IF you love the idea of a boozy train ride through the countryside then you are in luck.
The Spa Valley train is drinks experience on a heritage steam train that takes you through Kent’s countryside all while enjoying a bottle of wine and beautiful scenery.
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Carrying on their two-decade-long tradition, the Spa Valley Railway is about to release its dates for the 2025 wine journey.
Anyone keen to have a ride on the hour long wine train journey will need to catch the Spa Valley Train at Tunbridge Wells West.
Onboard the heritage train you’ll be served a bottle of wine between two people.
There are five different wines to choose from, the first, the Bishop Odo Bacchus 2023 a white wine from the local Wildwood Vineyard in Eridge.
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Also from Eridge is the red wine called the Thieving Badger Regent 2022 with aromas of blackcurrant, black cherry and various spices
The Saxonbury Rose 2023 from Eridge is the rosé made of 100% Pinot Noir grapes.
From the Birchden Vineyard in Groombridge, there’s The Gregarious Goose 2023 which has notes of lemon, apple and elderflower.
Or, The Foxy Vixen, a rosé option with flavours of raspberry, red apple and white peach.
The train will take you through the High Weald landscape where you can catch a glimpse of these vineyards out the window.
To enhance your wine tasting experience there will also be selection of canapés, cheese and biscuits as well as a wine glass to take home.
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If you’re still thirsty, or want to try the other wines, you can buy more drinks onboard.
Tickets for the wine train are £42 per person.
For anyone who can’t get enough of the wine, you can always book yourself a wine tour of the two vineyards.
Teamed with the Spa Valley Railway Tour, there are select dates where you can hop off to explore the Wildwood Vineyard which is within walking distance from Eridge station.
After the tour, hop back on the train to return to Tunbridge Wells.
You can also book on a different day, they offer tours and tastings on most weekends from May to September with 22 guests per sitting.
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Both of these options will cost £15.
Birchden Vineyards also offer a wine tasting stop on the Spa Valley Railway.
You have to stop at Groombridge and take a 30 minute walk through the countryside to the vineyard where they’ll take you through the grounds and explain more about their wine making process.
Throughout the 90-minute tour you’ll also get to enjoy three glasses of wine – the ticket costs £30.
Spa Valley Train offer other experiences too, like a Murder Mystery Afternoon Tea to The Kent Cheese Train.
There’s also ale and whisky tastings, fish and chip lunches and a Faulty Towers-themed dining experience.
We visited a Kent town famous for its wine
Tenterden is a dreamland for anyone who loves a tipple…
Dubbed the “jewel of the weald,” the town of Tenterden in Kent is a short drive from Chapel Down.
The vineyard has won awards for it’s sparkling wine, and is England’s largest wine producer. And their sparkling rose wine has even been given royal approval, even being served at Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s wedding.
One of the most popular spots in town is the Old Dairy Taproom, with some saying it’s the “best brewery tour” they’ve ever been on. Along with local beers, they also have food trucks at the weekend as well as live music nights.
The Sun Travel took a tour of the ‘golden triangle’ of vineyards in Kent.
And this winery calls itself the ‘best in the UK’, which is close to London.
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