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Gin has undoubtedly become one of the UK’s national drinks in recent years. Its popularity has boomed since the millennium, with hundreds of gin distillery openings prompting the so-called ‘ginaissance’.
Has a G&T become your tipple of choice? There’s no better way to learn about gin than by visiting one of the many distilleries open to the public. To find out what’s on offer, we’ve analysed Google reviews, TikTok views, Instagram hashtags and Google searches of UK gin distilleries and awarded each a score out of 100.
Read our results for the best gin distillery tours and experiences in the UK and South West.
The UK’s best gin distilleries
Here are the UK's top gin distilleries. Check out our map with the winners for each location, and see details for the top distilleries below and how to book your visit!
1. Bombay Sapphire Distillery
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The world-renowned London dry gin Bombay Sapphire is distilled at Laverstoke Mill, a former paper mill that once printed bank notes for the British Empire. Today it’s the UK’s best-rated gin distillery. It boasts two bell jar-shaped glasshouses designed by Thomas Heatherwick, who created the London 2012 Olympic Cauldron. These glass structures contain the ten botanicals that give Bombay Sapphire its unique flavour.
Bombay Sapphire Distillery opened its doors to the public in 2014. Tours start from £20, with experiences to suit all tastes. If gin cocktails are your tipple, try the Gin Cocktail Masterclass for £30. Led by one of the distillery’s gin experts, you’ll learn how to make 2 Bombay Sapphire cocktails and you’ll get to try another.
For the latest ticketing information, visit the Bombay Sapphire website.
2. The Lakes Distillery, Cumbria
The Lakes Distillery, a renovated Victorian farmstead, is located on the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake in Cumbria. There’s something for everyone at this state-of-the-art distillery, which produces whisky, vodka and London dry gin. As its name suggests, The Lakes takes inspiration from its surroundings and even uses water sourced from the Lake District National Park in its drinks.
Set against a beautiful backdrop, The Lakes offers several tours and tasting experiences ranging from £20 to £100. Its one-hour Distillery Tour & Tasting experience costs £20 and is available all day, every day.
To book tickets, visit The Lakes Distillery website.
3. Edinburgh Gin Distillery
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Edinburgh Gin Distillery can be found in the West End of Scotland’s capital city. Choose from a range of experiences and let the guides take you through the city’s historic gin heritage, from the 18th century to the present day.
The Distillery Tour and Gin Tasting starts at £25, and the Ultimate Cocktail Experience starts at £45. For the chocoholics among us, you can even enjoy a Gin & Chocolate Pairing session for £32.
Book your visit on the Edinburgh Gin Distillery website.
4. Holyrood Distillery
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Another Edinburgh-based distillery, Holyrood Distillery sits proudly in the heart of the city’s historic Old Town.
This is one of the more affordable options on our list, with a wide selection of tours and tastings ranging from £20 to £35 per person. Holyrood Distillery produces whisky and gin, and for just £20, you can join the Whisky and Gin Tour and discover the secrets behind distilling both spirits. Fancy your hand at mixology? For £35, you can sample four multi-award-winning gins and learn how to pair them in cocktails.
Visit the Holyrood Distillery website to learn more.
5. Tobermory Distillery
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Finally, another Scottish distillery for whisky lovers and gin geeks is Tobermory Distillery on the coast of the Isle of Mull. This small-scale distillery was established in 1798 and still stands at the centre of the local community. Its natural surroundings inspire each of the gin’s hand-selected botanicals.
For just £18, the Tobermory Gin Experience offers tastings of three gins and a classic gin and tonic. Or try the Tobermory Distillery Tour & Tasting experience for £18.50, which includes tastings of three selected spirits and a behind-the-scenes look at the whisky and gin distilling process.
Find more information on the Tobermory Distillery website.
The South West’s best gin distilleries
Here are the top gin distilleries in the South West. Check out our map with all the winners, and read on to find out the details for each one and how to get there. Travel to any of these distilleries with us.
