North London Craft Brewery Tour

North London’s craft beer scene is best explored with a guide who already knows the taprooms, routes, and beers worth your time. This four-stop brewery tour takes you from Blackhorse Road to four local brewing destinations in one afternoon, with a tasting included at every stop.

I like two things right away: all beer tastings are covered in the $67 price, and the small group, capped at 20 people, gives you a better chance to chat with the guide and fellow beer fans. Paul Davies leads the tour, and his easy conversation and clear answers are a big part of the appeal.

The main consideration is pace. You visit four breweries in about three to four hours, with roughly 45 minutes at each stop. That makes this a useful introduction rather than a slow, sit-down study of one brewery, and the non-refundable booking policy calls for firm plans.

Four North London stops worth knowing

• Four breweries in one afternoon: Visit Hackney Brewery and High Hill Taproom, Wild Card Brewery, Exale Taproom, and Signature Brew Taproom.
• A tasting at every stop: Your included serving is a half or two-thirds pint of beer, with a soft drink option available.
• Paul Davies as your guide: Expect practical beer talk, answers to questions, and a friendly social tone.
• A manageable group size: The maximum is 20 people, large enough for a social outing but not a huge coach group.
• Blackhorse Road start: Meet at Blackhorse Road Underground at 1:00 pm, then follow the guide through the North London brewery route.
• A useful alternative to pub-hopping: The planning, brewery choices, and route are handled for you.

Why this North London beer route works

London has no shortage of pubs, taprooms, and breweries. The problem is choosing places that fit together in one afternoon. A self-guided crawl can easily turn into too much time spent checking maps, waiting for transport, or arriving somewhere that is closed or too crowded.

This tour solves that planning problem. You meet at Blackhorse Road Underground, then move through four brewery stops selected for the route. Each visit lasts about 45 minutes, so you have enough time for a drink and some explanation without giving the afternoon over to one location.

I like that the experience does not treat beer as a simple tasting checklist. The guide is there to explain what you are drinking and answer questions as you go. Paul Davies received especially warm praise for his beer knowledge and friendly manner, with one person describing the atmosphere as similar to spending time with an old friend. That points to a relaxed, social tour rather than a formal lecture.

The group limit of 20 also matters. You are not guaranteed an intimate outing, but the maximum is reasonable for a walking and tasting experience. If you arrive alone, the format gives you an easy way to meet people who already share one interest: beer.

Blackhorse Road sets the tone

The tour begins at Blackhorse Road Underground at 1:00 pm. This is a practical meeting point because you can reach it by public transport, and the guide will direct you to the nearest Underground station at the end of the experience.

The first stop is Hackney Brewery and High Hill Taproom. You receive a half or two-thirds pint of beer here, or a soft drink if you prefer not to drink alcohol. The visit lasts about 45 minutes.

As the opening stop, this is where you get your bearings and learn how the afternoon will work. You can expect the guide to introduce the brewery and the beer while giving you a sense of the local craft beer scene. Since the tour is built around four stops, do not treat the first serving as your only drink of the day. A half pint is the sensible choice if you want to sample everything without rushing the later tastings.

One useful feature is the soft drink option. It makes the tour more flexible for non-drinkers, designated drivers, or anyone who wants a break between beers. You still take part in the same route and brewery visits.

Wild Card Brewery brings the second tasting

The second stop is Wild Card Brewery, with another 45-minute visit and another half or two-thirds pint included. By this point, you have settled into the format: arrive, hear about the beer and brewery, taste, and move on.

The value here comes from comparison. A single brewery visit can tell you about one producer, but four stops let you notice differences in brewing style and taproom character. The guide can also place each beer in context, which is more useful than choosing random pints from a long pub menu.

I would pay attention to how the guide handles questions at this stop. Paul Davies is praised for answering questions about making beer, so this is a good point to ask about the brewing process, ingredients, or why one beer tastes different from another. The supplied details do not promise a full production tour, so you should book this for guided tastings and brewery visits, not for guaranteed access to every working area.

The 45-minute limit keeps the day moving. The trade-off is that you may want more time if one beer or brewery catches your interest. That is part of the bargain with a four-stop route.

Exale Taproom adds another comparison

The third stop is Exale Taproom. Again, your included serving is a half or two-thirds pint of beer or a soft drink, and the scheduled visit lasts 45 minutes.

This is the point in the afternoon when pacing becomes important. You have already had two tastings, and another one is ahead. I would choose the smaller pour whenever you want to focus on comparing flavors rather than simply maximizing volume. The tour includes enough tastings to give you variety, but it is still wise to drink at a comfortable rate.

The taproom format also makes this more than a brewery name-collecting exercise. You get a chance to see how different venues present their beers and how a guide connects the drink to the place. The details provided do not specify particular beer styles at Exale, so you should expect the selection to be explained on the day rather than booking around one named beer.

This stop may suit curious drinkers better than people who already know exactly what they want. You can ask questions and let the guide help you make sense of the range. If you are looking for a long meal, though, this is not the right format. The tour description focuses on tastings, and each stop is limited to about 45 minutes.

Signature Brew finishes the afternoon

The final stop is Signature Brew Taproom. Like the other venues, it includes a half or two-thirds pint of beer or a soft drink, with about 45 minutes at the taproom.

Ending at a fourth brewery gives the tour a clear shape. You have moved through four North London names, tasted several beers, and had the chance to compare them while the information is still fresh. That is more efficient than trying to fit four separate brewery visits into different parts of your London stay.

