donnington ale, a gin from Sibling or a bottle of English fizz from Woodchester Valley all carry a real sense of place.
You will also find many of these local drinks stocked in the region’s farm shops, delis and on the wine lists and bars of its best pubs and restaurants, so even if you do not have time for a full tour, you can still seek them out and support the local producers. Asking for a local gin or a glass of Cotswold sparkling wine is a lovely way to taste the region, as our guides to the best farm shops and restaurants in the Cotswolds explore.
Drinks Festivals and Taprooms
Beyond the tours, the Cotswolds has a lively calendar of beer and drinks festivals, and a growing number of brewery taprooms where you can drink the beer where it is made. Stroud Brewery’s taproom, with its organic beers, local food and live music, is a destination in its own right, and the smaller breweries’ taprooms offer a more intimate way to sample fresh, local ale. Seasonal beer festivals, often combined with food and music, are a great way to taste a wide range in one go.
Timing a visit to coincide with a drinks or food festival can add a real highlight to a trip, and the summer and autumn months are particularly busy with events. Our guide to Cotswolds food festivals and culinary events rounds up the best of them, many of which celebrate the region’s beer, gin and wine alongside its food.
Drink Responsibly and Plan Your Transport
A final, important word: the Cotswolds’ country lanes are no place to drive after a tasting, so always plan your transport in advance. The simplest options are a designated driver who sticks to soft drinks, a pre-booked taxi, or an organised drinks tour that handles the driving for you. Some producers are also reachable by train and bus, particularly those near Cheltenham, Stroud and Cirencester, which opens up a car-free option for the determined.
With transport sorted, you can relax and enjoy the tastings fully, which is, after all, the whole point. A day spent touring the Cotswolds’ breweries, distilleries and vineyards is a wonderful, sociable alternative to the usual sightseeing, and a delicious way to discover just how much the region has to offer the thirsty traveller. Round it off with a stay at one of our recommended places to stay in the Cotswolds and you need not travel far at all.
The Best Time for a Drinks Tour
Breweries and distilleries run tours year-round, so they make a great option whatever the weather, and are a particularly good choice for a rainy day when outdoor sightseeing loses its appeal. Vineyards, by contrast, are more seasonal: their tours generally run from late spring through to autumn, with the vines at their most beautiful in summer and the harvest (or “crush”) in early autumn a special time to visit. Always check a vineyard’s opening season before planning a trip around it.
The run-up to Christmas is another lovely time for a drinks experience, with distillery masterclasses and gift sets in high demand and a festive atmosphere at the taprooms. Whenever you go, booking ahead is essential, and our guide to the best time to visit the Cotswolds can help you plan around the seasons.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best brewery to visit in the Cotswolds?
Hook Norton is the standout for its heritage and its excellent tower-brewery tours and shire horses. Stroud Brewery is a great choice for its organic, B-Corp ethos and lively taproom, and Donnington near Stow has recently begun offering tours of its historic water-powered brewery.
Can you tour the Cotswolds Distillery, and do they make whisky?
Yes. The Cotswolds Distillery at Stourton makes both gin and award-winning single malt whisky, and runs daily tours that cover both, finishing with a guided tasting. Booking is essential and you will need to bring ID.
Do you need to book Cotswolds vineyard tours in advance?
Yes. Vineyards such as Woodchester Valley and Poulton Hill are pre-booked only, with no walk-ins, and many are seasonal or harvest-dependent, so always check dates and reserve ahead.
Are there gin distilleries to visit near Cheltenham?
Yes. Sibling Distillery at Charlton Kings, on the edge of Cheltenham, makes its gin from scratch and runs popular two-hour tours with tastings. They sell out fast, so book well in advance.
How do I get around if I want to visit several producers?
Arrange a designated driver, book a taxi, or join an organised tour so everyone can enjoy the tastings safely. Grouping producers by area and booking ahead makes for a smooth, enjoyable drinks tour.
Raise a Glass to the Cotswolds
From a pint of Hooky at a Victorian brewery to a glass of English fizz overlooking the vines, the Cotswolds’ drinks scene is a real and growing pleasure. Book your tours ahead, sort a designated driver, and discover the award-winning beers, spirits and wines being made on your doorstep. For more, explore our guides to the best Cotswolds pubs and food and drink festivals in the Cotswolds.