Summer is on the horizon, we’ve exhausted our local parks and are looking for a new outdoor venture. It’s time to get back to our (vine) roots.Pick your own farms are becoming ever more popular in London and the rest of the UK; they let you harvest your own fresh food, allowing you to quite literally handpick the best-looking fruit and veg straight from the vine. Not only can you get perfectly ripe produce at lower prices than your average supermarkets, but pick your own fruit farms also make for the most delightful family day out.Nothing says summer more than a basketful of fresh berries, a photo reel of the kids strawberry plucking and an al fresco dinner table of vibrant vine-ripened veggies to come home to afterwards. Just remember to stop the kids from tucking in as they go so that you can weigh and pay accurately at the end! Now grab your best sun hat and discover one of these top PYO fruit and veg farms in London and beyond this picking season.Please note that most pick your own farms are operating under different COVID-19 measures during summer 2020. Be sure to check their respective websites for updates before visiting, and always follow government guidelines regarding social distancing and travel.No Need To Park At ParksideParkside FarmIf you’re a car-free family in London, then Parkside is the perfect PYO farm for you. Just north of Enfield, Parkside boasts a ’tabletop’ growing system which means you don’t have to bend for your berries - perfect for grandparents and those of us still sore from Joe Wicks! Parkside is one of the most popular destinations for strawberry picking in London and grows tonnes of fresh vegetables too, but crops are changeable so be sure to call ahead to check what’s in season.Address: Hadley Road, Enfield, Greater London, EN2 8LA, EnglandOpen: Tuesday - Saturday 9 am-5:30 pm, selected SundaysNearest station: 25-minute walk from Gordon Hill StationParking: Yes, onsiteFacilities: Toilets, accessible toilets and refreshments on site. Assistance dogs only. There are no baby changing facilities onsite.Minimum spend: £4Go For The Fruit, Stay For The Ice CreamCrockford Bridge FarmFamily-run farm Crockford Bridge is just thirty minutes from London, near Weybridge in the gorgeous Surrey greenery. They grow twenty different crops to pick from with seasonal sweetcorn in August and pumpkin patches in October. Don’t miss their onsite ice cream parlour where they make the most delicious gelato from their own fresh fruits. You can keep up to date on what produce they have currently growing on their website, from soft fruits and plums to runner beans and broad beans.Address: New Haw Road, Addlestone, Nr. Weybridge, Surrey KT15 2BUOpen: Monday-Thursday 10am-5:30pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 10am-5pmNearest station: Byfleet and New HawParking: Yes, free parking onsiteFacilities: Visit the Tea Shack, Food Store and Garden Centre whilst you’re there. Dogs and buggies are not allowed on the farm.Minimum spend: £4A 40-Year Family InstitutionHewitts FarmAnother family-run farm not far from London, Hewitts spans over 78 acres just outside of Orpington, Kent. Their 40-year-standing PYO farm has a huge variety of fruit and vegetables to meander through, and their picking season usually kicks off in June with strawberries, gooseberries and spinach. When they’re not picking through fields, families will love the free tractor rides that start in Autumn.Address: Hewitts Farm, Court Road, A224, Orpington, KentOpen: Everyday 9am-5:30pmNearest station: KnockholtParking: Yes, free parking onsiteFacilities: Farm shop open Tuesday-Saturday until 5 pm. BBQ and picnic area reopening 2021. Hewitts picking farm is cash only.Get Eco At GarsonsGarsons FarmBased in Esher, Surrey, Garsons boasts 75 different varieties of fruits and vegetables to be picked into fully bio-degradable punnets. Fill up on soft fruits including fresh strawberries and raspberries as well as seasonal veg from swiss chard to broad beans, all surrounded by the brightest sunflower fields.Address: Garsons Esher, Winterdown Road, Esher, Surrey, KT10 8LSOpen: Everyday 9am-5:30pmNearest station: West End Lane Esher and Princess Alice Hospice Esher. Halfway between Esher and Hersham train stations.Parking: YesFacilities: Farm shop and garden centre onsite, but no toilets, picnic or restaurant facilities. Only assistance dogs allowed.Entry: £4 for adults, £1 for children and free for infants under 24 months.Cop Your Crops At CopasCopas FarmsCopas has two pick your own farms, one in Cookham, Berkshire and the other at Iver in Buckinghamshire. Their fruit farm is their most popular asset with renowned strawberries, raspberries and cherries at both locations, but they also grow plenty of peas and beans over the summer months too. You can check out their full crop calendar on the Copas Farms website. Look out for their Fruit Festival Days too where you can even eat from the fields as you go…CookhamAddress: Lower Mount Farm, Long Lane, Cookham, Berkshire, SL6 9RFOpen: Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 10am-4pm, Thursday 10am-3pm, weekends 10am-3:30pm. Closed Mondays.Nearest station: CookhamParking: YesFacilities: Currently no toilet access. Only assistance dogs allowed.Minimum spend: £4IverAddress: Calves Lane Farm, Billet Lane, Iver, Buckinghamshire, SL0 0LUOpen: Tuesday-Thursday 10am-4pm, weekends 10am-2pm. Closed Mondays.Nearest station: LangleyParking: YesFacilities: Currently no toilet access. Only assistance dogs allowed.Minimum spend: £4These Trees Grow More Than Just Balloons…The Balloon TreeFrom the first summer strawberries to autumnal October pumpkins, The Balloon Tree PYO farm in Yorkshire has your seasonal needs covered. Pick up a map and follow the PYO trail to one of their five different veg and fruit fields at one of the best picking farms in the North of England for local fresh food.Address: A166, Gate Helmsley, York, YO41 1NBOpen: Monday-Sunday 9am-5pm.Nearest station: Their pick your own fruit farm is on the number 10 bus route via York Station.Parking: Yes, free parking onsiteFacilities: The Balloon Tree has wheelchairs available, toilets and disabled toilets on-site as well as baby changing facilities. Picnic area, farm shop and cafe (opening soon) where dogs are welcome on leads.Minimum spend: Ticket cost is redeemed against the cost of the fruit you pick.Discover The Delights Of DurleighmarshDurleighmarsh FarmSet amongst the beautiful Hampshire countryside, this family farm shop grows a huge range of fresh produce in their pick your own fruit and veg fields and is currently developing their own lavender farm, in case you needed any more bliss added to your day. Be sure to end your visit at Durleighmarsh’s delightful Tea Barn.Address: Durleighmarsh Farm, Rogate Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 5AXOpen: Monday-Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 10am-3pm.Nearest station: PetersfieldParking: YesFacilities: Wheelchair access. Dogs not allowed.Minimum spend: Crop prices are shown on a board at arrival.The Essence Of EssingtonEssington FarmWith a farm shop, butchery, impressive deli and restaurant on-site, Essington is much more than just a PYO farm. Run by the Simkin family who has been farming in Essington since 1892, this is one to rely on for the best quality local produce. From plums to runner beans and strawberries to raspberries, you won’t be short of choice in this 50-acre PYO farm.Address: Bognop Road, Essington, Wolverhampton, WV11 2AZOpen: Everyday 9am-5pm. Last entry to the fields is 4 pm.Nearest station: Bus routes via Birmingham and WolverhamptonParking: YesFacilities: Farm shop, butchers, deli and restaurant on-site with toilets. Wheelchair access available.Minimum spend: Deposit of £1 for under 10’s and £2 for over 10’s is redeemed against the produce you pick.
Summer is on the horizon, we’ve exhausted our local parks and are looking for a new outdoor venture. It’s time to get back to our (vine) roots.
