Guide to wine tasting in London

Local wine bar and shop Oak N4 holds regular tastings. Around 180 bottles are available to take home or enjoy with antipasti at this contemporary venue. If you fancy a tasting, you can choose one of the bar's collections to explore at your table with guidance from an experienced sommelier.

Renegade Urban Winery is based in Walthamstow and also has a bar in Bethnal Green. These wines have a proudly-London identity and a quirky style. At both laid-back venues you can enjoy wine tasting experiences, paired with a tour of the winery in Walthamstow. In a relaxed setting you get to try a selection of the winery's top bottles.

Based in Soho, Antidote Wine Bar is cosy and rustic. The focus is entirely on natural, organic, and biodynamic wine, with bottles available to drink-in or take home. A number of different wine tasting experiences for groups are available, whether you want to explore the classics or taste exciting and unconventional bottles.

Independent wine bar and shop The Winemakers Club is based in Farringdon and has a cosy and rustic style. Taste wine and buy bottles to take home during the day or visit in the evening when the space transforms into an intimate bar. There are public wine tastings every month but you can also organise private events for up to 40 people.

If you want to educate yourself on wine then Wine Unearthed is a great option. This award-winning establishment in Covent Garden offers informal wine tasting courses where you'll learn to taste like a professional. At each event you'll get to explore 15 wines throughout the day, as well as have a three course lunch where you can quiz the experts on all things wine.

Set over two Haggerston railway arches, Planque is a modern wine-centric venue with a public bar and restaurant and a members-only cellar and clubhouse. Naturally this sleek venue has an impressive wine list, focusing on natural and low-intervention bottles. Tons of events take place including tastings, wine dinners with a selection of bottles, and talks from professionals.

Buy wine straight from the importer at winery prices at 56 West Smithfield. Award-winning wines are stocked in this shop, which is equipped with a traditional tasting room. Fun and informative wine tastings are on regularly featuring five different wines, nibbles, and a welcome drink. You get a glass of the one you liked most at the end.

The Crouch End Cellars in North London specialises in natural wine and cheese. This shop, deli, and wine bar sells things to savour at home, or you can enjoy something in the bottle-lined interior. Wine tastings run every Thursday that focus on a different grape, terroir, or technique. Try five different wines paired with food from the deli.

OPS Wines puts Portuguese wines on the map in London. This railway arch wine bar and shop has weathered walls and an industrial look. Dogs are also welcome here. Come for a drink or join a wine tasting guided by an expert. Choose between tasting commercial or premium wines.

Lechevalier Wine Bar & Shop has a warm atmosphere and a vibrant feel. This neighbourhood wine bar and store has a fuss-free style. Stop by for drinks with nibbles like cheeses and charcuterie in a relaxed environment. You can also book private tasting events on Wednesday evenings if you want to discover more about wine with guidance from the experts.

Hidden away down a West London alleyway there's London Cru Winery. This was the first urban winery in the city. Fine English wines are made right here - you can order bottles to enjoy at home or come for a tour and tasting. See how the wine is made, try them for yourself, and get the opportunity to ask questions of the people who actually make it. 

Yield operates two cosy local wine bars in North London. These are relaxed places for a drink with changing selections of wine by the glass or bottle, and indoor and outdoor seating. Tasting events take place at both venues frequently, but you also have the option of arranging your own private tasting.

West London's The Winery has decades of experience in importing and selling wines from around the globe. The walls are lined with bottles from small producers and specialist regions in a number of different countries. Informal wine tastings take place regularly in addition to more formal courses that offer opportunities to study wine in greater detail.

Explore wine with views of the Thames at Hithe + Seek. This sought-after bar is slick and modern, and aims to suit first-timers just as much as wine connoisseurs. There's an eclectic global wine list and the bar also has its own wine club. Join the club for invitations to tasting events with renowned sommeliers.

Located in the heart of the city, St Swithins Wine Shippers is an industrial-styled wine shop and bar with its own tasting terrace. Specialist dispensing machines mean you can taste 48 different wines at any time. There are also regular tasting events and the opportunity to arrange bespoke tastings. Cheese and charcuterie are available to go with a drink if you decide to stop in the bar.

Independent wine school London Wine Academy was one of the first in the UK. Located in Piccadilly, you can come here for a wine tasting course or corporate event. Wine cases and gifts are available too. A wide range of sessions are available from tastings for beginners to experiences focusing on matching wine with food.

Renowned store Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain's oldest wine and spirits merchant. Staffed by expert wine masters, the timeless store sells classic bottles and fine wines from prestigious producers. Complimentary tasting events are put on regularly, as well as whisky tastings, in-depth one-day courses, and seasonal wine lunches and dinners. Bespoke tastings are also available here.

