Ah, the British Isles. The views are epic, the beaches are beautiful and we make some of the best booze in the world. Who gives a sh*t if the weather isn't up to Caribbean standards? If you're planning a getaway but don't wanna dig out your passport from the bottom of the drawer, check out these wicked boozy locations. There's never been a better time to plan the ultimate staycation.
English Countryside
Rolling hills, green pastures, dreamy waterways and fresh air to fill ya lungs. The UK's got it all. Throw a few distilleries into the mix and you've got one helluva weekend away.
Ramsbury Distillery - Wiltshire
When it comes to sustainability and field-to-glass spirits, it doesn’t get better than The Ramsbury Estate distillery. They use the heat generated by Ramsbury’s own sustainable woodland and the livestock are fed spent wheat and grains from the distillery. Obviously the best bit about this place is the kick-ass liquid they produce. Book a night at their charmingly rustic former coaching inn The Bell and sign up to one of the tours of the brewery and distillery, including tasting sessions of their award-winning beer and single estate spirits. BOOM.
Distillery tours can be booked for £20pp, and stays at The Bell can be booked here.
The Lakes Distillery - Cumbria
English Whisky is one of the BIG trends for 2020 (second only to doing puzzles, staring out of windows & not seeing your friends) and the crew at The Lakes Distillery are pretty much the leaders in this new wave of Whisky production. If you're looking for an insane lakeside escape, THIS is the place. You can go behind the scenes at this state-of-the-art distillery where their whisky maker's unique holistic approach comes to life. Of course, there's plenty of tasting, but you can also chill with the Alpacas who herd graze on site. Sounds like a winning vacay to us. Alpaca my bags.
Distillery tours start at £12.50pp. accommodation can be booked at the distillery's sister venue, The Trout Hotel in Cockermouth.
Black Cow Distillery - West Dorset
Time to pull on ya wellies. No not you, vegans. This one isn't for you. If you get freaky for cheese and like to fly the flag for vodka, a trip Childhay Manor Farm in the beautiful West Dorset countryside should be on the cards for your next long weekend. It's the home of the Black Cow Distillery, where 300 years of cheese making has gone down, and where you'll find the birthplace of the first-ever pure milk vodka. Say what?! Book into their Distillery Experience and you'll get a 3-hour experience as unique as the vodka they make.
Distillery Experience £70ph. Booking essential.
West Berkshire Brewery - West Berkshire
The quaint little village of Yattendon is home to one helluva bad-ass brewery, so if you're big into your beer, you'll wanna bee-line for this home-county hot-spot. The award-winning West Berkshire Brewery has been going since 1995, and they're all about traditional techniques and championing British ingredients. Make a weekend of it by booking a room at the neighbouring Pot Kiln Inn where you'll be able to get a pint or two on tap of the WBB's finest.
Brewery tours are priced at £15 per person and include two pints of beer and a voucher for 20% off in the shop.
The 6 O'clock Gin Distillery - Bristol
Heading to the West Country? Swing by the 6 O'clock Gin Distillery and get the low-down on one of the OGs that took the lead in the UK gin boom. This distillery has kept it in the fam, with a brother and sister duo running the biz having taken it over from their folks. They run tours which'll give you the chance to nab an insight into the life of the distillery and the process behind 6 O'clock Gin, (including their range of Bramley & Gage liqueurs and Vermouths) plus expect plenty of tasting of the good stuff.
Each £25 ticket includes a welcome G&T on arrival as well as tastings throughout.
Scotland
Highlands, lowlands, snow-capped mountains and royal estates. The landscapes of Scotland are epic, and the booze that comes out of it is world-famous. Let your tastebuds lead the way when it comes to exploring north of the border.
The Fife Arms, Braemar
Hitting the Highlands? This v. elegant and cosy hotel in the village of Braemar is where to bunk down for a whisky-induced rest after an afternoon hiking the Cairngorms. There are 46 individual guestrooms and suites decorated and named after a local figure, place, event or theme. Think royal suites, cosy artist studios and charming cabin-style rooms. This is real Scottish luxury. But no hotel is complete without a kick-ass hotel bar or two, and Bertie's is a dram-lover's dream. This ain't any ordinary whisky bar. In fact, there is no ‘bar’ at Bertie’s. This is a labyrinth of whisky bottles, arranged like books on shelves, with 365 to choose from all unusually arranged by flavour profile - Fragrant, Fruity, Rich & Smoky – rather than by name, age, reputation or region. Book yourself in for a guided tasting with their Whisky Ambassador Katy Fennema where you'll explore four wonderfully killer drams that convey what Bertie’s is all about.
Book your stay at The Fife Arms here.
