The Best Pick-Your-Own Farms Near London
UNSPLASH/CHRISTIANN KOEPKE
Maynards Fruit, Kent
Open: 9.30am-5.30pm every day; out of season, please call before visiting
Maynards is a family run fruit farm started by David and Mary back in 1952. One of the longest established fruit farms in East Sussex, its site is now designed with family days out in mind. Once you've had your fill of fruit picking, head down to the Shed for an apple juice or scoop of Maynards’ own ice-cream. If you’re looking to make a day of it, The Bull borders the farm at Three Leg Cross and just down the road is Ticehurst, with a couple of other classic country pubs.
Wadhurst, Kent, TN5 7HQ
Visit MaynardsFruit.co.uk
New House Farm, Sussex
Open: 9am-5pm every day
New House Farm is yet to release its pick-your-own dates for 2022, but is well worth bookmarking for later in the year. This farm is set within the beautiful Sussex countryside on the outskirts of Horsham. It’s worth a visit just to see the renovated 16th-century barn, which now houses the teashop and café. The shop sells locally sourced products including fresh fruit and veg, bread, meat, wine, cider and ale, plus cheese, ready meals and local crafts. In the tearoom you can choose from locally baked cakes and cupcakes, sandwiches, breakfasts and ploughman’s lunches.
Horsham, Sussex, RH12 4RU
Visit NewHouseFarmShop.co.uk
Secretts Farm, Surrey
Open: Monday-Saturday 8.30am-5.30pm; Sunday 10am-4pm
Secretts of Milford is a 150-acre farm established in 1938 that still produces a wide range of heritage vegetables such as carrots and beetroot, which it sells to many top restaurants in the South East. As well as selling a range of craft gin, it’s got a butchers, tearoom, English wine merchant and ethical clothing and gift shop. The picking season begins on 15th May with its pick-your-own asparagus weekend, when guests can follow a few hours in the field with an asparagus-themed menu.
Milford, Surrey, GU8 5HU
Visit Secretts.co.uk
Cammas Hall, Essex
Open: Tuesday-Sunday 9am-4pm.
Cammas Hall won Pick Your Own Farm of the Year in 2021, which comes as no surprise when you visit its beautiful farm. On the Essex-Hertfordshire border, it’s easily reached from London and you can pick your own until October, when squashes, sweetcorn, pumpkins and sunflowers are all up for grabs. Cammas holds events and workshops throughout the year and fires up its outdoor food-wired pizza oven during weekends. There’s also a maize maze and children’s play area, which little ones will love.
Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex, CM22 7JT
Visit CammasHall.co.uk
Crockford Bridge Farm Shop, Surrey
Open: Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 10am-4.30pm.
In Addlestone, Crockford Bridge Farm has 80 acres of land and is one the oldest farms in Surrey. Since the 70s it’s been owned by the same family who specialise in traditional methods, growing produce without the use of polytunnels. Crockford Bridge also sells pumpkins during the autumn months and Christmas trees later in the year, both of which can be handpicked from the allotments. There’s a lovely tea shack on site where you can enjoy cakes, sandwiches and quiches, as well as an ice-cream parlour which has 24 flavours made with the farm’s own fruit.
Weybridge, Surrey, KT15 2BU
Visit CrockfordBridgeFarm.co.uk
Stanhill Farm, Kent
Open: Tuesday-Saturday 9.30am-4pm; Sunday 10am-3pm.
Head to Stanhill Farm in Dartford to enjoy 150 acres of farmland. Just a short drive from central London, the farm is managed by two brothers who harvest up to 30 varieties of fruit and veg each year. Pick up a container from the shop and pick your own strawberries (a punnet is £3 while a whole basket is £15), then choose from raspberries, runner beans, courgettes, marrows and mini cucumbers. If you have kids in tow, head to Stanhill’s maize maze and finish the afternoon with lunch in the picnic area.
