10 breweries and distilleries to visit in London

From sake breweries in Bermondsey to historic brew houses in Chiswick and whisky distilleries in Hackney

21 August 2023

London's distillery and brewery scene has exploded over recent years, with a slew of young upstarts in vast industrial warehouses and under railway arches and historic taprooms dating to the 17th century still giving locals and tourists the fresh-from-the-cask beer fix.

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Edmund Dabney
1/10
KRAFT Dalston
Right opposite Dalston’s beloved Rio Cinema on Kingsland High Street, Kingsland Locke is a plant-dotted multipurpose gem. In true East London style, Kraft at Kingsland Locke doesn't just have an on-site microbrewery and gin distillery on site, but also an all-day kebab restaurant, co-working space, workout studio and coffee shop. The distillery and brewery is formed by German Kraft Brewery, Jim and Tonic Distillery and Nativo. Tours are led by an in-house sommelier and expert in German brewing tradition, who shows visitors will be around the working brewery, followed by a tasting and a tank-fresh beer selection.
Location: KRAFT Dalston, Kingsland Locke
lockeliving.com
Courtesy of Sipsmith
2/10
Sipsmith, Chiswick
Many people credit Sipsmith for London's craft gin boom. Having opened in 2009 following a legal win repealing the Gin Act which outlawed small-scale gin distilleries in the capital, Sam Galsworthy launched Sipsmith – the first new distillery in London since 1820. The team run tours and tastings of their historically accurate London Dry Gin and newer concoctions almost every day of the week which are well worth a visit
Address: 83 Cranbrook Road, Chiswick, London, W4 2LJ
sipsmith.com/tours
3/10
Kanpai, Peckham & London Bridge
Along with our love for sushi and omakase restaurants, London's love for sake has skyrocketed in the past few years (including the introduction of sake-specific tasting clubs like Kamosu). Kanpai is the UK's first sake brewery. Seven years after they opened their taproom and kitchen in Peckham, the London sake brewery is moving to Bermondsey's beer mile. The new space is set to feature 10 sake taps as well as a glass viewing platform where drinkers can actually see the sake being made as well as brewery tours and a hands-on brewing experience, and just like in Peckham, expect an izakaya-style menu to pair your sake with.
Address: 61 Mare Street Hackney, London
fivepointsbrewing.co.uk
4/10
Camden Town Brewery
Find the recently revamped Camden Town Brewery down a charming cobbled mews under Kentish Town's railway arches. The German-style beer hall has over 24 beers on taps from the famous north London brewery as well as a great selection of board games and a small menu featuring pretzel sandwiches and bar snacks. Brewery tours run Tuesdays to Sundays.
Address: 55-59 Wilkin Street Mews, Kentish Town, London, NW5 3ED
camdentownbrewery.com

5/10
The Distillery, Notting Hill
Notting Hill's four-story ‘gin palace' is home to The Ginstitute where Portobello Road Gin was founded. Packing in two bars, a workshop, a hotel, and a 400-litre basement distillery tank named ‘King Henry’, the mammoth space on Portobello Road has several options when it comes to distillery tour experiences. Gin fans can take the three-hour-long ‘Ginstitute Experience’ which includes an in-depth journey through gin’s colourful and checkered past; a nose around the Blending Rooms where you'll create your own blend to take home (which is kept on file for repeat purchases) and several gin cocktails along the way. Whiskey and Agave fans can also take their top-notch tasting sessions, which include making your own personal blend.
Address: 186 Portobello Rd, London W11 1LA
the-distillery.london
6/10
The Fuller's Griffin Brewery, Chiswick
Chiswick is home to one of London's oldest and most iconic breweries, the Fuller's Griffin Brewery, which has been making beer here since 1654. The Fuller's Brewery tour runs Tuesdays to Sundays and takes you behind the scenes of the brewing process from ‘mash to cask and everything in between' and of course, ends with a sample of the full range of Fuller's line-up as well as beers and ciders from their sister breweries.
Address: Griffin Brewery, Chiswick Lane South, Chiswick, London, W4 2QB
fullersbrewery.co.uk
7/10
Signature Brew, Blackhorse Lane
The Walthamstow ‘Blackhorse Beer Mile’ is made up of eight breweries (that’s Wildcard, Renegade, Beerblefish, Exale, Pretty Decent, Signature Brew, Big Penny Social and Hackney Brewery) as well as London's first brandy distillery (Burnt Faith Brandy House). If a big beer tour isn't on the cards, one of our favourites on the line-up is Signature Brew which also doubles up as a live music venue and has one of the best burgers we've had in London.
Address: Unit 15, Blackhorse Ln, London E17 5QJ
signaturebrew.co.uk
8/10
East London Liquor Company, Bethnal Green
This lovely canal-side spot by Victoria Park was once an old glue factory. It's now one of London's most exciting distilleries, East London Liquor Co. You'll find their whiskies, rums, vodkas and gins stocked in many bars across the city, including unique collaborations with craft brewery 40FT and even the Kew Gardens. But one of the best ways to try their flavours is with a whisky or gin distillery tour tasting the wandering into the depth of their barrel room.
Address: Bow Wharf, Unit GF1, 221 Grove Rd., Old Ford, London E3 5SN
eastlondonliquorcompany.com

9/10
The Bermondsey Distillery
Distilleries, breweries (and bakeries) are ingeniously carved into the arches under Bermondsey's arches by Maltby Street Market. Under one of those many arches, you'll find The Bermondsey Distillery, home to Jensen's Gin. Jensen's gin is known for using centuries-old recipes for their London dry and Old Tom expressions which are particularly delightful in a martini. Their after-hours private tours begin with a gin and tonic on arrival, followed by the brand's fascinating story, and the time-honoured processes and recipes that make their small-batch gins so unique.
55 Stanworth Street, London, SE1 3NY
bermondseygin.com
10/10
Five Points Brewery & Taproom, Hackney
Founded in 2013, Five Points Brewery has made a name for itself in the heart of Hackney. The 32-hectolitre brewery, taproom and courtyard is open for tank-fresh beers every Thursday to Sunday, with food courtesy of From The Ashes BBQ and Anoosh. Come here Saturday for the guided brewery tour which takes visitors around the brewhouse, barrel-ageing project, and packaging lines followed by a tasting of four different Five Points beers fresh from the tank while seated on the mezzanine beer terrace overlooking the brewery.
Address: 61 Mare Street Hackney, London
fivepointsbrewing.co.uk