8 of the best places to see flower fields near London

Escape the hustle and bustle of London and take in the beauty of the surrounding countryside with this guide to the best flower fields near the city. Whether you prefer lavender or sunflowers, there are plenty of colourful blooms to admire just a short drive away.

The weather may not reflect it but summer is not over in the London area. You still have time to take in beautiful flower fields just a quick train journey away from the city. As a matter of fact, many of the flower fields don’t reach peak bloom until July or August!

I am always up for a flower field photo op, and England is a prime place for these kinds of adventures. British florals are world-renowned after all. Some of the most popular flower pop-ups near London are the lavender fields in Mayfield and Hitchin, but they aren’t the only fields you can visit in the area and there is more than purple blooming in the summertime. Sunflowers are finally in full bloom at many different U.K. farms and you won’t want to miss them! I’ve put together this guide to help you find the best flower fields and how to get to each of them using England’s famed public transport.

best flower fields near London ↴

Hitchin Lavender Farm, Hitchin
In 2021, Luke and I dropped by the Hitchin Lavender Farm together to take in the rows of purple. Unfortunately, we went a little early in the season, so we missed peak bloom. Don’t make our mistake— hit Hitchin up in late July through late August for the most potent purple.
GETTING THERE | Take the train from London St. Pancras to Hitchin station.
ADMISSION | start from £6
Mayfield Lavender Fields
In 2017, I visited the Mayfield Lavender Fields solo. I took the train out of London and then walked along the road, listening to a podcast until I smelled the fragrant scent of lavender and saw sprawling fields of purple.
GETTING THERE | Take the train from Victoria Station
towards Reigate. You’ll need to walk 20 minutes to the field or jump on the local bus.
ADMISSION | £4

3. The Pop-up Farm, St. Albans

Sunflower lovers won’t want to miss the Pop-Up Farm near St. Albans. These sprawling fields of yellow as far as the eye can see are only a quick train stop from London’s St. Pancras station. The flower farm is owned by a family who has been stewards of Hertfordshire land for generations and cares deeply about the environment. One of their goals for the Pop-up Farm is to help reconnect people to the land and get everyone excited about food and flowers.

GETTING THERE | St. Albans is just a short train ride from London St. Pancras train station. However, the Pop-up farm is along the highway, so driving here is your best bet.

ADMISSION | 2021 ticket prices haven’t been released yet, so keep up-to-date by checking out their website.

4. Cotswold Farm Park, Cheltenham

Cotswold Farm Park was created with sustainable farming and animal welfare in mind. The farm regularly hosts community events, so make sure to check out their website for details. Their sunflower field is open this year from August 27th through September 20th, meaning you still have plenty of time to book a visit.

GETTING THERE | Your best bet is to have a car with this one, sorry team.

ADMISSION | Visiting the flower fields is free when you book a Farm Pass (£16), but they will be releasing information about Flower Field only tickets, which are sure to be cheaper, in the coming weeks.

5. Castle Farm, Kent

Castle Farm in Kent boasts gorgeous lavender fields, which have now closed for the season. However, this is your reminder to plan ahead! From late June through late July, Castle Farm blooms with over 60,000 lavender plants. Their renowned lavender oil is sold on the on-site shop and is said to help you relax and aid in a good nights’ sleep— make sure to pick some up when you visit as a keepsake.

GETTING THERE | Find the best way to get to Castle Farm via train, bus, or car here.

ADMISSION | Tickets for 2022 lavender field visits will go live in June 2022, so keep an eye out.

6. Stanhill Farm, Kent

Just 17 miles from London is Stanhill Farm, boasting fields of strawberries and sunflowers. The sunflower fields don’t reach peak bloom until August and you can PYO (pick-you-own) for an additional charge. Stanhill also sells produce delivery boxes to help encourage people to support local farming.

GETTING THERE | Catch the train from London Bridge towards Sidcup. You’ll need to walk about 15 minutes from the closest train station.

ADMISSION | £1 entry + £1 per sunflower stem when you PYO

7. Winkworth Arboretum

Winkworth isn’t a typical flower field. In fact, it’s actually an arboretum, however, as it showcases more than just beautiful trees I thought to include it in this list. It is bursting with jewel-toned flowers from Bluebells to Azaleas. The azaleas at Winkworth were actually planted during World War II, making them a gorgeous little part of the area’s history. While the flowers tend to peak in the spring, there have been azalea sightings late into the summer. Winkworth is also awesome for foilage in the autumn!

GETTING THERE | Take the train from Waterloo (50-minute ride) to Godalming station. From there, hop on a bus.

ADMISSION | £9

8. Garsons Farm, Surrey

Garson’s is another farm that offers both fresh produce and fab florals. Here you can expect beautiful, towering sunflower fields peaking at the end of the summer season. Garson’s has been farming since 1871! The farm has new measures in place to keep people safe from COVID-19, including an online booking system to keep the number of people visiting the farm staggered.

GETTING THERE | Take the Victoria Line to Vauxhall. Then, jump on the train toward Guildford and jump off at Esher station. Take #458 bus to Princess Alice Hospice, where you’ll walk about 5 minutes to the farm.

ADMISSION | In order to visit Garson’s you need a “Farm Pass”, which can be purchased online for £4. You’ll also need to book an available time slot for your visit.