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Where to find gorgeous sunflower fields near London
Sunflowers are almost at their blooming peak! Go and pick a bouquet of your own
Did a visit to see Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ at the Tate Britain show fail to provide your flower fix? Get neck-deep in heliotropic heaven at these golden fields full of custard-yellow blooms, which are at their peak from August to September.
Just a stone’s throw from the city, these farms let you do the picking, so you can create your own still life at home. Remember, always check ahead to make sure the crops are fresh before you visit.
RECOMMENDED: Day trips from London for flower lovers.
Pick-your-own sunflowers
Garsons Farm
As the fruit season winds down on this family-run pick-your-own farm, turn your attention to its fields of sunny blooms instead. There are three sunflower fields dotted across its whopping 155 acres and the £4 entry is taken off your ‘pay and weigh’ bill at the end. Wanna mix things up? Have a look at the PYO dahlia fields too.
Winterdown Rd, Esher, Surrey, KT10 8LS. Esher rail then 458 bus. Check www.garsons.co.uk.
Hitchin Lavender
You may know this spot for its purple crops of lavender, but there are yellow delights hidden among the scented stuff. Pick up a paper bag and a pair of scissors at the entrance and start snipping those stems. It’s been a tough year for the yellow buds, so visit in September when, fingers crossed, they’ll be in full bloom.
Cadwell Farm, Arlesey Rd, Ickleford, Hitchin, SG5 3UA. Hitchin rail. £6, £3 under-14s, free under-fives. Check www.hitchinlavender.com.
Meopham PYO
Pick as many bunches as your arms can carry at this Kent farm before sitting down for a breather in the onsite tea room. Feeling adventurous? Take a dizzying spin around the Maize Maze, which has meandering paths carved into the arable fields.
Broomfield Fruit Farm, Ifield Rd, Meopham, DA13 0QH. Meopham rail. £2 maze entry. Check www.meophampyo.co.uk.
The Pop-Up Farm
This educational farm-and-shop loves sunflowers so much it has an entire festival dedicated to the blooms each year. Follow the sunflower trail, pick your own blooms and gorge on pizza and local ice cream from the Pitstop café. There are also sunflower sommeliers on hand to help you choose and take care of your freshly picked flowers.
M1 Junction 9, St Albans, AL3 8HT. Best to drive. Free entry. Check www.thepopupfarm.co.uk.
Find some fruit and veg instead
London’s best pick-your-own fruit and vegetable farms
Pluck summer-ripe berries, leafy greens and root veg