Winery visits are not reserved for romantic couples and wine connoisseurs. Wineries can be a very family-friendly day out. Whilst out and about with our family of five, we have discovered three of the best family-friendly wineries in Kent!
Did you know vineyards have the most amazing grounds and most places allow you to take a walk around free of charge? In fact, they encourage it! We always love the opportunity to save a bit of money! Also most have space to sit outside, which is much more kid-friendly, therefore allowing you to have a little glass of something before you head home. You might even find your way inside the shop to purchase a little bottle of something to take home too! Here’s our run down of the three best family-friendly wineries in Kent.
Hush Heath – a very family-friendly winery in Kent
Hush Heath is set in the beautiful countryside near the rural village of Staplehurst. Your drive to the winery will take you on a tour of some of Kent’s best countryside.
When you arrive you will be greeted by an impressive state-of-the-art winery and a gorgeous two story purpose built visitors centre providing a great vantage point to show off the grounds and showcase their Balfour wines.Â
Hush Heath Winery offers two self-guided tours of the estate. Both walks will take you through vineyards, apple orchards, wildflower meadows and ancient oak woodlands.
Both are just beautiful and enjoyable for adults and children alike!Â
There is a huge outside seating area in front of the visitor centre where you can treat yourselves, obviously not the kids, to a wine tasting of three Balfour wines.
The kids can enjoy being outside and you can enjoy a little tipple whilst looking out through the vines. I can certainly think of worst things to do and this is why Hush Heath is one of the best family-friendly wineries in Kent!
Rest assured the space continues inside if the weather isn’t quite good enough. Although, that might be a little more restrictive for the kids.Â
If you’re feeling peckish you can also enjoy a lunch platter. Food is served Thursday to Sunday only.Â
You can find out what else Hush Heath Estate has to offer by visiting their website
Chapel Down in Tenterden Kent
Chapel Down is England’s leading wine maker producing sparkling and still wines, gin, vodka, beers and cider! Phew…what a list!
They supply Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver, are the official sparkling wine of the Oxford and Cambridge boat races and also supply No. 10 Downing Street! Talk about friends in high places.
Chapel Down is located next to the incredibly pretty Kent market town of Tenterden and comprises of 25 acres of vineyards nestled in the Kent countryside.
There are two self-guided tours you can take around the winery and a visit to the herb garden too, which is very picturesque. To ensure you know where you are going, you can pick up a map from inside the shop.Â
The shop is well stocked, and most importantly sells my absolute favourite Chapel Down dessert wine, Nectar! You can ask to sample any of the wines on sale for free.
If you wanted to return to do something special without the kids, you can book yourself into a tasting session, which takes place in a barn conversion overlooking the vines. To find out more go to their website for more information.Â
If you are thinking of topping it all off with some food, you can visit The Swan Restaurant, a two AA Rosette and Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant!
Biddenden – family-friendly wineries in Kent
Biddenden Vineyards has the most rustic feel of the three. It isn’t uncommon to see tractors and other machinery zipping around the vines or being used in the production of Biddenden wine. And it is this that makes Biddenden a great family-friendly winery in Kent.
Biddenden Vineyards has been run by the same family for 50 years. Before 1979 the site was an apple orchard. However, it now has 23 acres of vines and produces 80,000 bottles of wine a year.Â
There are several tours you can book such as the Meet the Winemaker, open tours and the free self-guided tours around the vines. These are mostly open from April to September. To find out more visit the website.
We really enjoy the vineyard shop at Biddenden Vineyards. That rustic feel of the outside continues into the country kitchen-esque shop where you can purchase wines and ciders and also take part in a little tasting if you fancy it. We think Biddenden is a great family-friendly winery in Kent.