3 Locks Brewing Company Tour and Tasting Experience in Camden

Camden’s 3 Locks Brewing Company keeps this experience small, social, and pleasingly beer-focused. You start with a welcome beer, work through six different tasters, see the brewhouse, and finish with more beer, including a pour from the tank when available.

I like the maximum group of 12, which gives the visit a more personal feel than a crowded brewery talk. I also like the value: at $34.28 per person, you receive a flight, several additional beers, two complimentary pints, and 10% off in the taproom and on merchandise. The main drawback is simple: no food is included, so plan to eat before or after.

Key points to know before you book

• Six beers plus two complimentary pints: The tasting includes six samples, a welcome beer, brewery beer, tank beer, and a final beer.
• A small Camden group: The experience is capped at 12 people, making it easier to hear the guide and ask questions.
• Michael may lead the visit: One especially warm account praises Michael for being entertaining and well informed.
• A short, focused visit: The full experience lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes, so it fits neatly into a Camden afternoon.
• A useful discount afterward: You receive 10% off in the taproom and on merchandise once the tour ends.
• No meal included: You will need to arrange food separately before or after the tasting.

Starting at Hawley Wharf in Camden

You meet at 3 Locks Brewing Company, Arch 14, 15 Water Lane, Hawley Wharf, London NW1 8JY. The activity ends at the same place, which keeps the plan easy: no second meeting point, no need to arrange a ride back, and no risk of ending on the wrong side of Camden.

The location also suits a day spent around Camden. You can pair the brewery visit with other plans in the area, though the tour itself is not a broad Camden sightseeing walk. You are coming for beer, brewing, and conversation rather than landmarks.

The experience is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Public transport is nearby, and service animals are allowed. Since the group can include no more than 12 people, I would book ahead rather than count on a last-minute place. It is booked about 30 days ahead on average, which gives you a useful guide for planning busy London dates.

Your first beer sets the tone

On arrival, you are greeted with a beer before the guided tasting begins. This welcome pour gives you something to enjoy right away and helps the group settle in without a formal wait.

I like this opening because it avoids a dry introduction. You are not standing around while someone explains the brewery from the start. You can get comfortable, meet the other people in the group, and begin with a real beer in your hand.

The welcome beer is part of a generous package, but pace yourself. The visit includes several pours, and the total amount can add up quickly if you treat every sample as a full drink. The experience is best approached as a tasting, not a race.

A small group matters here. With 12 people or fewer, you have a better chance of hearing the explanation and asking about the beers in front of you. It also makes the social side more natural. You are likely to meet people who came for the same reason, namely an interest in craft beer, without being placed in a giant crowd.

Six tasters give you a broad beer snapshot

After the welcome beer, the guided tasting moves through six different beers. The supplied details do not name the individual styles, so you should not expect a fixed list of lagers, pale ales, stouts, or other types until you arrive.

That is not necessarily a weakness. Brewery tastings can change with production, and a rotating selection may show you more of what 3 Locks is making at the time of your visit. If you have a strong preference or an allergy, ask the guide before drinking. The available information confirms alcoholic drinks but does not provide a specific beer menu or nonalcoholic alternative.

The value of a flight is that it lets you compare rather than simply order one pint. You can notice which beer suits your taste, which one feels more distinctive, and which one you might want to order later in the taproom.

I would take a few notes on your phone if you find a favorite. Six tasters can blur together, especially once the extra beers arrive later. The 10% discount gives you a practical reason to remember what you liked.

The guide’s role is important during this part. One particularly positive account singles out Michael as entertaining and well informed, saying he helped a whole family learn a great deal while keeping the visit enjoyable. That combination is useful in a brewery. You want more than a list of ingredients, but you also do not want a lecture that turns a tasting into a classroom.

A short break keeps the pace comfortable

After the guided tasting, you get a small break before the brewhouse portion. This pause is a welcome feature in a 75-minute experience. It lets you reset your palate, talk with the people around you, and avoid having every minute packed with information.

The break also makes the visit feel less scripted. You are not rushed directly from one sample to the next. If you are new to craft beer, this is a good moment to ask the guide about the beers you have just tried or to decide which flavors worked best for you.

There is no food included, so do not mistake the pause for a meal stop. If you need something substantial, eat before the activity or arrange food afterward. You may want to avoid arriving hungry, since several alcoholic pours on an empty stomach can make the experience less comfortable.

Seeing the brewhouse puts the beer in context

The tour then moves into the brewhouse. The available details do not specify the exact equipment, route, or brewing demonstrations, so it is wise to expect a guided look at the working brewery rather than a long technical production class.

This part adds value because you can connect the tasting to the place where the beer is made. A flight tells you what is in the glass. A brewhouse visit gives you a better sense of the work behind it, from brewing to storage, without requiring a full-day brewery program.

The tour is short, so the brewhouse visit will be compact. That suits you if you want a practical introduction and plenty of tasting time. If your main interest is detailed production science, equipment specifications, or a long discussion of brewing methods, this may feel brief.

For most visitors, the balance makes sense. You get enough brewery access to understand that the beer is made here, then return to the part many people came for: trying the beer.

Tank beer and the final pour

The included drinks continue after the brewhouse tour. The package lists a brewery beer, beer from the tank, and an end-of-tour beer, alongside the arrival beer and six tasters.

