Lavender season in London. As cherry blossom posts and wisteria hysteria gradually wither away on the 'gram, it means sweeping fields of lavender are nigh.
Here are some of our favourite lavender farms and fields to visit near London — all welcoming visitors in 2026. The closest lavender farm to central London is the very well-known Mayfield Lavender Farm in Banstead, though there are larger commercial fields in Kent, Hertfordshire and Hampshire.
London (and the UK's) lavender season normally falls June-August, with the best times to visit these fields usually falling in late June-early July. Check websites for tickets and more 2026 details, and remember to make sure the lavender's in bloom before you make a special trip, as the season can vary by a couple of weeks.
Closest to London: Mayfield Lavender Farm: Summer 2026
Just, *just* within the boundaries of London itself, Mayfield Lavender Farm is the closest large-scale lavender field to central London — but it's so much more than a (gorgeous) purple field. It gained Instagram fame a while back (partly thanks to a strategically-plonked red phone box), and the 2026 season is rather special — celebrating 20 years since the farm first opened to the public.
To mark the milestone, there's a whole lot more happening on the 25-acre farm this year. New attractions are opening, including The Potting Station where you can learn how to propagate your own lavender; The Lavender Labyrinth, a meditative space of calm and relaxation; and a Bee & Butterfly Exploration Trail. You can also offer long-term support to Mayfield through the Adopt-a-Plant scheme, and leave a personal message or dedication beneath newly planted lavender at the site.
As always, there's a selection of street food traders, as well as a cafe and shop on site, selling lavender ice cream, cream teas, cider (!), toiletries and other lilac-tinged treats. The Moments at Mayfield photo competition is back for 2026, with categories including Best Dressed, Best Family Photo, and Best Pet, but if you're taking part in a professional or extensive photoshoot, you'll need to register and pay a fee. No drones are allowed, and neither are picnics.
Your kids'll be thrilled to know that the farm's tractor train, Looby Loo, returns for 2026 too, and for a small extra charge you can ride a circuit of the farm (about 20 minutes). Sounds like a packed day out already, and that's before the Tree of Lavender Wishes, and the Spritz Cooler, a water feature to keep everyone chilled on hot days.
Tickets are available across three tiers (The Explorer, The Voyager and The Pathfinder) depending what you want to include in your purple day out. And for the first time, flexible Anyday tickets can be bought, meaning you're not tied to a specific date for your visit... ideal for the unpredictable weather. Details of what's included in each ticket are available here.
Mayfield Lavender Farm, 1 Carshalton Lane, Banstead, SM7 3JA. Open 6 June-23 August 2026 (the lavender normally peaks in July, and it may be harvested early if it's a hot summer).
The farm also has a nursery and farm shop based in Epsom and open year-round, with a cafe serving a lavender cream tea.
Castle Farm Lavender and The Hop Shop, Sevenoaks, Kent: Summer 2026
If you've taken the train between Orpington and Sevenoaks during lavender season, you'll have seen the bright purple fields next to the railway. They're part of the extensive Castle Farm empire, the largest producer of lavender in the UK — so naturally, they have a LOT going on during lavender season. Think guided tours through the fields and lavender distillery, picnics among the flowers and self-guided walks with plenty of photo opportunities (though no drones or commercial photography are permitted).
In our opinion, Castle Farm is the best lavender farm on this list for photography: sweeping, rolling purple hillsides as far as the eye can see, paired with rustic farm buildings and equipment. The closest you'll get to Provence, without deploying your passport.
The farm's 1,100 acres are spread all over this part of Kent, but the activity all takes place at Castle Farm near Shoreham. If you visit, sample the lavender ice cream available in the farm shop (open all year) — delish.
Castle Farm, Redmans Lane, Shoreham, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 7UB. Currently booking for 25 June-9 July 2026, but more dates will be added — possibly including earlier ones — when the progress of the crop has been assessed in early June.
The village of Otford, with its own solar system, is under 10 minutes' drive away if you want to make a day of it, as is Lullingstone Castle and the World Garden.
Hitchin Lavender, Hertfordshire: Summer 2026
If you want to know what 25 miles of lavender rows looks like, head to Hertfordshire and immerse yourself in the Hitchin Lavender fields.
Entry includes access to the fields, and you can pick a bag of lavender to take home (extra charge, add it to your order when booking, bring your own scissors). Lunches, cakes and drinks are available to buy in the cafe in the 17th century barn (as is afternoon tea, when booked in advance). The barn stays open late on Tuesday and Thursday nights for Farmhouse Evenings, serving sharing platters, with admission to the fields included — ideal for getting sunset snaps. Professional photography is permitted at an extra cost, though again, no drones are allowed.
There's a small museum on site (free entry), with a replica of the Perks & Llewellyn pharmacy, well-known in the 19th century for its lavender products. If you can tear your eyes away from the lavender for a minute or two, the hillside location of the farm offers views over the Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire countryside.
Hitchin Lavender, Cadwell Farm, Ickleford, Hertfordshire, SG5 3UA. Currently booking for 20 June-31 July 2026.
Finchingfield Camping and Lavender, Essex: Summer 2026
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Towards the north of Essex, Finchingfield is home to a camping and glamping site located in a wildflower meadow, with its own micro lavender farm on site.
Campers can visit the lavender field at any time during their stay — which means you can spend your evening, including sunset, immersed in the purple hues, before returning to your luxury tent for a lavender-induced snooze. Not much of a camper? A limited number of day visitor tickets are available for each day during the lavender season. There's also a call-out for volunteers to help with the lavender harvest at the end of the season. A cafe is on site selling snacks and drinks to visitors. No dogs allowed. The nearby village of Finchingfield is pretty darn picturesque too, with a duck pond and brook, windmill and pastel-hued houses.
Finchingfield Camping and Lavender, Howe Street, Finchingfield, Essex, CM7 4JB. Lavender is expected to bloom mid-July - August 2026.
Lavender Fields at Hartley Park Farm, Alton, Hampshire: Summer 2026
For a grand day out in the opposite direction, head to the Lavender Fields at Hartley Park Farm. Visiting the lavender itself is usually restricted to certain open days, when you can stroll through the seven varieties being grown, as well as a wildflower field. The rest of the time, the lavender shop is open to the public, and there's a coffee shop too, but no access to the fields.
Lavender Fields at Hartley Park Farm, Selborne Road, Alton, Hampshire, GU34 3HP. Keep an eye on the website for 2026 open days.
Lordington Lavender, Chichester, West Sussex: Summer 2026
10 acres of Maillette lavender are grown at Lordington Lavender in the South Downs each year, though open days to visit the field are restricted to a few days in July. On these days anyone (and their dog) is welcome to walk among the lavender and take photos, as well as enjoying tea and cake overlooking the purple paradise.
Lordington Lavender, Lordington, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 9DX. Open days 8-12 and 18-19 July 2026.
Lavender gardens in London: Vauxhall Park
Did you know there's a lavender garden in central London, just five minutes walk from a Tube station? Vauxhall Park has a few rows of the purple plant, with room to wander between them, and space around them for a picnic. Also look out for the lavender-themed commemorative fountain nearby, as well as the model village.
Within London, Kennington Park and Kew Gardens are also home to pockets of lavender — ideal if you're looking to inhale the heady scent without doing a day trip. There's also a one-off lavender harvest in Carshalton on 25-26 July 2026.
