by Anna Hann
posted on May 26, 2023
You don’t have to cross the English Channel to Provence to stroll among the oh-so-soothing blooms of sweet lavender. In the UK, lavender flowers blossom in late June and through July and lavender farms and fields throw open their gates to welcome visitors to walk through rows of scented blooms.
The popularity of lavender fields is growing, with more and more people choosing them as a beautiful backdrop for their wedding, baby, or family photos. You don’t need to be a professional shutterbug, either. The fields are top fodder for Instagram snaps. To boost their appeal beyond leisurely ambles and the opportunity for some gorgeous pics, lavender farms host special events to make the season extra memorable, with outdoor performances, picnics, and guided walks on offer.
Book the perfect car to get out and about in the British countryside over the 2023 lavender season and take your pick of eight glorious lavender fields.
Cotswold Lavender takes its lavender seriously. Thirty-five varieties are grown across 70 acres creating a striking display of mauve hues interspersed with other crops and wildflowers.
Pop into the distillery to see how lavender oil is produced, or take kids along the Beechwood Trail, a woodland area with shady patches and a viewing point across the Vale of Evesham.
Where? Near the National Trust’s Snowshill Manor and two miles south of Broadway, Cotswold Lavender is not far off the A44.
When? 14 June till 6 August 2023.
Bring scissors to snip a bouquet of blooms from the main lavender field at Hitchin Lavender. But for the most picturesque view, visit Hitchin Lavender’s 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.
When? Hitchin Lavender opens for the season on 3 June 2023, with the Lavender blooming from the end of June until mid-August.
Row upon row of lavender create striking stripes on a South Downs hillside — Lordington Lavender is a sight to behold. But you’ll have to have your wits about you.
This hidden gem is only open for a few days during the peak blooming season, giving it a certain exclusivity. Wander through the lavender with a gentle soundtrack of buzzing bees and watch butterflies dance across the blooms.
Where? Seven miles northwest of Chichester in West Sussex. It’s also easy to reach Lordington Lavender if you drive south down the A3 from London or Guildford.
When? Open for just five days from 12 July to 16 July 2023, with a few extra evening events available to pre-book.
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 Somerset Lavender’s farm shop, where you can pick up pillow mists, candles, and lavender bags bundled in pretty Liberty prints.
If you visit after the harvest and miss the full display, there’s a field of vibrant sunflowers to admire instead. You can even pick your own to take home.
Where? Only 20 minutes south of Bath.
When? Somerset Lavender is open from 1 May 2023 every week until the end of September. It’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
London-based? Within the M25 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.
This year, you can watch a production of Annie Get Your Gun at the farm’s new Lavender Theatre or book tickets for a prosecco and paella event on a balmy summer evening.
Where? Just fifteen miles from Central London in Banstead, Surrey.
When? The gift shop and coffee bar are open year-round, but the lavender farm opens on 10 June 2023 and closes for the season at the end of August.
Open year-round (but undoubtedly at its most alluring in the summertime), Norfolk Lavender is one of the UK’s most established lavender farms, 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.
When? It’s open year-round, but if you pop in in July or early August, you can see the lavender in the distillery where the fragrant oil is extracted.
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? Fourteen miles north of York in the Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
When? It’s open from April to September, but the best lavender blooms can be seen in late June.
Castle Farm is the largest lavender produced in the UK, so it knows a thing or two about this summertime flower. Take a 75-minute guided lavender tour to learn about the varieties grown on this lavender farm in Kent and see how the oil is extracted.
Otherwise, bring a picnic and find a pretty spot on the grassy headlands overlooking the Ladybird Lavender field surrounded by 60,000 plants. Before you leave, pick up a fresh lavender bunch or a bottle of Castle Farm lavender oil from the shop.
Where? The entrance to Castle Farm is down a private drive off the A225, halfway between Shoreham and Eynsford in Kent.
When? The lavender season runs from late June until late July, when the blooms are harvested. Tickets are available to book from June.
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