Where To Pick Your Own Fruit Near London: Summer 2022

Laura Reynolds
By Laura Reynolds Last edited 9 months ago

Looks like this article is a bit old. Be aware that information may have changed since it was published.

Where To Pick Your Own Fruit Near London: Summer 2022
Where to pick your own fruit near london: pyo strawberry fields and farms near london
Image: Shutterstock

There's something quintessentially British about heading out into the countryside in summer and plucking your own strawberries, raspberries and other fruits fresh.

London itself isn't exactly awash with pick your own fruit farms, but the surrounding counties are. Here, we're rounded up the best PYO farms close to the capital.

Where to pick your own fruit near london: pyo strawberry fields and farms near london
Image: Shutterstock

Check with each venue which produce is available (and if they're even open) before you travel, as seasons and crops vary every year. Due to the rural nature of these PYO farms, driving is the best way to get to most of them, rather than relying on public transport.

Oh, and don't be that person who eats the fruit while you pick it. The farm is someone's livelihood, and often they're independent, family-run businesses.

Where to pick your own fruit in London

Parkside Farm, Enfield

Which fruits? Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants.

There are only two genuine PYO farm we know of within London, one for north Londoners, the other for south. Parkside Farm is the northern offering, a half hour walk from Gordon Hill station, so doable without a car. It's open for strawberry picking from 15 June 2022, and this year you need to book your slot in advance, for £4 per person, but that £4 is redeemable against the fruit you pick when you visit. Vegetables are available too — see the crop calendar for a rough guide of what's being picked when.

In previous years, many of the strawberries grown here have been 'table-top strawberries', meaning they're grown using a system that produces the fruit roughly at head height — so no more doing your back in bending down to pick.

The farm shop sells ice cream and cold drinks. Certain parts of the farm offer impressive views over the London skyline.

Hewitts Farm, Orpington

Which fruits? Strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants. Also spinach, Swiss chard, peas, broad beans.

Just inside London's limits, Orpington's Hewitts Farm is expecting to open for strawberry picking from early July 2023 — keep an eye on the website for updates. Due to bad weather earlier this year, the season has been delayed by a few weeks. It's a handy 15 minutes from Knockholt station, which makes it much closer to the station than Knockholt itself, though there's also a free car park on-site. No booking required — just turn up during opening hours.

Pick your own fruit farms in Surrey

Crockford Bridge Farm, Weybridge

Which fruits? Rhubarb, strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, blackberries — and plenty of veg too.

Located within the M25, but technically within Surrey, Crockford Bridge Farm has featured on the likes of Made In Chelsea, The Apprentice and The One Show. It's very much open to visitors, with an ice cream parlour on site, as well as the PYO fields. You'll need to book a farm pass (£5 adult/£2 child) in advance to visit this year, the value of which you can redeem against the fruit you buy. Kids are welcome, though do make sure they're supervised at all times.

Check the crop availability calendar for what to expect when.

Flower Farm Shop, Godstone

Which fruits? Strawberries, raspberries, cherries and plums.

A farm shop, butchers, tea room, brewery, pub gardens and PYO in one, Flower Farm is a one-stop shop for food and drink... including freshly brewed beer! But back to the fruit, which is usually available to pick between June and August — it's recommended you ring before travelling to check availability. Open for 2023 now.

Garsons, Esher

Which fruits? Strawberries, raspberries, courgettes, peas

Garsons garden centre has two locations, one at Esher in Surrey, and another further afield at Titchfield in Hampshire. Esher is the one to head to for PYO produce, with a farm shop and restaurant alongside the PYO fields. So vast is the farm that a map is provided to get you to the right patch for picking. As with many other farms on this list, you'll now need to book your slot in advance, and redeem the cost (£4 adult/£1 child) against the fruit you pick.  Also note: there are no toilets on the farm — nearest ones are in the garden centre, which is schlep from the fruit fields.

In addition to fruit and veg, the farm is home to flower fields, where sunflowers and dahlias can be picked at certain times of year.

Secretts Farm, Milford (CLOSED FOR 2022 SEASON - we hope to see it back open next year)

Which fruits? Asparagus, strawberries, rhubarb, Swiss chard.

Located between Guildford and Farnham, Secretts Farm is a 150 acre property with farm shop — and not just any farm shop. It sells crafts beers and gins and English wines along with the meat and veg, ideal for stocking up if your freshly-picked strawberries are destined for a summer picnic or barbecue.

Pick your own farms in West Sussex

New House Farm Shop, Horsham

Which fruits? Strawberries and raspberries.

New House Farm combines farm shop, tea room and, in previous years, a maize maze. Pluck your strawberries and raspberries fresh from the field, before tucking into tea and cake inside a 16th century barn. Already open for summer 2022, no need to book — just turn up.

Roundstone Farm, Worthing

Which fruits? Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, tayberries (yeah, we had to look that one up too), loganberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, plums, Victoria plums, rhubarb, and plenty of vegetables.

En route to the West Sussex coast? Drop into Roundstone Farm, located not too far from Worthing. It's already open for the 2022 season, and there's no need to book. This page shows which of the extensive variety of crops is currently available for picking — the farm claims to have the biggest selection of PYO crops in the south of England. A tractor-train service operates around the farm, dropping people off at whichever fruit they're after, and ice creams and cold drinks are for sale in the car park.

Spring Gardens Nursery, Pulborough

Which fruits? Strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, cherries, blackberries, cherries, loganberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, plums. Also vegetables including asparagus, carrots and sweetcorn.

