Where to visit sunflower fields in the UK

Sunflower fields in the UK Updated for 2023

For years I’ve been meaning to get to more flower fields after going a couple of years ago to Cotswold Lavender. I’ve not managed to get to any until this summer, when I’ve had a spare day to book into Glebe Farm sunflowers. You can read about my visit to Glebe Farm further down the page. And not forgetting my list over over 70 sunflower fields to visit in the UK.

Tips for visiting sunflower fields

Time of year for sunflowers. Sunflower fields usually bloom for around 8-10 weeks, depending on how hot it is or how much rain. Expect most sunflower farms to open from end of July to early September. This depends on where in the country and obviously the weather too.

Always check websites or social media beforehand. As these are generally working farms, sunflowers might not be grown every year (or in the same location). The fields opening times all depend on the weather, with different fields opening any time from July through to September. Websites and (usually) Facebook will keep the public informed of when the blooms are ready to visit. 

Pre-book tickets. Some fields say you can just turn up, but pre-booking is becoming more popular. Some is down to Covid, but as they become more popular, booking also helps control numbers. After all, most of us want to take photos without lots of people in the background. Don’t forget to take your tickets with you as they may be checked – usually on your mobile is fine.

Wear suitable footwear. You might want pretty clothes and sandals in your photos, but the ground can be muddy if it’s rained before.

Think about timings for photos.  You don’t really want harsh midday sun for photos – you could end up with lots of shadows on faces when taking photos next to the flowers. So opt for a slightly cloudier day, or try early or sunset when the sun is lower. Some sunflower fields offer sunset slots, so if you’re into your photography, watch out for those.

Check the rules for photos and taking tripods. if you’re not a pro booking a photo shoot slot.  I just took along my selfie stick as I went alone. I debated taking my tripod but it’s another thing to carry around and I didn’t know how busy it would be to get it set up, and not interrupt other people’s enjoyment of walking around.

Take secateurs (or sturdy scissors) as you’ll usually need to pick your own sunflowers. Some places you can borrow or rent some.

Check out the facilities available before you book/visit.  Some sunflower fields are just the field. Others are part of larger pick your own farms, so you can spend more time there picking your own fruit or veg, visit their cafes, or take part in other activities. Make sure you know what you want to spend beforehand if you’re taking children who might want to do all the extra paid for activities.

Leave the fields as you saw them. Take litter home, keep to the pathways, and try not to damage plants as you walk past, especially when it’s busy.

Make a day of it. For smaller set ups, opening up these fields is likely to be a way for the farms to diversify their usual income streams. They often bring in independent coffee sellers, or crafts people, so support them where you can.

If you’re doing a full day out, take some newspaper or towels to wet and wrap around your sunflowers to avoid them wilting too much after a day of being picked before you get them home.

I always keep an eye out for other sunflower fields around the country for if we’re out and about and in the area.  Here’s some of the other sunflower fields that are open to the public.

Sunflower fields to visit in the UK

Bristol

Farringtons, Farrington Gurney – From early August, dates tbc. If you can’t wait, they also have Dahlia picking.

Buckinghamshire 

Farmer Paul’s sunflowers, Aylesbury. Open from 3 August £2 entry, and they offer a scavenger trail for kids.

Sunflowers at The Patch Milton Keynes – activities for little ones like the barrel train, plus extra instagram photo opportunity settings. Opened early August.

Lillingstone PYO, Stockholt Farm, Buckingham – open 10-5, from August. Some days there are also Shetland pony rides.

Peterley Farm, Great Missenden – due to open for sunflowers in mid august. They also have a farm shop.

Cambridgeshire

Hill Farm PYO, Chesterton Peterborough, Hill Farm has various fruit and veg for PYO, with sunflowers likely to open in September.

Cheshire

Libby’s Patch, Gawsworth – sunflower maze – not open in 2023.

Kenyon Hall Farm, Croft, Warrington – keep an eye out for August opening. Sunflowers plus maize maze and other activities.

Cornwall

Cornish Maize maze and fun farm – open for sunflowers from late July.

Cumbria

Lakeland Maze Farm Park, Kendal – PYO sunflowers, plus wildflowers to enjoy. Open from August.

Derbyshire

Ashover Family Farm, Ashover, Chesterfield – over 500k sunflowers to walk through, dates tbc

Village Sunflowers at Oak Tree Farm, Barlow – in aid of charity, refreshments, dogs welcome. 2 acre patch.

Devon

Strawberry Fields, Lifton. Sunflowers will be aready from mid August to early Autumn, they have wildflowers, and the maze will be open over summer.

Jolly Sunflowers, Silverton, Exeter – PYO sunflowers – not open in 2023

Sunflower Corner, Mayfield, Swinscoe Hill, Ashbourne – opening 11th August 2023.

Dorset 

Copet Hill , Bridport – Not only are there plenty of paths through the beautiful sunflowers, they also have nature walks and wildlife ponds. Usually August

The Dorset Sunflower Trail, Maiden Castle Farm, Dorchester. The 20-acre trail will be planted in time for the summer holidays, estimated to open the first weekend of August. You can eat at the cafe or take your own food for a picnic.