The highlight here is the tank beer. It gives you a chance to try beer directly from the brewery’s storage or serving process, rather than only tasting finished pours selected in advance. The exact beer available can change, so do not book expecting a particular tank release.

The final beer closes the visit in a relaxed way. By this point, you have had a guided introduction, compared six tasters, seen the brewhouse, and had a chance to decide what you like. The ending feels less like a hard stop and more like a transition into the taproom.

The supplied highlights describe two complimentary pints. Because the full inclusion list uses several beer terms, I would treat the package as a substantial series of pours rather than assume every listed beer is a full pint. Ask the brewery if you want exact serving sizes before booking.

What the $34.28 price really buys you

At $34.28 per person, this is not the cheapest way to drink beer in London. It is also not simply a pub tasting where you pay for six small glasses and leave.

Your price covers:

• A welcome beer
• A flight of six tasters
• A guided brewery experience
• Brewery beer
• Beer from the tank
• A final beer
• Two complimentary pints as described in the highlights
• 10% off in the taproom and on merchandise

The value depends on how much you want the guided side of the experience. If you only want two pints, ordering in the taproom will probably cost less. If you want to compare six beers, learn about the brewery, see the brewhouse, and stay for more beer afterward, the price is easier to justify.

The 10% discount adds a little practical value. It applies in the taproom and to merchandise, so you can continue the evening at a lower price or buy something to take home. The discount does not turn the tour into a bargain for everyone, but it helps if you already planned to order another drink or purchase brewery goods.

I also see value in the group limit. A cheaper tasting with 30 or 40 people can feel less personal. Here, the cap of 12 supports a better exchange with the guide and makes the short tour more useful.

Who will enjoy this Camden brewery visit

I would choose this for a beer fan who wants a compact activity rather than a full afternoon program. The 75-minute duration works well between other Camden plans, and the return to the meeting point keeps the logistics simple.

It also suits people traveling alone or in pairs who would like an easy social setting. The small group and shared tasting naturally give you something to talk about. You do not need to know a lot about beer before arriving. The point is to try several options and learn as you go.

Families can also fit into the experience if every participant meets the age and alcohol requirements that apply to the booking, though the supplied information does not spell out an age policy. One account describes bringing a whole family and having a great time, with Michael keeping the visit entertaining and educational.

I would be more cautious about booking this if you do not drink alcohol, want a full meal, or expect a long technical tour of brewing equipment. The experience is firmly built around alcoholic drinks, and no dinner or food is included.

Practical timing and pacing advice

Set aside about 1 hour and 15 minutes for the organized activity. Since the visit begins and ends at the brewery, you can plan another Camden stop before or after without dealing with a transfer between locations.

Arrive ready to begin at the stated meeting point, Arch 14, 15 Water Lane, Hawley Wharf. Keep your mobile ticket available. The details confirm nearby public transport, but they do not specify the best route from your starting point, so check your own route and allow time to find the arch within Hawley Wharf.

Because the tour includes many pours, eat beforehand if you know alcohol affects you quickly. You can also plan a meal after the tour, since no food is supplied. The experience is more enjoyable when you can focus on the beer and conversation instead of worrying about being hungry.

I would also avoid scheduling a tight appointment immediately afterward. The formal visit lasts about 75 minutes, but you may want to stay for the taproom discount or finish a drink. The activity officially ends back at the meeting point, so you remain in the right place if you decide to continue.

Booking, cancellation, and the small-group tradeoff

Confirmation arrives at booking, and the experience uses a mobile ticket. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Within 24 hours, you receive no refund, and changes made during that period are not accepted.

That policy is fairly clear, but it rewards firm planning. If your London schedule is still shifting, wait until you know you can attend. If you are booking around a fixed Camden day, the 24-hour deadline gives you a reasonable safety margin.

The small group is one of the strongest reasons to reserve ahead. A cap of 12 improves the visit, but it also means fewer places per time slot. The average advance booking period of about 30 days suggests that popular dates may not remain open close to the day.

Should you book 3 Locks Brewing Company?

I would book it if you want a social, beer-heavy introduction to a Camden brewery, especially if you value a small group and prefer a tasting with a real brewery visit attached. The combination of six tasters, extra beers, two complimentary pints, and a 10% taproom discount gives the $34.28 price a fair case.

Skip it if you want food included, do not drink alcohol, or hope for an in-depth technical study of the brewing process. The format is short and focused, with the tasting doing most of the work.

For the best experience, arrive fed, keep your schedule flexible after the 75-minute tour, and ask about the day’s beer selection. If Michael is leading, you can expect the kind of lively, clear explanation that works well for both curious beginners and experienced beer drinkers. With a 5/5 rating from 39 ratings and a 100% recommendation rate, the experience has also earned unusually strong approval, but its real appeal is easy to define: good variety, a manageable group, and plenty of beer in one compact Camden stop.

FAQ

Where does the 3 Locks Brewing Company tour start?

It starts at 3 Locks Brewing Company, Arch 14, 15 Water Lane, Hawley Wharf, London NW1 8JY, UK.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at 3 Locks Brewing Company.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 12 people.

What beer is included?

The experience includes an arrival beer, a flight of six tasters, brewery beer, beer from the tank, and an end-of-tour beer. The highlights also describe two complimentary pints.

Is food included?

No. Dinner and food are not included.

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 start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start receive no refund.