Dartford, Kent, DA2 7HD
Visit StanhillFarm.co.uk
UNSPLASH/SHALEV COHEN
Hawkswick Lodge Farm, Hertfordshire
Open: Tuesday-Friday 10am-6pm; Saturday & Sunday 9am-4pm.
This family run business is in the Hertfordshire countryside, just a 50-minute drive from London. Hawkswick specialises in soft fruit and visitors can pick raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, currants, plus three types of strawberries – Sonata, Jive and Malling, the latter of which is particularly juicy. Look out for the Black Blute blackberries which will be extra juicy this year (according to Hawkswick’s farmers) and the Ben Connan blackcurrants which can be made into delicious jams.
St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 6JG
Visit HawkswickFruit.co.uk
Parkside Farm, Enfield
Open: Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5.30pm; hours vary on Sunday depending on availability.
This family run farm has been harvesting fruit and veg since 1983. In recent years, it’s become famous for its strawberries which are grown on a table-top system, so you don’t have to bend down when picking the fruit. Parkside also has several areas of potted raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants, as well as allotments containing broad beans, courgettes, onions, beetroot and tomatoes. Tickets to the farm will be fully refunded against your PYO produce, which will be calculated by weight. Once you’ve filled up a basket or two, head to the farm shop to stock up on ice cream, honey and fresh juices.
Enfield, Greater London, EN2 8LA
Visit ParksideFarmPYO.co.uk
Flower Farm, Surrey
Open: Monday-Sunday 9am-5pm.
Easily reached from London, you’ll find Flower Farm in the pretty village of Godstone. Since 1974 the farm has been owned by the Deeley family who grow cherries, raspberries, strawberries and plums. Check the team’s Instagram to see when the fruit is ready to pick each week – the raspberries are particularly delicious. Stock up on treats at the farm shop and deli (the resident baker turns out fresh bread every day), then stop for a drink and bite to eat at the tearoom or pub garden, which holds regular live music evenings.
Godstone, Surrey, RH9 8BP
Visit Flower-Farm.co.uk
Hewitts Farm, Kent
Open: Tuesday-Saturday 9am-4.30pm; Sunday 9am-4pm.
Just outside Orpington in Kent, Hewitts Farm is set in 78 acres of land. The family grows a wide range of fruit and veg which can be picked throughout the seasons, including apples at the end of the summer. Bring your own box or use one of the farm's punnets, before heading to the shop where you can buy organic eggs, apple and pear juice, and a range of condiments and preserves.
Orpington, Kent, BR6 9BX
Visit HewittsFarm.co.uk
Garsons Farm, Surrey
Open: Monday-Saturday 9am-4pm; Sunday 10am-4pm.
This is the UK’s largest pick-your-own farm and one of the oldest on this list – the Garson family has been growing crops on the estate for 150 years. Ahead of your visit, be sure to check the website’s crop map which has daily updates on availability. The farm shop at Esher has a deli, bakery and fruit and veg counter, while the partner shop at Tichfields, just a short drive away, has a great selection of homemade pastries, local wines and hampers filled with artisan goodies.
Esher, Surrey, KT10 8LS
Visit Garsons.co.uk
Copas Farm, Various Locations
Open: Tuesday-Thursday 10am-5pm; Friday-Sunday 10am-4pm.
Copas Farms has two PYO farms – one at Cookham in Berkshire and the other at Iver in Buckinghamshire. Head to the Iver site for strawberries, raspberries, opal plums, sweetcorn, spinach, beetroot, French beans and runner beans. Cookham also has redcurrants, blackcurrants and sweetcorn. In September, both farms expect to have delicious Bramley, Cox and Discovery apples. Tickets are only released a few days in advance, so be sure to check the website for the latest crop updates and availability.
Iver, Buckinghamshire, SL0 0LU; Cookham, Berkshire, SL6 9RF
Visit CopasFarms.co.uk
UNSPLASH/DAIGA ELLABY
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.