The end point is Big Penny Ltd Head Office at 1 Priestley Way, London E17 6AL. You are guided to the nearest Underground station, which is useful after an afternoon of tastings. The supplied details do not specify the precise journey time between stops or the exact station used at the end, so you should leave your late-afternoon schedule open rather than booking a tight connection.

Signature Brew is also a practical final stop because you can finish the organized part of the day before deciding what to do next. Since the experience lasts roughly three to four hours and begins at 1:00 pm, plan for an end time in the late afternoon, allowing some flexibility.

What the $67 price really covers

At $67, the tour is not simply four drinks for the price of one. You are paying for the route planning, the guide, the brewery choices, and four included tastings. The value improves if you would otherwise need to research the area, arrange transport between taprooms, and risk missing a venue.

The included servings are half or two-thirds pints, not full pints. That distinction matters. If you are comparing the cost only with buying four full pints at four different bars, the calculation may not favor the tour. But a guided introduction includes something a normal pub crawl does not: someone who can answer questions and connect the stops into one afternoon.

The tour also has social value. One person joined a group that included visitors from Holland, and the conversation began before the route had properly got going. If you like meeting people through a shared interest, that is a strong reason to choose this rather than visiting taprooms alone.

I would see the price as fair for a first look at North London’s brewery scene, especially if you value convenience. It is less compelling for a serious beer collector who already knows these breweries and wants rare pours, long tastings, or detailed production access.

The social side with Paul Davies

The guide can make or break a tasting route. Here, Paul Davies is the named guide, and the strongest praise centers on his approach to people as much as his beer knowledge.

You can expect a friendly style, with room for questions and conversation. The tone appears informal rather than academic. That is good news if you want beer explained in plain language, and it may be less appealing if you prefer a highly technical class with measured tasting notes and formal instruction.

I especially like the fact that the guide is described as answering the questions asked, rather than forcing a set speech. It suggests you can shape the conversation around your own interests. Ask about how beer is made, how styles differ, or what to notice in the glass. You do not need to arrive as an expert.

The group size of 20 gives the outing a social feel without making it a very large event. Still, group chemistry varies. You may meet a lively mix of beer fans, couples, and people traveling alone, but no tour can guarantee the exact social atmosphere you prefer.

Timing, transport, and what to plan

The start time is 1:00 pm at Blackhorse Road Underground, Blackhorse Road, London E17 6ND. Arrive with enough time to find the meeting point, especially if you are unfamiliar with the station or North London.

The tour lasts approximately three to four hours. Four 45-minute stops account for three hours by themselves, while the rest of the time covers movement between venues and the opening and closing arrangements. Keep the rest of your afternoon flexible.

The experience ends at Big Penny Ltd Head Office, 1 Priestley Way, London E17 6AL. You will be guided to the nearest Underground station. Because the exact transport details are not provided in advance, do not assume the end point is the same as the start.

A mobile ticket is provided, which means you can keep the booking on your phone. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability, so do not assume your place is final until confirmation arrives.

Service animals are allowed, and the tour is near public transportation. Most people can participate, but the route includes several brewery visits and movement between them, so check your own comfort with a three to four hour outing before booking.

Who should book this brewery tour?

I would recommend it to you if you are visiting London for the first time and want a guided introduction to craft beer beyond the city center. It also suits solo visitors who want a ready-made social setting, couples who enjoy tasting different beers, and anyone who would rather leave route planning to a local beer guide.

It works particularly well for people who want variety. Four breweries give you a broad sample of North London’s beer scene in one half-day. The included soft drink option also makes the format more flexible than a tour built only around alcohol.

I would hesitate if you want a leisurely afternoon at one taproom. The schedule is structured, and 45 minutes per stop is enough for a visit but not for lingering over a long meal or waiting around for a favorite beer. I would also hesitate if your plans may change, since the booking is non-refundable and cannot be amended.

Keep your expectations in the right place. This is a guided brewery crawl with tastings, not a guaranteed behind-the-scenes brewing course. The supplied information does not promise food, full pints, a specific beer list, or access to production areas.

Should you book the North London Craft Brewery Tour?

Book it if you want an easy, social way to visit four North London breweries without planning the route yourself. The $67 price makes the most sense when you value the guide, the included tastings, and the chance to compare several taprooms in one afternoon.

Choose the smaller pour when you want to taste all four beers at a comfortable pace, and leave your schedule open after the 1:00 pm start. If Paul Davies is leading your departure, come ready with questions. His friendly, practical style appears to be one of the best reasons to choose this tour.

Skip it if you need a flexible booking, want full pints, or prefer to spend an entire afternoon at one brewery. For curious beer drinkers who enjoy meeting people and seeing a less familiar part of London, this is a sensible and well-organized choice.

FAQ

Where does the North London Craft Brewery Tour start?

The tour starts at Blackhorse Road Underground, Blackhorse Road, London E17 6ND, UK, at 1:00 pm.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends at Big Penny Ltd Head Office, 1 Priestley Way, London E17 6AL, UK. You will be guided to the nearest Underground station.

How long does the brewery tour last?

The experience lasts approximately three to four hours.

Which breweries are included?

The route includes Hackney Brewery and High Hill Taproom, Wild Card Brewery, Exale Taproom, and Signature Brew Taproom.

Are beer tastings included in the price?

Yes. Each stop includes a half or two-thirds pint of beer. You can request a soft drink instead.

What happens if I need to cancel?

The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or request an amendment, the amount paid will not be refunded.