Cat and Fiddle Farm and Sopley Farm both near Christchurch – Pick your own farms that also have sunflowers.

Co Durham

East Grange Farm, High Shincliffe – sunflower trail (and maize fields) now cover 12 acres. Opening mid August, booking required.

Essex

Writtle Sunflowers Pooty Pools Farm, Chelmsford. July opening, and there’s plenty of parking, picnic space a small children’s maze and other flowers. You can buy food from the food vans. 

The Sunflower Patch, Foxes Farm Produce,Colchester – Ticket booking in advance with evening sessions available. Lots of other fun activities for the family including a corn maize. Open til 13th August.

Gloucestershire

Cotswold Farm Park sunflowers, Cheltenham – now as part of their flower festival, where they’ve got fields of wildflowers and sunflowers. Get in free to the sunflowers with tickets to the farm park, or buy flower only tickets. End July through to end of August opening.

Over Farm, Over – early August to Setpember.

Cattle Country farm Park, Berkley – sunflower fields included in the farm park price. Looks like sunflowers aren’t on for 2023.

Greater Manchester

Dunham Massey Farm, Altrincham – go for ice cream and enjoy the sunflower trail in August, 10-30-5.30 daily.

Hampshire 

Bourne Valley PYO, near Andover – no sunflowers noted in 2023.

The Flower Pot, Hartley Court Farm, Hartley Wespall, Hook. Pick your own sunflowers from August 4th.

Picking Patch Bickton, Fordingbridge. Visit the PYO sunflowers set times between July and August, check website before going..

Sam’s Sunflowers at Stoke Fruit Farm, Hayling Island. Will be back open in July, but check online for their live updates. They sell their own produce including at their milk refill station.

Rogate Sunflowers, near Petersfield and Midhurst – open daily, August. Haystakes, tractor rides, local food and drink. Open later in the year for pumpkin picking.

Herefordshire

Gilbert’s Farm, Little Marcle (Lower House Farm) – PYO sunflowers as well as other flowers available. Open from 3rd August.

Hertfordshire 

Hitchin Lavender also have sunflowers from August, alongside their lavender. Cheaper to book ahead.

PopUp Farm, St Albans – sunflower festival with date updates on their facebook page.

Cammas Hall Farm, Needham Green – sunflowers later in the summer, alongside other PYO crops and plenty of activities and events going on.

Kent 

Stanhill Farm Wilmington Dartford – 2 small plots of sunflowers rather than fields, August to September

Meopham PYO – tea room and dog friendly. Keep up to date on their facebook page.

Lower Ladysden Farm, Goudhurst – ready to pick from mid July til September.

Four Winds Farm, Bidborough, Tunbridge Wells – opening 7th August for the sunflower maze and PYO area.

Leicestershire

Cattows Farm, Heather, Leicestershire – Sunflowers will be back again this summer, expected opening 3rd August.

Lincolnshire

Vine House Farm, Deeping St Nicholas – one of the largest sunflower growers in the UK. Visits are held through sunflower walks held in August

Norfolk

Wroxham Barns, Hovecote – an all in one family visitor attraction with sunflowers usually mid to late August.

Wayford Nurseries, Stalham – PYO with a variety of fruit and veg, coffee shop, and farm shop. Dates to be confirmed.

Grange Farm, Hockwold – open from August. Watch out for their pizza nights in the sunflower field.

Northamptonshire

Wappenham Farm, Towcester – sunflower patch and maize maze, wildflowers and family fun. Open from 29th July

Overstone Grange Farm, Kettering Rd – sunflowers PYUO and maize maze

Nottinghamshire

The Sunflower Experience, Nottingham PYO Pumpkins, Southwell. They grow 30,000+ sunflowers and will be opening a maize maze for 2023. They open late July – August.

School Farm, West Drayton, Retford – open now for sunflowers. Also have wildflowers, friendly farm animals, and a maize maze.

Oxfordshire

Millets Farm Centre, Frilford – not just pick your own, they have a farm shop, restaurant, garden centre, animals, and put on summer activities like a maze and more. This is definitely an all day outing.  Sunflower picking raises money for Sobell House.

Rectory Farm Stanton St John – this is a popular sunflower field, alongside full PYO and farm shop. They also put on other activities. Late summer opening expected for sunflowers.

High Lodge Farm, Culham. Fundraising for a local children’s hospice, the sunflowers will be back again for day time and sundowner sessions. Early August, 4 days a week Thursday to Sunday.

Somerset

Frogmary Green Farm, South Petherton. Alongside sunflowers, they have wildflowers and plenty more to see and enjoy.

Palette & Pasture, Trudoxhill near Frome. Do some of their special event trails, or just eat their own gelato after picking sunflowers. Mid August opening, traditional yellow and coloured sunflowers.

Staffordshire

Manor Farm Fruits, Watling Street, Hints, Tamworth – free access when buying PYO tickets. Open late July.