Isle of Raasay Distillery
Wanna experience island life, Scot style? The Isle of Raasay is an island between the Isle of Skye and the mainland of Scotland, and where you'll find the first legal distillery of the island. Pack your camera, cos this epic whisky destination has arguably the best views from any distillery in Scotland, and you can spot 'em from the windows of the mega luxe accommodation found in the same building as the working distillery. While you're catching 40-winks, the copper stills do their thang.
Tours of the distillery start from £10pp, and accommodation can be booked here.
The Botanist - Islay
Scotland ain't just about whisky, ya know. Over 70% of the gin made in the UK is made in Scotland. If you're still riding that gin wave (who isn't?), ride it over to Islay (pronounced "eye-la") on the west coast of Scotland. This island might be famous for its peaty whiskies, but The Botanist has put it on the map for gin, too. They have a wicked cocktail bar on site of their distillery, plus a killer ‘Be The Botanist’ tour complete with an optional addition of a foraged cocktail making class. Time to get nerdy.
You can book your tours of The Botanist Distillery here. Image source: Botanist.com
Bowmore Distillery Cottages - Islay
You can't go to Islay without immersing yourself in the whisky world. The Bowmore Distillery Cottages are the perfect place to stay after you've spent the day sampling plenty of the golden liquid from the island's oldest distillery which has been kickin' it for two-centuries. Old school. Book a night in one of the on-site cottages. They've been renovated since they were occupied by Bowmore workers in the 1800s to contain everything you might need for a memorable stay. Or unmemorable, depending on how much whisky you drink...
Tours start from £10pp, up to £130 for those looking for a deeper dive into the distillery. Accommodation can be booked here. Image via Celtic Tours.
Wild Thyme Spirits - Isle of Colonsay
How well do you know your Scottish geography? Let us give you a crash course: On the West Coast of Scotland tucked away between Islay and Mull, and nestling close to neighbouring Jura, is the Isle of Colonsay. It's tranquil, full of wildlife & fringed with exquisite sandy beaches. Sounds idyllic, right? Wait. It gets better. It's the home of Wild Thyme Spirits, and the perfect getaway if you're into your juniper based spirits. We're talking gin, and if you're after a luxury weekend break with some of the good stuff thrown in, you'll wanna hit this place up for a luxury weekend break at their Gin Lover’s Retreat - the ultimate R&R weekend for gin lovers.
Immerse yourself in the remote Hebridean island & book a weekend's stay for 4 guests at the Gin Lover's Retreat here. Prices start at £350pp.
Seaside Escapes
Don't forget to pack your bucket, spade and cocktail sun-glasses. Our beaches might not be up to Maldives standards, but our coastlines are still f*cking beautiful. And we all know cocktails taste better by the water.
Salcombe Gin Distillery - Salcombe
Yeh this bay might be filled with Hooray-Henrys who wear polo shirts under rugby jerseys, but it's also where you'll find the Salcombe Gin Distillery and Bar. If you've docked your yacht/paddleboat/dinghy for the afternoon you could pop in to admire the view over the water from the bar's balcony, or if you've left the yacht at home, book in for a Gin School Staycation. This is a 2-night stay at Oyster Cottage and a Gin School lesson for two where you can take charge of a mini copper pot still to distil your own 70cl bottle of gin. Better than a stick of rock any day.
The 2-night Gin School Staycation starts at £470
Tarquins Distillery - Cornwall
The Tarquin Distillery is the humble home of an award-winning family of Cornish gins, nestled on a windswept hilltop overlooking the Wild Cornish Coast. If you're a fan of a) gin and b) a bit of experimental waxing, this is a getaway to pin to your holiday activity vision board. Rock up & take a tour of this micro-distillery before getting the chance to try your hand at wax dipping your own bottle to take home. Our kinda souvenir.
Tours start at £15 per person & you can upgrade to get your wax on. Image via Tarquins Gin Facebook.
Two Drifters Distillery - Exeter
Love rum? Don't we all. How about carbon-negative rum made right here in the UK? Niche but f*cking awesome. The world's first carbon-negative distillery can be found in an airport hanger near Exeter. This couple running the show are as passionate about sustainability and the environment as we are about bad-ass booze. That's BIG. If you're seeking a Devonshire escape and wanna swot up on your planet-saving skills, they offer distillery tours & tastings so you can broaden your mind and ya tastebuds.
Tours cost £15 per person and accommodation can be booked at The Salutation Inn in neighbouring Topsham
Islands
Prefer your staycations to take you... overseas? We hear ya. Jump onboard a ferry, hovercraft or a swift flight and you'll be... err... abroad in no time.
