London: Greenwich Gin Tasting & Masterclass at Royal Naval College

Greenwich gin stories, guided tastings and heritage sips

You’ll step into historic Maritime Greenwich for a relaxed gin masterclass with local guides who know their stuff—and love sharing it. Taste four award-winning gins while learning quirky maritime tales and distillation secrets. Enjoy your welcome G&T in good company and leave with new flavors (and maybe a bottle) lingering in your mind.

What’s included

Your afternoon includes a welcome Greenwich Gin & Tonic as soon as you arrive inside Maritime Greenwich’s Old Royal Naval College, followed by a short but lively history of gin and its distillation methods. You’ll taste four different award-winning gins guided by local experts—and if you fancy taking some home or grabbing another cocktail after, there’s 10% off bottles and drinks before you head out into Greenwich again.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Gin tasting and history masterclass

• Arrive at Maritime Greenwich site
• Enjoy welcome Gin & Tonic
• Learn about gin history and styles
• Discover distillation methods
• Taste samples of award-winning gins
• Explore botanicals and flavor profiles

The Experience

“That’s not just any gin,” our guide grinned, sliding a glass across the old wooden table. I’d barely arrived at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich—honestly, I was still shaking off the river breeze from the pier—when that first sip of their signature G&T hit me. There was this faint citrusy smell mingling with something herbal, almost like walking past someone’s garden after rain. The room felt both grand and oddly cozy, with sunlight bouncing off brass fixtures and the low hum of other voices in the background.

I didn’t expect to care much about gin history (I mean, it’s gin), but as we sat surrounded by all that maritime memorabilia, our guide started weaving in stories about sailors and botanicals smuggled from far-off ports. She passed around little jars—juniper berries, dried orange peel—and honestly, I kept sniffing them long after everyone else had moved on. We tasted four different gins; one had this peppery kick that surprised me so much I nearly coughed (the guy next to me noticed and just nodded like he’d been there). Each pour came with its own story—some about Greenwich itself, others about how distilling methods have changed over centuries. It didn’t feel rehearsed or stiff; people laughed when someone mispronounced “coriander.”

The whole thing lasted maybe an hour or so? Time got fuzzy after the second tasting. They mentioned sustainability a few times—how their bottles are ocean-friendly and how everything ties back to Greenwich’s maritime legacy. It wasn’t preachy though; more like a quiet pride you could sense in the way they talked about it. By the end, I’d learned enough to sound clever at a bar (or at least fake it), and we got a discount if we wanted to take a bottle home—which I did because my friend insisted we needed “souvenirs.” Still think about that first sip sometimes when I walk by the Thames.

Top questions

Is the London gin tasting masterclass wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible.

How many gins do you taste during the experience?

You taste four different award-winning gins plus a welcome G&T.

Where is the gin tasting held in London?

It takes place inside the Old Royal Naval College at Maritime Greenwich.

Does this tour include any discounts on bottles?

Yes, you get 10% off bottle purchases and cocktails during your visit.

How do I get to the Old Royal Naval College for this tour?

You can take Riverboat services; it's just a minute walk from Greenwich Pier.

Is lunch included in this London gin tasting?

No lunch is included; only drinks are provided during the masterclass.

Can pregnant travelers join this gin tasting tour?

No, it is not recommended for pregnant travelers.

Do you need to be over 18 for this London gin experience?

Yes, all participants must be over 18 years old on the day of the experience.