3 Locks Brewing Company Tour and Tasting Experience in Camden

Walking into a working brewery is different. At 3 Locks Brewing Company in Camden, you get a structured tasting plus a brewhouse look, all in about 1 hour 15 minutes. I like how the experience is paced for maximum sipping time, not marathon waiting. I also like that the group stays small, with a maximum of 12 travelers, so it feels more personal than a big beer bus.

The flow is also very practical: you start with a welcome beer, go through a guided flight of tasters, then you take a short break and finish with a brewhouse tour and another beer. One thing to consider is that there is no dinner included, so if you arrive hungry, plan a meal nearby first.

Key Takeaways Before You Go

• Six-beer flight plus more pours: you sample six different beers, then continue with additional brewery tastings.
• Two complimentary pints: you do not just taste small amounts, you also get full pours to enjoy.
• Small group size, max 12: better questions, less crowding, and an easier time hearing the guide.
• Brewhouse tour included: you see how the operation works after the tasting portion.
• Hang around for 10% off: you can use the taproom and merchandise discount after the tour.

3 Locks Brewing Company in Camden, A Tasting That Actually Has a Plan

Camden has plenty of ways to spend an afternoon, but beer tours tend to fall into two camps. Some are mostly standing around with a sample cup. Others are long and technical. This one hits a nice middle ground.

At 3 Locks Brewing Company (meeting at Arch 14, 15 Water Ln., Hawley Wharf, London NW1 8JY), the experience is built around a tasting rhythm. You are not left guessing what happens next. You show up, get a welcome pour, taste through a guided set of beers, then you switch gears to the brewhouse and end with another beer. It is a clean, repeatable format that works well if you want craft beer without turning your trip into homework.

And yes, it is Camden, so you still get that local buzz. The venue is set up for a group experience, it is near public transportation, and the atmosphere fits people who actually care about what is in the glass.

What You Do From Arrival to Finish (And Why It Works)

The tour starts the moment you arrive. You will be greeted and served a welcome beer right away. That is a small detail, but it matters. It gets you into the mood before the guide starts talking, and it also helps you settle your questions early.

Next comes the tasting. You will get a flight of 6 tasters, guided by your tour leader. This is the core of the experience. Instead of one random sip, you compare multiple beers back-to-back, which is the fastest way to notice differences. The guide adds context as you go, so you are not just tasting blindly.

After that, there is a short break. This is another smart move. Beer tasting can creep up on you, even when you are only trying small amounts. A pause lets you reset, use the time to grab water, and come back ready for the brewhouse portion.

Then the tour shifts to the brewery side: you go for a tour of the brewhouse, and the experience ends with a finishing beer. The end is not an awkward afterthought. It is part of the pacing. You get the guided tasting first, then you see the operation, then you wrap with another pour to help everything click.

Finally, you can stick around for savings. There is a 10% discount in the taproom and on merchandise after the tour. That turns the experience into a small “continue if you want” option, which I love on travel days. You can leave on time, or you can linger if you found your next favorite beer.

The Beers You Sample: Flight, Additional Pours, and Two Pints

Here is what the format delivers, step by step, based on what is included.

You get:

• Arrival beer
• Flight of 6 tasters (this is where you sample the six different beers)
• A brewery beer
• Beer from the tank
• An end of tour beer
• Plus, two complimentary pints

That is a lot more than a simple “try a couple of sips and go.” Two complimentary pints especially changes the feeling. You can enjoy the beer, not just assess it. The flight is for learning your preferences. The pints are for relaxing and actually tasting like a beer lover.

One detail I find especially interesting is the inclusion of beer from the tank as part of what you drink during the tour. That suggests you are not only tasting finished beer. You are getting a look at the brewing story from within the process. Even if you do not get overly technical, it helps you connect the tasting to what the brewery is doing day-to-day.

Guided Tasting Style, What to Expect, and How to Get More Out of It

The tour is guided, and it is offered in English. A guide changes the experience because they help you interpret what you are tasting. Without guidance, beer tasting can become a guessing game. With guidance, it becomes pattern recognition.

A standout detail from one of the top reviews: the guide Michael is described as knowledgeable and entertaining, and the beer was called delicious. That kind of praise matters. In a tasting, your guide is basically the “translator” between the brewery and your palate.

So when you go, do two simple things:

1. Ask one question early. When you hear a term you do not know, ask what it means in plain language.
2. Taste, then check your reaction. Do not just swallow and move on. Pause for a second. The guided pacing makes it easy.

Also, remember the tour is capped at 12 travelers. That usually means more back-and-forth. You are less likely to be shouting over a crowd, and you can hear the explanation clearly.

Brewhouse Tour: Seeing the Process After You Taste

The brewhouse tour happens after your flight and break. That sequencing is smart. When you tour after tasting, you can make connections quickly. You are already familiar with the beers in the glass, so the guide can point you toward how the process shapes what you tasted.

You will take a tour of the brewhouse, and it ends with a finishing beer. You should expect a behind-the-scenes look rather than a super formal lecture. The point is to connect the dots, not overwhelm you with equipment names.

There is also a practical advantage to this order. If you start with the brewhouse first, you might not know what you are looking at. Here, you begin with beer. Then the process makes more sense.