1. Bombay Sapphire Distillery
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Sitting at the top-spot again, we can proudly claim Bombay Sapphire Distillery as one of our own.
For those looking to take their mixology skills a step further, the Infusions Experience (£80), Sunset Experience (£125) and Premier Cru Experience (£175) offer expert deep dives into the tricks and techniques to make great cocktails at home.
How to get there: Travel just 55 minutes by train from London Waterloo to Overton station. From there, walk 30 minutes to the distillery or take the 74 bus for six minutes from the station to the library. From the library, catch the 76 to take you the rest of the way.
For more information and to book your tour, visit the Bombay Sapphire website.
2. Plymouth Gin Distillery
Plymouth Gin Distillery is England’s oldest working gin distillery. It has been producing gin since 1793, following the original recipe with the same six exotic botanicals. A distillery tour takes you on a long and fascinating journey into the rich history of its gin. The distillery also houses the Refectory Bar and Cocktail Lounge, where you can sample the latest creations and classic cocktails. Prices range from £15 for a distillery tour to £195 for its Smeaton’s Tower Experience, hosted by Master Distiller Sean Harrison.
How to get there: From Plymouth train station, it’s just a 15-20 minute walk to Plymouth Gin Distillery.
Visit the Plymouth Gin Distillery website to book your visit.
3. The Bath Gin Distillery
Having relocated in 2018, The Bath Gin Distillery prides itself on its claim as the first gin distillery in Bath for over 250 years. It creates various concoctions for weekly specials at the Bath Gin Bar nearby, as well as its signature Classic Gin made from eleven botanicals. Try the Gin Cocktail Masterclass or book the Distillery Tour and Tasting Experience, which will take you through the history of gin and the distillation and packaging processes. Available on Saturdays at 12pm or 2pm, the experiences start at £35 per person and parties of two are required.
How to get there: From Bath Spa station, it’s only a ten-minute walk to The Bath Gin Distillery.
For more information and to secure your slot, visit The Bath Gin Distillery website.
The UK’s top gin-making regions
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We’ve compiled a list of the UK’s top five gin-making regions based on the number of distilleries across each one:
1. Scotland (28)
2. South West (16)
3. South East (15)
4. East of England (12)
5. London (12)
Although best known for its whisky, Scotland is home to some of the world’s best gin distilleries, many of which are in the capital city, Edinburgh. Scotland has historical trade links with the Netherlands, where gin originates, and has been producing gin for over 300 years. Over 70% of gin made in the UK is now produced in Scotland, so it’s no surprise it features heavily on this list.
The South West unsurprisingly comes in second. This region has a rich history of brewing and is famous for its cider. Having established itself as a top site for gin production in recent years, the number of distilleries in the region has more than doubled in the past five years.
The South in general is a natural spot for gin distilling. Juniper, one of the most common botanicals in gin, can be found across the UK, but it thrives on the chalky lowland and limestone grasslands of southern England.
Feeling gin-spired? Plan your perfect day out now and cut the cost of your travel by booking train tickets in advance and using off-peak services.
If gin isn’t your only tipple, you could visit one of the most beautiful vineyards in the UK or sample delicious cocktails at the best cocktail bars in the South West.
Be sure to check if you’re eligible for railcards and discounts. Those travelling in a group can book together using our GroupSave tickets.
How we did the research
To find the best gin distilleries in the UK, SWR collated a seed list of 'member distilleries open to the public' and 'other distilleries open to the public' from The Gin Guild.
These distilleries were measured against the following metrics and weighting to generate a score out of 100 for each:
| Ranking factor |
Weight |
| Number of 5 star Google reviews |
35% |
| Google search volume (Feb 19 - Jan 23) |
25% |
| % of 5 star Google reviews |
20% |
| Number of Instagram hashtags |
10% |
| Number of TikTok views |
10% |
Data correct at the time of collection 08/03/23
All distilleries were searched in the following format to avoid crossover with the associated drinks: [full name] & [distillery] e.g. ‘Plymouth Gin Distillery’ rather than ‘Plymouth Gin’.
