London Gatwick is putting South East wineries on the map this English Wine Week
- Around 50,000 wine tourists from across the UK, Europe and beyond visit South Downs vineyards annually
- Wine tourism now represents around 25% of average winery income
- London Gatwick connects visitors from around 230 global destinations directly to the heart of England’s wine country
- The airport is celebrating English Wine Week by showcasing Sussex, Surrey and Kent wines across airport bars, restaurants and World Duty Free stores
London Gatwick is supporting English Wine Week by showcasing some of the amazing choice of offer from wineries across Sussex, Surrey and Kent.
During the week – which runs from 20 to 28 June - the airport is holding a series of promotional events across airport bars, restaurants and World Duty Free stores, with tastings from leading regional producers such as Ridgeview, Gusbourne and Nyetimber. In addition, Bolney Wine Estate, based near Haywards Heath, hosted an event with representatives from London Gatwick and a range of local stakeholders, including a tour and tasting.
Wine tourism in the UK has exploded by more than 55% since 2022 , with Sussex, Surrey and Kent at the forefront of this growth - and London Gatwick has been instrumental in driving the success story.
As the UK’s second busiest airport and located just a short distance from the South Downs National Park and the Surrey and Kent borders, London Gatwick connects visitors from around 230 global destinations directly to the heart of the UK's wine capital. Sussex and the wider South East are now internationally recognised for producing sparkling wines that rival Champagne - and inbound tourism is surging.
Visitors from Scandinavia, the United States and across Europe are increasingly choosing the region for immersive vineyard experiences, cellar-door tastings and countryside retreats. Brighton-based Great British Wine Tours reports a 10% year-on-year increase in bookings for its Vintage Bus Wine Tours, with a further 15% growth forecast for 2026. This year, they’ve also launched two new experiences – the Sussex Pullman Wine Train and Rye Wine Tour – to meet demand.
The numbers tell an impressive story:
- Around 50,000 tourists visit South Downs vineyards annually
- Vineyards and wineries in the National Park generate around £35m directly to the local economy, employ more than 350 permanent and seasonal staff directly and support around 1,650 jobs indirectly through tourism
- Sussex alone boasts more than 159 vineyards and more than 20 wineries, a threefold increase since 2015, producing more wine than any other UK county
With Sussex, Kent and Surrey now home to more than half of the UK’s planted vines, the South East has become the epicentre of English wine tourism. With 2025 becoming the second-largest UK harvest on record, projections suggest the wine industry could deliver £283m in economic impact and 3,600 new jobs in Sussex by 2040.
Richard Lennard, Economic Partnerships Manager, London Gatwick, said: “Wine tourism is one of the South East’s most exciting success stories and London Gatwick is proud to play a key role in connecting global visitors with our region’s world-class vineyards. Supporting local producers and promoting regional tourism is central to our commitment to the communities we serve.”
Rob Hilton, Managing Director, Bolney Wine Estate, said: “Bolney Wine Estate is delighted to partner with London Gatwick, a collaboration that celebrates our shared commitment to regional tourism, local business growth and sustainability. As proud members of the Sussex community, we value Gatwick as a key gateway that connects guests, partners and customers from across the globe to our estate. Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Sussex countryside, Bolney offers visitors the chance to enjoy exceptional wines, immersive tours and unforgettable experiences all year round.”
Danny Edwards, Founder of Great British Wine Tours, added: “The growth of English wine has been phenomenal and London Gatwick’s connectivity is vital in attracting visitors from overseas. We’re seeing huge numbers from Scandinavia, the USA and across Europe, all eager to sample the region’s award-winning wines.”
Year-round, London Gatwick exhibits the region’s viticulture success story to its global audience, with numerous wines produced across Sussex, Surrey and Kent available for passengers to purchase. Bolney and Denbies wines are now stocked in the new Discover London stores, which opened in December, meaning London Gatwick now offers 190 regional products throughout its food and beverage and retail outlets.
With 43m annual passengers, London Gatwick is the UK’s second largest and one of Europe’s top ten airports. It is a vital piece of national infrastructure that drives both the national and regional economies by generating £5.5bn GVA and supporting over 76,000 jobs (2023). Almost 60 airlines fly from the airport to over 150 short-haul and more than 50 long-haul destinations. With a declared capacity of 55 movements an hour, London Gatwick is the most efficient single runway airport in the world.
The airport is located 28 miles south of the UK capital and is extremely well-connected, with more than a quarter of England’s population (15m people) – including all of London – less than one hour away by road or rail. A six-year, £2bn sustainable growth programme includes an ambitious plan to be a net zero airport by 2030 and to increase capacity by bringing the airport’s existing Northern Runway into routine use, alongside its Main Runway. VINCI Airports owns a 50.01% stake in the airport, with Global Infrastructure Partners managing the remaining 49.99%.
VINCI Airports, as the leading private airport operator in the world, manages the development and operation of more than 70 airports located in 14 countries. VINCI Airports draws on its expertise as a comprehensive integrator to develop, finance, build and operate airports, leveraging its investment capability and know-how to optimise operational performance and modernise infrastructure while bringing about their environmental transition. In 2016, VINCI Airports became the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy, setting itself the aim of reaching zero net emissions (scope 1 and 2) across the network by 2050 while supporting the territories’ local climate transition.
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