WHY THE MISSING EUROSTAR STOPS ARE HOLDING BACK KENT’S WINE TOURISM BOOM.
Kent — the Garden of England — is fast becoming England’s wine country too. With beautiful vineyards, award-winning wines, and a growing global reputation, the region has everything it needs to be a major destination for wine lovers.
Well, almost everything.
Since 2020, Eurostar trains have skipped Kent’s two international stations, Ashford and Ebbsfleet, forcing visitors from the continent to travel all the way into London before looping back out to reach the county. Now, it looks likely that Kent will remain off the Eurostar map until at least 2026.
For Kent’s wine scene, that’s a missed opportunity.
The impact on vineyards
For producers who welcome visitors year-round, easy international access is a pretty big deal. Woodchurch Vineyard, a boutique estate with just under 10 acres of vines, relies heavily on tourism — around half of their revenue comes from tours and tastings.
Speaking recently to the BBC, the team at Woodchurch emphasised how vital the Eurostar connection used to be, and how much it could boost Kent’s tourism economy if reinstated. Reopening the terminal at Ashford, they suggested, would help position Kent as a true hub for international travel — a gateway, not just a stopover.
Bigger players agree. At Chapel Down, near Tenterden, there’s a real sense that Kent deserves to be a destination in its own right. Their winemaker recently spoke to the BBC about the potential for even more visitors from across Europe, helping to spread the word about English wine on a global stage.
After all, why should anyone rush through Kent, when there are world-class wines, vineyard experiences, and countryside charm right here?
Why Eurostar matters
Kent’s location was always part of its appeal — especially for travellers without cars. Arriving by Eurostar at Ashford put visitors within easy reach of vineyards like Gusbourne, Balfour, and Chapel Down, not to mention dozens of charming B&Bs, wine tours, and farm-to-table restaurants.
Now, the extra hurdles of navigating London’s train networks make Kent less competitive compared to other European wine destinations. It’s hard to imagine Burgundy or the Loire Valley thriving without fast, direct access.
Wider tourism organisations and business leaders in Kent have echoed the vineyards’ calls for Eurostar’s return. They see it as essential not just for wine tourism, but for the county’s whole hospitality sector.
A bigger problem for English wine?
Zooming out, this isn’t just a Kent issue. English wine is booming — exports are up, quality is better than ever, and international recognition is growing.
But infrastructure hasn’t always kept pace.
If England wants to compete with the likes of France, Italy, and Spain for wine tourism, it needs to make visiting easier, not harder. Good transport links aren’t a bonus — they’re a foundation.
At the moment, Kent is offering world-class wines but with second-rate accessibility. That’s not sustainable if the industry wants to keep expanding.
Looking ahead
Eurostar has said it’s keeping communication lines open with Kent stakeholders, but operational challenges — including the EU’s new Entry-Exit System and resource pressures at busy stations — mean that reinstating Ashford and Ebbsfleet stops isn’t likely for another couple of years.
In the meantime, Kent’s vineyards are doing what they do best: creating exceptional wine, offering memorable experiences, and flying the flag for English wine tourism.
But they could — and should — be even more accessible to the world.
After all, the wine is ready.
Now, we just need the trains to follow.
Where to next?
A few of my favourite things
Looking for a gift for yourself or a wine lover in your life? Here are a few of my favourite English Wine things.
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