Champagne Flights in London: Best Tasting Experiences and Real Prices

What Is a Champagne Flight, Anyway?

A champagne flight isn’t just a fancy way to order three glasses. It’s a curated tasting journey-usually three to five small pours of different champagnes-designed to show you how one grape, one region, and one tradition can taste wildly different. You’re not just drinking bubbly. You’re comparing the crisp minerality of a Chardonnay-dominant blanc de blancs with the bold red fruit of a Pinot Noir-heavy blend, then finishing with a rare vintage that’s been aged for a decade or more.

In London, this isn’t just a trend. It’s a tradition that’s evolved over the last five years, fueled by a new generation of sommeliers who treat champagne like single-origin coffee or craft whiskey. You don’t need to spend £200 to taste properly. But you do need to know where to look-and what you’re actually paying for.

Where to Find Champagne Flights in London (And What You’ll Pay)

London has over 120 bars and restaurants offering champagne flights. But not all are created equal. Prices range from £25 to £150 per flight, and the difference isn’t just about brand names-it’s about sourcing, age, and transparency.

Low-end (£25-£45): These are often found in trendy cocktail bars in Shoreditch or Soho. You’ll get three pours of non-vintage champagnes, usually from big houses like Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon, or Pommery. The pours are generous-about 60ml each-but the wines are mass-produced. You’re paying for the experience, not the wine. It’s fine if you’re new to champagne, but don’t expect depth.

Mid-range (£50-£85): This is where London shines. Bars like The Clos Maggiore in Covent Garden or Champagne Bar by Gordon Ramsay in Mayfair offer flights with grower champagnes-small producers who make wine from their own vineyards. You’ll taste a Blanc de Blancs from Avize, a Rosé from Bouzy, and maybe a rare 2012 vintage. The pours are smaller (40ml), but the quality jumps. This is the sweet spot for most people who want to learn without overspending.

High-end (£90-£150): These are reserved for serious collectors. Places like Le Gavroche or Araki (the Michelin-starred sushi spot with a dedicated champagne cellar) offer flights that include older vintages, limited releases, or even magnums. One flight at Pol Roger’s private tasting room in Mayfair included a 2002 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, a 2008 Brut, and a 2015 Rosé. That’s £135 for three glasses. You’re not just tasting champagne-you’re tasting history.

What You’re Really Paying For

Champagne isn’t just wine. It’s labor. It’s time. It’s risk.

Every bottle of non-vintage champagne takes at least 15 months to make. Vintage champagne? Minimum three years in the cellar. Some, like Krug’s Clos d’Ambonnay, sit for over 15 years. That’s why a £70 bottle of vintage champagne isn’t expensive-it’s a bargain.

When you pay £75 for a flight at a bar like Champagne & Co. in Marylebone, you’re not just paying for the wine. You’re paying for:

• A sommelier who selected each bottle based on acidity, yeast character, and terroir
• Proper glassware-tulip-shaped, not flutes, to let the aromas breathe
• Temperature control (champagne served at 8-10°C, not ice-cold)
• A guide who explains how the 2018 harvest’s heatwave affected the fruit

At a £30 flight, you get a pour and a smile. At a £75 flight, you get a lesson.

How to Tell If a Flight Is Worth It

Here’s a quick checklist before you order:

1. Are the producers named? If the menu just says "Premium Champagne Selection," walk away.
2. Are vintages listed? Non-vintage is fine, but if all three are NV, you’re getting the cheapest stock.
3. Is there a grower champagne? Look for "RM" (Récoltant-Manipulant) on the label-that means independent producer.
4. Can you taste the difference between a Blanc de Blancs and a Rosé? If the staff can’t explain it, they’re just pouring bubbles.
5. Are the pours 40-50ml? Anything larger than 60ml is a sign they’re trying to stretch the wine.

One of the best flights I had was at Bar 1851 in Belgravia. For £68, I got:

• 2016 Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs (Chardonnay from Cramant)
• 2015 Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Cumières Rosé (Pinot Noir from the Marne Valley)
• 2008 Krug Grande Cuvée (a blend of 140+ base wines)

Each one tasted completely different. The Peters was like licking a wet stone. The Gimonnet had wild strawberry and spice. The Krug? It was creamy, nutty, and went on for a minute after I swallowed. That’s value.

When a Champagne Flight Isn’t Worth It

Not every flight deserves your money.

If you’re at a hotel bar in Piccadilly and they offer a "Champagne Flight with Canapés" for £85, ask: Are these wines available by the bottle for less than £50? If yes, you’re being overcharged. Many hotels mark up champagne flights by 300% just because they can.

Same goes for tourist traps in Covent Garden. I once saw a place offering a "Luxury Champagne Flight" with Veuve Clicquot, Dom Pérignon, and Taittinger for £95. All three are available at Waitrose for £45-£55. You’re paying £30 just to have someone say "cheers."

Also avoid flights that include sparkling wines from elsewhere. If it says "Prosecco" or "Cava" in the same flight as Champagne, it’s not a real champagne tasting. Champagne only comes from the Champagne region of France. Anything else is sparkling wine.

How to Taste Like a Pro (Without the Snobbery)

You don’t need to swirl, sniff, and scribble notes like a wine critic. But here’s what actually matters:

1. Look at the bubbles. Fine, slow bubbles mean better quality. Big, fast ones? That’s cheap fizz.
2. Smell it before you sip. A good champagne smells like bread dough, green apple, or toasted almonds-not just sugar.
3. Sip slowly. Let it sit on your tongue. The best champagnes don’t hit you with sweetness. They build-acidity first, then texture, then finish.
4. Ask: "What’s the dosage?" That’s the sugar added after fermentation. Brut Nature (0-3g/L) is dry. Extra Dry (12-20g/L) is sweeter. Most people think they like sweet champagne. They don’t. They just haven’t tried the dry ones.

At Champagne Bar by Gordon Ramsay, they give you a tiny card with each flight: vintage, grape blend, dosage, and disgorgement date. That’s the gold standard. You don’t need to memorize it. But knowing it exists tells you they care.

Best Value Champagne Flights in London (2025)

Here are five spots where you get real quality for your money:

What to Do Next

If you’ve never had a proper champagne flight, start with £50-£65. Skip the tourist bars. Go to one of the spots listed above. Order the flight. Don’t rush. Ask questions. Let the sommelier guide you.

And if you like it? Come back. Try a different flight next time. The beauty of champagne is that there’s always another bottle waiting-another layer, another year, another grower who’s been working the same vines for 200 years.

Frequently Asked Questions