Suffolk

Frogs Farm, Eye – visit the sunflower maze

Rougham Estate, J45 A14, Bury St Edmunds – free parking, refreshments on offer. Open now, usually for around 3 weeks.

Surrey

Garsons Farm, Esher – PYO with selection of crops to choose from, you just drive and park next to the crop you want to pick. Sunflowers already open!

Priory Farm, Redhill – sunflower field in summer, with PYO daffodils and pumkins at other times of the year. Open early August. Catch the tractor ride to the sunflower field. Book ahead.

Warwickshire

Bostock Sunflowers, Birdingbury Fields Farm, near Rugby – opening 10.30-6 daily, opens end of July. Maze in the maize, tractor rides and refreshments.

Glebe Farm Sunflowers, Brailes. Small set up, but well managed and friendly.  Eat out at the pub opposite, and there’s a park nearby to let the children run around.  Early August opening.

Lodge Farm sunflowers, Kineton. 3 acres of sunflowers, only 50p a stem, Lodge Farm support charities each year from the sunflowers too . Nearly next to Compton Verney so make a day of it.  Not opening in 2023 due to poor weather and poor crop.

Malt Kiln Farm Stretton under Fosse with PYO and farm shop. Tends to open late July, there’s plenty of parking too.

Lower Clopton PYO, Upper Quinton, Stratford upon Avon – no sunflowers for 2023.

West Midlands

Becketts Farm Sunflowers , Wythall – free sunflower field to visit, but no picking allowed. Expect to be open the end of July for around 4 weeks. Restaurant, farm shop and events on site.

West Sussex

Tulleys Sunflowers, Turner’s Hill – entrance to the sunflowers isn’t at the main Tulley Farm site. Expected to open in August.

Worcestershire

Great Worcester Maze, Broadfield Farm, Powick – 3 maize mazes, plus sunflower patch.

Yorkshire

Spilman Farming, Church Farm, Thirsk – pick your own. Expected August opening.

Birchfield Ice Cream Farm, Summerbridge – take your own secateurs, photo opportunities. Doesn’t look like they’re opening for sunflowers in 2023.

Eastfield Farm Soft Fruit, Tickhill, Doncaster – Sunflowers as well as wildflowers and a maize maze. Open from late July.

Farmer Copley’s, Ravensknowle Farm, Pontefract – dates still tbc for 2023. Lots of photo opportunities, and 3 stems included in entry price.

Kemps Farm, Barton-Le-Street – open from August.

Redwood Farm, Ardsley Reservoir, Wakefield – PYO fruit, with sunflowers due August & September. Keep an eye out for opening times.

Wales 

Rhossili sunflowers, Poundffald Farm,Three Crosses, Swansea – beautiful photo opporttunities, Don’t forget your free sunflower seeds after the trail. Opened july (you can walk round the National Trust fields for free, but but obviously there’s a fee for the commercial fields).

Scotland

Cairnie Fruit Farm, Cairnie, Cupar Fife – a PYO with plenty of produce options as well as the sunflower fields. A mega maze is included in the ticket price.  Mid September opening.

Don’t forget to check dates and flower status before visiting.

Glebe Farm Sunflowers

I have a couple of options just over the border from us: Glebe Farm opened 2 years ago and Lodge Farm near Compton Verney which has been going a little longer. The Glebe Farm sunflower field track is just off the village high street so it worked really well.  It also meant that it wasn’t too busy.

Following Covid, like others they were doing booking only, but this has now lapsed. I’d always recommend checking the sunflower field’s facebook page or websites before visiting to keep updates on how they’re blooming and whether they’re open.

Being an early bird, I like to get out to places at opening time, and I was 3rd person through the gate. Glebe Farm is a small basic set up – plenty of sunflowers with different routes to walk, field car parking, a few benches to aid photography opportunities. They also have a coffee seller at weekends, and when I visited there was a local painter setting up a stand near the entrance.  

When I visited, they were charging for a car – £7 per car with 6 stems included in that cost. Local walk-ins cost £6 with the same offer.  You can cut and buy extra stems which you pay for on exit. There’s no toilets, but you can take picnics to eat. Disabled parking is just by the entrance while other parking is further up the field with a very short walk.

The sunflowers were looking really good with large ones and the view above looking over to the village church. Along the right hand walk the flowers were slightly smaller and I chose these for my bunch.

As with most sunflower fields, suitable shoes are needed – it had been mostly dry when I went, so any shoes were fine, but walkways can be muddy depending on when you go. The field to walk to the entrance is bumpy, and obviously it’s a field – buggies and wheelchairs could be manageable but bumpy around the edge of the sunflowers. The walkways are quite narrow and there’s a small slope so I’m not sure it would be comfortable..

I think I’ll be making this an annual visit to Glebe Farm, but I’ll be looking out for other local flower fields to visit around the year too for seasonal photography opportunities.

Have you been to any sunflower fields this year yet? Where have I missed off the list?