The top gin distillery 50 minutes from Birmingham with gin boat cruises and summer festival

The award-winning gin and rum distillery offers experiences starting from £10

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A gin distillery ranked among the the very best in the UK is only a 50-minute drive from Birmingham. Gin tasting river cruises and a 'school' where you can make your own gin are among the experiences offered to G&T lovers at Shakespeare Distillery.

Based in rural Stratford-upon-Avon, the carbon-neutral gin and rum makers take inspiration from traditional ingredients used in Shakespeare's day. The award-winning distillery features a visitor centre, which hosts tours and tastings, and its own coffee and cocktail lounge.

Shakespeare Distillery has been ranked among the top ten distilleries in the country by South Western Railway, whose research found that more Brits are opting for gin that's locally-made.

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Experiences starting from just £10 and ranging up to £125 include tours of the on-site distillery and its inner workings, which includes a tasting session, Gin School lessons which allow visitors to create their own unique gin to take home, and a 60-minute gin-tasting cruise along the River Avon.

At its Stratford town centre premises, Judith's, the company also runs cocktail making masterclasses, ideal for groups, plus tastings and new Rum School sessions.

This summer, the distillery is hosting a festival in the grounds of Billesley Manor Hotel, with live music, craft spirits to try and a chef's selection of locally-sourced food. The Stratford Gin & Rum Festival is taking place in the hotel's 100-year-old Topiary Garden on Sunday, July 9.

Tickets priced at £22 are available to buy on the Shakespeare Distillery website and include a souvenir branded Shakespeare Distillery glass, a drinks menu detailing all the options available and a welcome gin and tonic on arrival. Different distilleries will be present, selling an array of drinks, bottles and cocktails. Visitors can bring along their own picnic blanket and parasols to use in the gardens.

South Western Railway found that Google searches for the term ‘gin distillery’ had grown by 39% in the UK between 2019 and 2023. Richard Barker, partnerships manager at South Western Railway, said: "Gin has well and truly cemented itself as a staple tipple here in the UK, and it's fantastic to see that Brits are only growing more interested in gin that's distilled on our own soil.

"With such a vast array of gin tours and experiences across the UK, it's no wonder people are wanting to taste and learn more about one of the nation's favourite drinks."

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