The Edinburgh Gin Distillery is a purpose built, adults only attraction focused on hands-on learning, guided tasting, and creative experiences. Unlike walk through museums, every Edinburgh Gin Distillery tour runs on timed entry and structured sessions. With limited group sizes and popular experiences selling out quickly, planning ahead helps you choose the right experience and manage your time smoothly.
| Visit type | Duration | Route | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
Short visit | 65-mins | Entrance to guided tour to bar | A focused Edinburgh Gin Distillery tour with tastings and guided storytelling |
Hands on experience | 1.5-3.5 hours | Full tour to workshops to bar | Time to create, taste, and explore flavour in depth at a relaxed pace |
Here are a few pages worth checking before your visit:
| Ticket type | What's included | Best for | Price range |
|---|---|---|---|
Classic Tour and Tasting | Guided tour, welcome drink, tastings, bar access | First time visitors | From £28 |
Gin Making Experience | Full tour, hands on distilling, personalised bottle, lunch | Interactive experience seekers | From £120 |
Tasting Masterclass | Aroma testing, garnish creation, guided tasting | Flavour focused visitors | From £65 |
Combo Ticket | Distillery tour plus city bus access | Visitors exploring more of Edinburgh | From £43 |
Edinburgh Gin Distillery sits in Leith, a vibrant waterfront district blending historic charm with trendy bars, restaurants, and scenic strolls. It’s ideal for walking to the distillery and nearby Royal Mile attractions, offering convenience with a lively Scottish atmosphere.
Walk-up bookings cannot be guaranteed. Popular times, especially gin-making sessions, often sell out weeks in advance.
Arrive at least fifteen minutes early to allow time for check in and ID verification before your Edinburgh Gin Distillery tour begins.
A classic Edinburgh Gin Distillery tour typically takes around 65 minutes. Hands-on sessions last 1 hour 45 minutes to 3.5 hours, depending on the experience chosen.
Yes, guests are welcome to relax at the bar after their experience, subject to seating availability and bar opening hours.
Yes, every Edinburgh Gin Distillery tour includes guided tastings, though the number and format vary by experience type.
Yes, the distillery offers a structured, indoor experience that works well early in a city visit.
Photography is welcome for personal use. Flash is discouraged during aroma testing or gin-making sessions to preserve the sensory experience.
Yes, combo tickets pair the distillery tour with a 24-hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket, allowing flexible sightseeing and audio-guided exploration of the city.
The distillery is strictly adults-only. All experiences, including sampling and tours, are for guests aged 18 and above. Additionally, the staff follows a Challenge 25 policy, requesting valid photo ID if necessary.
This sensory introduction sets the tone for the visit, presenting botanicals, ingredients, and aroma profiles that shape each creation. Guided explanations help connect scent to flavour, making it easier to understand how individual elements influence the final character.
The Still Room is an active production space centred around copper stills, where guides explain how heat, timing, and ingredients interact during distillation. Clear viewpoints allow you to follow flavour development while understanding the technical choices behind each batch.
This hands-on studio invites guests to design, distill, and bottle a personalised creation using miniature stills. With expert guidance at every stage, visitors learn how ingredient balance and process decisions directly affect aroma, texture, and flavour.
Set beneath The Arches, the Distillery Bar offers a relaxed space to unwind after your tour. Thoughtful design, soft lighting, and knowledgeable staff create an ideal setting to revisit flavours or sample creative combinations.
The on site retail shop features small batch releases, seasonal editions, and design led gift sets exclusive to the distillery. Staff provide thoughtful recommendations, making it easy to choose souvenirs or gifts that reflect Edinburgh Gin’s creativity.
Enter through The Arches on East Market Street. All visitors must check in with a valid ticket and photo ID before their scheduled experience.
Each Edinburgh Gin Distillery tour begins at a fixed time. Staff guide groups into the Flavour Arch, Still Room, and experience spaces in a set order.
Tours follow a clear internal flow. Guests move together through production areas, scent sessions, and tasting rooms without backtracking.
Experiences end near the Distillery Bar and retail area, where guests can relax, shop exclusive editions, or enjoy a post tour drink.
Visiting from Tuesday to Thursday usually means smaller groups, smoother tours, and easier bookings. Weekends bring a livelier atmosphere, but experiences fill up quickly, so planning ahead is essential to secure your preferred tour times.
From May to September, the distillery sees higher visitor demand, especially for gin-making sessions, requiring early reservations. November to March is quieter, allowing a more relaxed experience, shorter waits, and greater flexibility in choosing your preferred Edinburgh Gin Distillery tour.
Address: The Arches, Arch 16, East Market Street, EH8 8FS
Located close to the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Waverley station, making it easy to combine with Old Town sightseeing.
Closest landmarks: Museum of Childhood (160m)
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Edinburgh Distillery: Classic Tour & Tasting Experience
Combo (Save 5%): Edinburgh Gin Tasting + Edinburgh Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour
