August-September is when sunflowers bloom in the UK — and plenty of farms and fields near London invite you to pick your own. If you're making a special journey, check ahead to ensure the flowers are out. British summers are anything but predictable.
Pick your own sunflowers at Garsons Farm, Esher, Surrey
Consisting of a farm shop down in Hampshire, and a huge PYO farm in Surrey, Garsons has most of the pick-your-own market covered. Among the myriad fields of fruit and veg — many over by the time the sunflowers are in bloom — you'll find a couple of patches dedicated to the yellow blooms.
Garson's PYO sunflowers, Winterdown Road, West End, Esher, Surrey, KT10 8LS. You must book a Farm Pass in advance of your visit or you won't be allowed in — they cost £4 per adult/£1 per child. Sunflowers are already ready for picking for the 2022 season.
Pick your own sunflowers at Hitchin Lavender, Hertfordshire
If you've seen any photos of Hitchin Lavender, they've probably been of the eponymous purple crop. But in among those lavender hues are several acres of yellow, where the sunflowers are grown (with sweeping countryside views to boot). There's also a tea room, lavender museum and play area on site, all of which are free to visit.
Sunflowers at Hitchin Lavender, Cadwell Farm, Ickleford, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 3UA. Sunflower field is expected to open in mid-August 2022, keep an eye on the website for updates. There's an entry fee of £7.50 per person to visit the field, and you'll need to book in advance.
Pick your own sunflowers at The Pop Up Farm, Hertfordshire
Yep, London's fetish for pop-ups has reached the fields of Hertfordshire. The Pop Up Farm is there all year, but only opens to the public for certain seasons, with focus very much on educating people about farming.
They love their pumpkins around here, but the sunflowers get a look in too, with the fields open for picking and a Sunflower Festival in August.
Sunflower Festival at The Pop Up Farm, J9 of the M1, St Albans, AL3 8HT. Due to open some time in August 2022, keep an eye on the website for details (mid-July update here).
Pick your own sunflowers at Stanhill Farm, Kent
Fruit is the primary focus at Dartford's Stanhill Farm, but come August, when much of the fruit has gone, it's sunflower season.
Secateurs are available to borrow from the hut (adults only, £5 deposit), and sunflowers are priced on number of stems — £1.50 each, each or five for £5.
Stanhill Farm, Birchwood Road, Wilmington, Dartford, Kent, DA2 7HD. Sunflowers are now ready for picking for 2022. No need to book in advance.
Pick your own flowers at Blooming Green, Kent
If you love flowers — of any kind — you need to know about Blooming Green. The flower farm, located near Maidstone in Kent, is open to the public one day a week, when you can fill a bucket from the acre of flowers for a set price. Here's a video from our 2018 visit — we went in June, so too early for sunflowers, but they are usually available later in the season.
