Copper Rivet Distillery

The smell hits you first when you walk into Copper Rivet - juniper and grain and something that reminds you why gin became England's drink of choice. This working distillery in Aylesford does proper gin and vodka production on a small scale, and you can actually watch the stills doing their thing through the viewing windows. It's not vast, but that's rather the point. You're seeing a real operation, not a theme park version of one.

The distillery runs weekday visits from 10am to 5pm, which suits people who can slip away mid-week far better than weekend warriors. Allow a couple of hours if you want to absorb it properly - there's a small shop and a tasting room where you can sample their output, and the staff know what they're talking about without being precious about it. Whether you're a gin enthusiast or just someone who's curious about how a bottle actually gets made, there's enough here to hold your attention.

Pair this with a stay at Kits Coty Glamping just up the road - roughly five miles away - and you've got a proper day out. The distillery itself won't fill a whole afternoon if you're with kids, but teenagers interested in how things work will get something from it. Worth a morning visit if you're staying locally, though check their website first as opening hours can shift.