Isle of Wight Distillery - Isle of Wight
While we can't technically call it "overseas", getting to the Isle of Wight is as much of an adventure as a trip around the world 'cause you can zoom over there in a hovercraft, James Bond style; we can feel the wind in our hair already. Once you're there, hit up the Isle of Wight Distillery, home of the infamously bottled Mermaid Gin, where they take sustainability to a whole new level. Enjoy a drink in the Mermaid Bar, on the terrace or relax in comfort by the log fire and watch as the stills work their magic.
You can reach the distillery in Ryde by Hovertravel hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde Esplanade. Image via Mermaid Bar Facebook.
Scilly Spirit Gin School - Isle of Scilly
You'd be forgiven for thinking you're in the Caribbean when you land on the Isles of Scilly. They've got crystal blue waters fringed by sandy beaches. WOW. You can reach this archipelago off the coast of Cornwall by fixed-wing plane or ferry, or if you're feeling extra (always) you can get there by helicopter. Whoof! Once you're there, enrol in the Scilly Spirit Gin School on the island of St Mary's for a boozy education, complete with making your own gin to take away with you as you explore the islands.
The Gin School experience is £98 for one or £148 for two
The Gin Hotel - Guernsey
Fancy a hop to the Channel Islands? We've got just the place. On the island of Guernsey, you'll find The Gin Hotel. The ULTIMATE retreat if you're seeking luxury with a side of booze. Aren't we all? Set in a historic Norman manor house is Bella Luce; a stunner of a boutique hotel complete with spa, luxury suites and of course, a bad-ass distillery. Hell yeah! Pull up a stool at the copper bar or spend long summer afternoons in Bella’s courtyard under the dappled shade of the tulip tree with one of their house-made Wheadon's gins in hand.
Book a night at The Gin Hotel here, and pimp your stay with the ultimate gin experience with Wheadon's Gin here.
Vineyards
Oastbrook Estate - Sussex
This idyllic English vineyard retreat can be found in the heart of the Sussex countryside. It's the home to banging wines, guided tours and... a Hobbit House. Yeh, you read that right. This luxury two-bedroom house is buried into a bank. The views of the vineyards from the hobbit port-holes are mega, but it's what's inside that's magical. Built for humans rather than hobbits, each room has a king-size bed. There's also a jacuzzi & BBQ area in the garden where you can spend the evening sipping wine from the estate.
Minimum 2-night stay for the Hobbit House. Guided wine tours are priced at £25pp. Image via Booking.com
Three Choirs Vineyard - Gloucestershire
Still not sold on English wine? A weekend snoozing amongst the vines of one of the UK's oldest wineries will sort ya out. The 75 acre Three Choirs estate in the heart of The Cotswolds has been growing since the '70s. With 8 vineyard-view rooms to bunk down in before starting the next day with fresh coffee on your veranda, and 3 epic vineyard lodges right at the heart of the action, it's the perfect escape if you're looking to sip away a weekend.
Nightly rate starts at £134 for a vineyard view room, and £154 for a luxury vineyard lodge.
Chapel Down - Kent
Seeking a jaunt to the Garden of England? The coastal county of Kent is famous for producing some of England's best wine. It's got good soil, yo. If you're already familiar with Kent wine, you'll definitely know about Chapel Down. They run tours and tastings at their vineyards, but if you wanna make a proper weekend of it, treat yo' self to one of their exclusive VIP packages which include an overnight stay at the luxurious Sissinghurst Castle Farmhouse set within the National Trust estate, and a Chapel Down tour. Sign us up.
Chapel Down Getaway packages start at £480 per couple
Sharpham Wine & Cheese - South Devon
The Sharpham Wine & Cheese is a winery in the South-West corner of the country that's been racking up international awards left, right and centre thanks to their bad-ass combo of New World and traditional winemaking techniques. Dunno what they are? Head to this winery just outside of Totnes and join one of their Vine to Wine tours to get the low-down on how Sharpham Wine is produced. At the end of the tour, you can also sample their wines and a few of their award-winning cheeses (yeh, these guys make cheese, too).
The 2 hour Sharpham Vine to Wine Tour is £20pp
Ridgeview Wine Estate - East Sussex
Who doesn't love to gaze out at the view of the rolling Sussex Downs with a glass of crisp, English fizz in hand? No-one. It's the dream, and one you can live at the Ridgeview Wine Estate nestled in Ditching, not far from the South Coast. Their vines are found at the bottom of the hills, with unparalleled views over that idyllic backdrop. The plonk they make here is award-winning, and once you've done one of their tastings, you'll know why. Tours are available all year round, and you can pimp them with picnic hampers and a stay down the road at South Lodge - they have a "Ridgeview Beauty Bar" where you can sip on a glass while getting pampered. Sounds like heaven, to us.
Book onto one of the Ridgeview vineyard tours here, and book a stay at the South Lodge over here.
For more travel inspo, take a round-the-world vacay with your tastebuds.