Where to find stunning sunflower fields near London

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 Pit Stop Café. There are also sunflower sommeliers on hand to help you choose and take care of your freshly picked flowers. It also hosts pumpkin picking later in the year to get you in full autumnal mood.

Contact in advance to find out which flowers are in bloom. Prices and entry points will be confirmed once the site has a firm opening date. 

M1 Junction 9, St Albans, AL3 8HT. Best to drive. Check www.thepopupfarm.co.uk. 

Pick as many bunches of gorgeous sunflowers as your arms can carry at this Kent farm, which also grows everything from strawberries and sweetcorn to pumpkins and Christmas trees. Once you're satisfied with your haul, sit down for a breather in the onsite tea room.

Contact in advance (on this page) to find out exactly what is available to pick and how much it’ll cost you.

Broomfield Fruit Farm, Ifield Rd, Meopham, DA13 0QH. Meopham rail. Check www.meophampyo.co.uk.

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 sunflowers are priced at £1.29 a head. If you're looking for a little more variety in your plants, take a look at the PYO dahlia and gladioli fields too.

Sunflowers typically ready to pick here from July. 

Winterdown Rd, Esher, Surrey, KT10 8LS. Esher rail then 458 bus. Check www.garsons.co.uk.

This family-owned farm is just 17 miles outside of London. Feeling adventurous? Take a spin around its Maize Maze between flower picking – the course is carved into impressive-looking shapes each season to elevate the fun. 

Sunflowers will be ready to pick from August. 

Birchwood Road, Wilmington, Dartford, DA2 7HD. Train to Dartford, then 429 bus. Follow official social media accounts for information on opening dates of the Maize Maze. Check www.stanhillfarm.co.uk.

OK, so this spot is slightly further afield (it’s out near Crawley), but it’s well worth seeking out to find a whole 12 acres dedicated to awesome yellow flowers. Soak up the summer sun as you wander around the site, which has a rustic southern US farm aesthetic, gathering up armfuls of stems. If you need a little sustenance to keep your picking energy up, they also serve burgers and bao buns.

Turners Hill Rd, Turners Hill, RH10 4NA. Train to Three Bridges, then metro bus route 84. Tickets and dates released once flowers in full bloom. Check www.pyosunflowers.com.

Hitchin Lavender isn’t just about the purple stuff – there are yellow delights hidden among the scented crops too. 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 keep an eye on their website to find out when they’ll be in full bloom.

Cadwell Farm, Arlesey Rd, Ickleford, Hitchin, SG5 3UA. Hitchin rail. £8.50, £6.50 three-to-16-year-olds. Check www.hitchinlavender.com.