If you are the type who likes learning without getting stuck in details, this is a good match. If you are the type who wants deep brewing education, you might still enjoy it for the experience value, but you could also find you want more time on the technical side. Still, for many visitors, the balance is just right.

Taproom Time and the 10% Discount on Food-Free Browsing

There is no dinner included. The experience does not promise a meal, and that is important to plan around.

But here is where you get a real bonus: after the tour, you can hang around for 10% off in the taproom and on merchandise. That means you can turn the tour into a “choose your next beer” moment. If you loved something during the flight, you can test it again in a bigger format using the discount.

That discount also gives you a low-pressure reason to browse. Merch is not always my priority on brewery tours, but it is a fun way to bring home a memory. And since you are already in a taproom environment, you are not trying to squeeze shopping into a time crunch.

Tip: if you have a pint on board during or right after the tour, pace yourself in the taproom after. You are in Camden, so you might want to walk off a bit after.

Location in Camden: Hawley Wharf Access and Time Planning

The meeting point is easy enough to find if you use the exact address: Arch 14, 15 Water Ln., Hawley Wharf, London NW1 8JY. The experience also notes it is near public transportation, which is a big deal in London. It reduces the stress of “what if I miss the stop.”

The whole experience lasts about 1 hour 15 minutes. That time window is good for travel planning. You can pair it with other Camden activities without needing to block your entire day.

If you are choosing what to do next, this is a good “midday or early evening” option. The tour includes multiple beers and ends with additional pours, so you will feel better planning something active and nearby right after, rather than something that requires long standing. If you want to keep things simple, add a meal before you go, since dinner is not included.

Price, Value, and Why This One Feels Fair

The price is $34.28 per person. On paper, beer tours in London can look pricey. But when you look at what you actually get, the value is easier to judge.

Here is the “value math” that matters:

• You get a flight of 6 tasters, which is the foundation for comparing beers.
• You get two complimentary pints, not just small samples.
• You get additional pours (including a brewery beer and beer from the tank), plus a finishing beer.
• You also get 10% off in the taproom and on merchandise after the tour.

So you are paying for more than a guided walk. You are paying for a structured tasting with multiple drinks and the ability to continue your experience afterward at a discount.

For me, the best part of the value is the pacing and the portion size. This is not a tiny taste-and-rush scenario. It is a full, beer-forward experience that fits into a short window.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Want Something Else)

This is a strong choice if you:

• Love craft beer and want to compare multiple brews in one sitting
• Prefer a guided format rather than wandering into tastings alone
• Like small groups, because the cap is 12 travelers
• Want something that is fun for a mixed group, including families, based on the positive family experience mentioned in a review

It may be less ideal if you:

• Want a food-centered tour, since there is no dinner included
• Want a long, deep technical course, because this is designed for about 75 minutes, with tasting and a brewhouse tour rather than an extended lecture
• Are very sensitive to alcohol, since the experience includes multiple beers and two pints

Also, service animals are allowed, and the tour is offered in English. If you are traveling with a service animal, that is a helpful detail.

A Practical Way to Pair This With the Rest of Your Camden Day

If you are building a Camden itinerary, I suggest you think in blocks.

Plan block one: a light meal before you arrive. Since dinner is not included, you will enjoy the tasting more with food in your system.

Plan block two: the tour itself, about 1 hour 15 minutes, starting and ending at the Hawley Wharf meeting point.

Plan block three: taproom time using the 10% discount if you found something you want to repeat. If you bought into the beer, linger a bit. If you just wanted the tour, you can step back out quickly and move on.

This kind of structure keeps the day comfortable, and it prevents the classic London mistake of squeezing too many stops into one tight schedule.

Should You Book the 3 Locks Brewing Company Tour?

If you want a guided Camden beer experience that is focused, drink-in-the-glass, and short enough to keep your day flexible, I would book this. The combination of six tasters, additional pours including beer from the tank, two complimentary pints, and the chance to use a 10% taproom and merchandise discount after the tour makes it feel like you get real value for your money.

I would especially recommend it if small groups matter to you. A max size of 12 means you are more likely to actually interact with the guide and feel like your questions are heard.

The only solid reason to pass is if you need food included or you are not comfortable with multiple beers in one hour. If that applies, you might want a different kind of Camden stop.

Otherwise, this is a practical, enjoyable way to get into London craft beer without turning your schedule upside down.

FAQ

How long is the 3 Locks Brewing Company tour and tasting in Camden?

The experience runs for about 1 hour 15 minutes.

What does the tasting include?

You receive an arrival beer, a flight of 6 tasters, additional brewery beers including beer from the tank, and an end of tour beer, plus two complimentary pints.

Is dinner included?

No. Dinner is not included, and the experience is focused on beer.

Where do I meet, and does the tour end there?

You start at 3 Locks Brewing Company, Arch 14, 15 Water Ln., Hawley Wharf, London NW1 8JY, UK. The tour ends back at the meeting point.

What is the group size limit?

The tour has a maximum group size of 12 travelers.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, you can cancel for a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time. If you cancel less than 24 hours before, the amount paid is not refunded.