by Anna Hann
posted on July 28, 2022
The sight of a rolling lavender field might conjure up travel magazine images of Provence. But you don’t have to cross the Channel to wander among these oh-so-soothing blooms. In the UK, fields of lavender flowers emerge from June but can still be seen till mid-August.
The popularity of British lavender fields is growing, proving to be an idyllic location for a summertime stroll, or as a perfect backdrop for wedding, baby, or family photos. More lavender farms are starting to host special events to make the season extra memorable with outdoor performances, picnics, and guided walks on offer.
For a sweetly scented day out, here are five lavender fields to try this summer.
Bring your own scissors to snip a bouquet of blooms from the main lavender field at Hitchin Lavender. But for the most picturesque view, visit their display field, which has an impressive 60 varieties. There’s also a sunflower field and wildflower meadow to wander through before stopping at The Wagon for ice cream. Pure, summertime bliss.
Where? Hitchin Lavender is nestled in rural Hertfordshire, around 30 minutes northeast of Luton or just under an hour’s drive southwest of Cambridge.
The lavender field in Somerset bursts into bloom in July, and from early August, they begin harvesting the flowers to extract the precious essential oil. Some of the oil is used to handcraft products for their farm shop where you can pick up pillow mists, candles, and lavender bags bundled in pretty Liberty prints. If you visit Somerset Lavender after the harvest and miss the full display, there’s a field of vibrant sunflowers to admire instead.
Where? Only 20 minutes south of Bath.
London-based? Within the M25, there are 25 acres of organic lavender at Mayfield Lavender Farm & Fields in Surrey. Hop on a tractor tour then find a spot under an open-sided pavilion for a lavender-infused afternoon tea with a view of the blooms.
Where? 15 miles from Central London in Banstead, Surrey.
Open year-round (but undoubtedly at its most alluring in the summertime), Norfolk Lavender is an established lavender farm with nearly 100 acres dedicated to this fragrant crop. Pick up a lavender plant to create a mini lavender garden at home or choose one of the aromatherapy products made from Norfolk Lavender’s essential oils as a memento of your visit.
Where? Just over an hour’s drive from Norwich, not far from the Norfolk coast.
Family-run Yorkshire Lavender cultivates various lavenders in shades from the palest lilac to the deepest purple. Pre-book a picnic, and you can sit, snack, and sip among the scented blooms. Bringing kids? They’ll love the lavender maze, play area, and hillside snakes and ladders.
Where? 14 miles north of York in the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
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