Wine importer, wholesaler, and retailer Theatre of Wine has popular stores around the city where you can discover eclectic unique wines. Spirits, craft beer, and Cuban cigars are also in stock. You can find the ideal bottle to drink at home, join a tasting either online or in the shop, or arrange your own private experience. 

Cosy neighbourhood wine bar Diogenes the Dog draws big crowds to its intimate and dog-friendly venue. This place is a shop and café during the day and a wine bar by night. Both the wine and food options change frequently. You can also attend a tasting here, with a number of different experiences available to book.

Based in a converted pub, East End wine bar Sager + Wilde has a smart and traditional interior. The bottles here are varied but there's a focus on organic and natural options, often from small producers. You can also organise a private wine tasting at the venue.

There are a number of Vagabond bottle shops and bars around town, with each space having its own distinctive look and plenty of bottles on the shelves. More than 100 varieties of wine are available. Try five types of wine with five types of cheese at the cheese and wine masterclass and discover the art of pairing wine and cheese.

With locations in two of London's most popular markets, Bedales is a smart place to absorb the buzzy market atmosphere. At Borough Market you can enjoy a self-guided tasting with notes or you can book a private sessions at Leadenhall Market. You can also pop in for wine and snacks or buy a bottle of something tasty to try at home.

At Unwined there are weekly tasting events that are full of fun, plus five types of wine and cheese. These contemporary bars have a cosy feel and a wine list of drinks by the glass that changes with the seasons. The kitchen also dishes up snacks and small plates if the drinks leave you feeling peckish.

At The Wine Library you'll discover a diverse range of fine wines, with something for every budget. The store is based in a 19th century wine cellar and offers bottles from regions around the world, including less-expected places as well as the big ones. You can also stop for a drink in the bar. Alternatively, the shop hosts regular wine tasting events and you can also arrange private sessions.

Opened in 2012, Hedonism Wines is a top wine shop in Mayfair. More than 10,000 types of wines and spirits are stocked in this award-winning shop. The store has a stylish rustic look and the staff are wine experts. A varied range of tasting events take place here and you can also organise your own private tasting at the shop.

At The Wine Tasting Shop you're encouraged to try wines before you buy them. About 400 bottles are available here, including organic and biodynamic vintages and options by the glass. At this modern store you can buy something to take home or sample a bottle on-site. Events and wine tasting sessions are also offered here.

Skylon is a modern European restaurant at the South Bank Centre with fabulous city views from its third floor location. The interior has a luxury look and there's a menu of contemporary recipes. You can enjoy an informal wine tasting here with the wine flight, a selection of five carefully-selected wines paired with snacks.

You can visit the capital's oldest wine bar if you head to Gordon's Wine Bar in the heart of the city; it's been open since 1890. The weathered interior is packed with heritage and these guys are real wine experts. A number of guided tasting flights are available with notes. These tastings are perfectly paired with the bar's cheese or charcuterie platters.

Local Wine School operates a number of schools in London that hold events around the city. Whether you're interested in serious study or an informal tasting experience, you'll find a session to interest you here. There are introductory sessions for beginners as well as tastings focused on particular regions. You can also study for more in-depth wine qualifications here.

The focus at Specialist Cellars is on New World wines from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. This relaxed shop and bar wants to celebrate the diversity of wines from these regions and make wine more accessible. The venue also holds casual and welcoming free tasting events where you can deepen your knowledge of the wines on offer.

Davy's Wine Vaults in Greenwich is a popular place for drinking wine. The unique space is packed with curiosities and antiquities and comfort food is served alongside an extensive array of wines. Wine tastings are held regularly and you can organise bespoke experiences. Gift vouchers to treat someone else to a tasting are also sold.

You'll gain in-depth knowledge of wine at the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Based in Bermondsey, this educational institution offers casual tasting sessions with a variety of different focuses. If you're interested in developing a career in the wine industry, more formal courses and qualifications are also available here. From casual drinkers to budding wine experts, the range of courses offer something for every wine lover.

Pacific Wines is the only retailer in the UK that focuses specifically on American wines. This shop in Islington is modern and has a smooth look, retailing a diverse range of bottles from small and large producers. Wine tastings are held regularly; these events are fun and informative with limited group sizes so that everyone can get involved.

At Humble Grape you can discover the joys of wine. Hundreds of bottles are available to buy or drink-in at these unfussy contemporary wine bars and bottle shops. Most bottles are natural, organic, or biodynamic. There are monthly wine tasting events that explore a specific region, plus blind-tasting masterclasses.

The Grocery Wine Vault is located in Shoreditch and holds over 400 low-intervention wines at any given time. Hundreds of craft beers, artisan spirits, and other carefully selected beverages are available as well. The shop has a cosy bar area with a few tables, and you can have them organise you a bespoke wine tasting.