The lavender fields of Provence have been calling me ever since I clapped eyes on a gorgeous photo on Pinterest. Row upon row of plump purple haze paled into the horizon on a misty summer’s dawn. I was instantly enchanted and knew I’d have to see them for myself one day.
English Lavender Fields
Cutting back to reality and three years on I still haven’t got myself to Provence. Such is life. But then I discovered that there are home-grown English lavender farms and there’s one only an hour’s drive from home. I paid a visit to the aromatic Mayfield Lavender Farm in Surrey last weekend to give me a quick lavender fix until I make it to Provence. Because I will get there one day you know…
A visit to a lavender field is an assault on the senses. The sight of billowing blue and purple rows disappearing into a hazy horizon took my breath away. Next, stepping between the rows of lavender, I was enveloped by the aromatic scent that permeated the air. And then I became aware of the gentle buzzing of happy little bees bumbling away in their sweet little world.
The lavender fields at Mayfield are selfie heaven. I’m not big on selfies (well when you get to my age…) but people were posing, pouting and posturing amongst the purple. A classic red telephone box in the middle of the field made the perfect prop for many a facebook profile pic and the red against the purple looked amazing. Little gazebos can be rented for private parties amongst the lavender.
There’s a café at Mayfield and also a pop-up shop selling anything from fresh posies of lavender to organic essential oil, soap, lotions and even lavender tea. The smell when I stepped inside was almost overpowering.
So, you might want to visit a lavender field yourself before the season’s done – there’s still time. Lavender usually flowers from mid-June until mid-August depending on the weather.
There are quite a few English lavender fields popping up all over England and I’ve listed the ones I could find below. Hopefully, there’s one in your area that you can visit.
Check out the lavender farms’ websites first because some farms will only allow visitors as part of a tour. Also the flowering and visitor seasons vary between each one with some finishing mid-July and others staying open until the end of August and even up to September.
If there’s a lavender field or farm near you that I’ve missed please let me know and I can add it to the list which I’ll update every year.
Have you visited a lavender field? If not you should – it’s good for the soul!
Where to find English lavender fields
Mayfield Lavender Farm – Croydon Lane, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 3BE
English Hampshire Lavender – Hartley Park Farm Business Centre, Selborne Rd, Alton GU34 3HS
Somerset Lavender – Horsepond Farm, Faulkland, Somerset BA3 5WA
Norfolk Lavender – Caley Mill, Heacham, King’s Lynn, Norfolk PE31 7JE
Shropshire Lavender – Wellbank Farm, Pickstock Newport, Shropshire TF10 8AH
Hitchin Lavender – Cadwell Farm, Ickleford, Hitchin Herts, SG5 3UA
Cotswold Lavender – Hill Barn Farm, Snowshill, Broadway, Worcestershire, WR12 7JY
Yorkshire Lavender – The Yorkshire Lavender Farm, Terrington, York, YO60 6PB
World’s Way Lavender, Wintringham, York, YO17 8HW
Pennine Lavender – Greenbottom Farm, Hoylandswaine, Sheffield, South Yorkshire, S36 7JA
Isle of Wight Lavender (no website) – Staplehurst Grange, Staplers Road, Isle of Wight, PO30 2LU
Welsh Lavender – Cefnperfedd Uchaf, Maesmynis, Builth Wells, Powys, Wales LD2 3HU
Wow, this looks so amazing! I had no idea how many places there were in the UK to see lavender. Thanks for the list!
The fields are beautiful – a visit to see them is good for the soul!
Lovely aren’t they ? We went to one this year in the Cotswolds so picturesque!
I think it’s going to be an annual event for us now!
Oh wow, I didn’t know about these thanks for letting us know where they are! I will be heading out with my camera soon! 🙂
They are so photogenic but you’ll have to wait until next year – the season’s over now.
Aren’t they just gorgeous?! I went a couple of years ago (and may have bought just about everything edible in the shop – lavender flapjacks, biscuits, fudge :-D) It amazed me how close these were to London as it really felt like being in Provence and as for those gazebos, a friend of mine loved the fields so much she nearly booked one of the gazebos for her civil wedding!
How wonderful to be married surrounded by all that colour and scent. I have a thing about fields full of flowers; poppy fields, sunflowers or swathes of bluebells so I loved every minute of that visit – and so close to home! I think it might be an annual visit now 🙂
I love this list of lavender fields! I need to go to one of these one day!!
Go once and you’ll want to go again!
I had no idea there were lavender fields in England. So pretty!
They’re so lovely to visit 🙂
Super awesome resource here! I can’t imagine how beautiful this place is and how amazing it smells. Looks like heaven on Earth.
It was gorgeous – something I’m going to do every year now that I know how lovely it is!
So gorgeous! Cotswold Lavender is really not far from me so I’ve got no excuse for missing it next year after remembering too late for the last two!
You must go next year! I’ll try and remember to remind you… 🙂
So gorgeous, I would love to go there! I’m a photographer and this is a dream!
I had a lovely time with my camera – but it’s so lovely you should spend time just soaking it all in 🙂
Beautiful photos! I have always wanted to go to a lavender field that we have close by. I can just imagine how wonderful it must have smelled!
Thanks Christina, It was a lovely way to spend an hour or two and the smell was divine 🙂
I adore lavender and have always wanted to visit a lavender field. Your pictures and stunning!
I’ve been meaning to go for about three years – it was worth the wait!
Beautiful photos! The lavender fields of Provence have always been high on my list. I admittedly didn’t know they existed elsewhere. Next time I’m in England I’m going to try to add these to my list!
I hope you do – I think I’ll go every year now I know they’re so close 🙂
Such gorgeous photos – i’ve seen a few blogs on lavender farms but should really make a plan to visit one with my daughter.
I hope there’s one near to you, they’re so lovely to visit!