Teetering on the edge of the South Downs, you're definitely not in London anymore by the time you get to Spring Gardens Nursery. Take a look at the crop chart to find out what should be ready to pick when, and plan your visit accordingly. Strawberries, loganberries and gooseberries are already being picked for 2022. After a morning in the 35 acres of fields, refresh in the on-site cafe and browse the farm shop before heading home... or on to the coast.

Pick your own farms in East Sussex

Maynards Fruit, Ticehurst

Which fruits? Strawberries, blackcurrants, plums

Located midway between Tunbridge Wells in Kent and Hastings on the East Sussex coast, Maynards may be a small, family run business, but it grows enough fruit to supply supermarkets with plums — and the makers of Ribena with blackcurrants. Open from 12 June 2022.

Oast Farm, Buxted

Which fruits? Gooseberries, apples, pears, plums. Cherries and blueberries are also grown but not available for PYO. No strawberries or raspberries grown here this year.

This family-run fruit farm, shop and cafe is best-known for its apples, many of which are pressed on the farm itself immediately after picking. No need to wait until the autumn apple harvest though — other fruits are available earlier than that (check website for details and timings).

The cafe serves up breakfast, lunch, cakes and drinks, and local produce including meat, cheese, fruit and veg is for sale in the farm shop.

Sharnfold Farm, Eastbourne

Which fruits? Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, redcurrants, rhubarb, and plenty more.

Just a couple of miles inland from Eastbourne and Pevensey, Sharnfold Farm welcomes visitors to pick their own fruit, including the bounty of the 10,000 strawberry plants. Children are very welcome, and there's a farm shop on site to browse too. 2022 dates TBC.

Pick your own fruit farms in Kent

Downingbury Farm, Tunbridge Wells

Which fruits? Strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, plums.

One of the best known PYO farms in the Garden of England, Downingbury is very handily located close to the A21, making it an easy day trip from London. A cafe has recently been added to the farm, with drinks, cake and ice cream available, as well as a plethora of other produce from the farm shop. Already open for the 2022 season.

Stanhill Farm, Dartford

Which fruits? Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants, plus pumpkins, tomatoes, sweetcorn and runner beans.

Easy picking is promised for strawberry lovers at Stanhill Farm, which has many, many fruit-bearing plants. There's no cafe on-site, but there is a small hut selling drinks and ice creams, and you can eat a picnic on the tables provided. No need to book, just turn up.

Pick your own fruit farms in Essex

Lathcoats Farm, Chelmsford

Which fruits? Strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, cherries, plums, blackberries, boysenberries.

You'll need to book in advance, at a cost of £2.10 per person, £2 of which can be used towards paying for the fruit you pick. Ramble round the fields picking your fruit at Lathcoats Farm before tucking into coffee and cake at the Bee Shed Coffee House next door, located in a barn that used to be utilised for beekeeping. Say hello to the goats, pigs and donkeys next door.

McLauchlans of Boxted, Colchester

Which fruits? Strawberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, raspberries, blackcurrants and broad beans.

Head straight to the farm shop when you pull up at McLauchlans of Boxted, and staff will point you in the direction of whichever fields are currently most, er, fruitful. Head out to the plants and get stuck in — and stock up on locally produced cream from the farm shop before you leave. The 2022 strawberry picking season is already under way.

Pick your own fruit farms in Hertfordshire

Where to pick your own fruit near london: pyo strawberry fields and farms near london
Image: Shutterstock

Cammas Hall, near Bishop's Stortford

Which fruits? Strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, plus sweetcorn and pumpkins.

The good news for strawberry lovers is that the red fruits are grown under cover at Cammas Hall, meaning that even if it's raining when you go picking, you and your bounty will stay dry. However, with a maize maze, nature trail, play area, tea barn and farm shop on site, you'd do well to wait until the sun appears and make a whole day of it. If it's fruit picking you're here for, book in advance, with £3 of the £3.25 cost redeemable against your pickings.

Graveley Fruit Farm, near Hitchin

Which fruits? Strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants.

A cafe, adventure play area, crazy golf, go karts, and pigs to feed are some of the attractions at family-friendly Graveley — and that's before you get down to the important business of fruit picking. Strawberries are the main crop, and they're grown at waist height, making them nice and easy to pick.

Psst... if you're at Graveley, you're not too far from Hitchin Lavender, home to those famous purple fields in June and July, and gorgeous yellow sunflowers in August and September — why not make a very summery day of it?

Hawkswick Lodge Farm, St Albans

Which fruits? Strawberries, raspberries, red currants, blackcurrants, blackberries and gooseberries.

As one of the smaller farms on this list, Hawkswick Lodge is all about the fruit. Check the fruit calendar on the website to predict what will be available when, but do check before you go as stocks can sometimes run low. Minimum spend £3 per person, and pensioners get a 20% discount on Tuesday afternoons. Opening from 18 June 2022.

Pearce's Farm Shop, Buntingford

Which fruits? Strawberries and raspberries

Several different varieties of strawberry are grown at Pearce's, and the farm uses a special rainwater harvesting system which apparently makes for a tastier crop. Groceries, plants, gifts and deli foods are available in the shop, and the cafe serves light food, drinks and afternoon tea. £3 per person entrance fee (no need to book in advance) redeemable against the strawberries you buy.

Pick your own farms in Berkshire

Grays Farm, Wokingham

Which fruits? Strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, gooseberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, plus plenty of veg including spinach and broad beans.

An impressive seven miles of strawberries were planted on Grays Farm over the winter to be picked over the next five years, so fingers crossed for a bumper crop this year. The crop calendar gives an idea of when they should be ready for picking, and the farm offers play areas, a farm trail and picnic spots for families to make a day of it. No entry charge, no need to book, already open for summer 2022.

Last Updated 27 June 2023

Continued below.