Dazzling Yellow PYO Sunflower Farms And Fields Near London

Laura Reynolds
By Laura Reynolds Last edited 7 months ago

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Dazzling Yellow PYO Sunflower Farms And Fields Near London
A photo of a sunflower fields featuring hundreds of yellow flowers beneath a blue sky
Take your pick from an array of sunflower farms close to London. Photo: Bonnie Kittle via Unsplash

July-September is when usually sunflowers bloom in the UK — and plenty of farms and fields near London invite you to pick your own, or simply wander among the gorgeous yellow giants. If you're making a special journey to these sunflower fields, check ahead to ensure the flowers are out.

Pick your own sunflowers at Garsons Farm, Esher, Surrey

Consisting of a farm shop in Hampshire, and a huge PYO farm in Esher 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.

Sunflowers are priced at £1.49 each (2023), or five stems for £5.49 (an offer which includes gladioli and dahlias too). There's a garden centre, farm shop and restaurant on-site as well.

Garsons 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 £5 per adult/£2 per child. Sunflowers are now ready for picking for the 2023 season.

Sunflowers growing in close proximity in the middle of a sunflower field.
A beautiful way to spend a summer's day. Photo: Domenico Gentile via Unsplash

Pick your own sunflowers at Hitchin Lavender, Hertfordshire

If you've seen photos of Hitchin Lavender, they've probably been of the eponymous purple crop. But in among those lavender hues are several acres of yellow sunflowers are grown (with sweeping countryside views to boot). You can pick your own sunflowers directly from the field for a fee.

There's also a tea room, lavender museum, wildflower meadow, shops, street food selection and play area on site, all of which are free to visit. A nifty little afternoon out, then.

Sunflowers at Hitchin Lavender, Cadwell Farm, Ickleford, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 3UA. Sunflower field is expected to open late July-mid August 2023, keep an eye on the website for updates. There's an entry fee of £7 adult/£5.50 child to visit the field, and booking in advance is recommended.

Sunflower season at Four Winds Farm, near Tunbridge Wells

A PYO sunflower area and a sunflower maze are part of the summer fun at Four Winds Farm in Bidborough.

Better known for its pumpkin patch in autumn, the farm opens in the summer for anyone who wants to pluck their own sunflowers (take your own secateurs), or have fun getting lost in the sunflower maze, a field of yellow high enough to go over even most adults' heads. With a picnic area, and refreshments available on site, that's a day of your summer hols sorted.

Photographers can also hire the fields for private photo shoots.

Sunflowers at Four Winds Farm, Penshurst Road, Bidborough, Kent, TN3 0LL. Open 5-13 August 2023. Tickets £7 adults/£4 child, and must be booked in advance. Each ticket includes a free sunflower — additional flowers are charged for.

Writtle Sunflowers, Chelmsford, Essex

Located just outside Chelmsford, Writtle Sunflowers is a family-run farm that's been in the sunflower business for 20 years, with a hectare of sunflowers this year, and PYO available in certain patches. They're priced at £1 per stem, or six for £5, and you're advised to bring your own scissors or secateurs — they do have some available on site, but you might have to wait your turn in busy periods.

Yoga classes, photography, and sundown sessions are among the special events held in the sunflower field, and there are catering vans on site — though you're equally welcome to bring your own picnic.

Writtle Sunflowers at Pooty Pools Farm, Radley Green Road, Roxwell, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 4NW. You'll need to book in advance — 2023 season is expected to open around 22 July for approximately four weeks, but keep an eye on the website for details.

PYO Sunflowers at Tulleys Farm, Crawley,West Sussex

With year-round escape rooms, plus pumpkin and Halloween events in autumn, Christmas specials in winter, and drive-in cinema in the summer, Tulleys is worth knowing if you're into seasonal events in a rustic setting. But we're here to talk sunflowers.

12 acres of the West Sussex countryside just outside Crawley are given over to growing sunflowers, and taking photos is very much encouraged as you wander among them. Tulleys also offers special sunset sessions to capture the yellow-hued blooms at golden hour. Trucks selling drinks, ice creams and tacos park up on site for the season too.

Tulleys Sunflower Fields, Turners Hill Road, Turners Hill, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 4NA. Expected to open for the 2023 season in August — keep an eye on the website for details.

The Sunflower Patch at Foxes Farm Produce, Colchester, Essex

Sunflower season coincides with the opening of a five-acre corn maze at Foxes Farm's Colchester location and one ticket gives you access to both in the same visit, as well as a field of fun with activities including a tug of war, hula hooping and sack races.

The sunflowers are available to pick (bring your own secateurs), priced at £1 per head. Refreshment are available to buy, or bring your own snacks to enjoy in the picnic area.

The Sunflower Patch, Foxes Farm, Aldham, Colchester, CO6 3PR. Tickets must be booked in advance (£7 per person/£25 for a family of four). Anticipated opening 28 July-13 August 2023.

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. We're still awaiting details of the 2023 season — keep an eye on the website for updates.

Stanhill Farm, Birchwood Road, Wilmington, Dartford, Kent, DA2 7HD.

A close-up of a single sunflower, with others growing in the background.
Why buy sunflowers from the supermarket, when you could pick your own? Photo: Juno Jo via Unsplash

Pick your own flowers at Blooming Green, Kent

If you love flowers of any description 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.

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Photo: Londonist

Last Updated 04 August 2023

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