A Day Trip to Hitchin Lavender & Sunflower Farm From Milton Keynes (Review)

Summer season is the best time to visit the beautiful lavender and sunflower fields. Last year, my husband and I decided to escape the city and spend a peaceful day at Hitchin Lavender Farm, just an hour’s drive from both Milton Keynes and London. As nature lovers, we were drawn to the vibrant colours, calming scents, and countryside charm of this place. If you’re wondering whether this spot is worth visiting or how budget-friendly it is, I’m sharing all the details from our experience below.

Hitchin Lavender Farm Tour & Review:

Hitchin Lavender Farm, an expansive destination known for its stunning lavender and sunflower fields, is celebrating 25 years of beautiful blooms and rich heritage. First planted in 2000, the lavender fields continue a tradition that dates back to the 1500s in Hitchin. From June to August, you can stroll through acres of fragrant lavender, vibrant wildflowers in early summer, and golden sunflowers in August.

The farm is currently open for the visitors. Tickets are on sale until 1 hour before the experience ends.  

Adults= £8.91 (incl. £0.41 fee), 

Child (3-16 years) = £6.81 (incl. £0.31 fee), 

Family (2 adults, 2 children) = £25.15 (incl. £1.15 fee), 

Family (2 adults, 3 children) = £28.82 (incl. £1.32 fee), 

Disabled person = £6.29 (incl. £0.29 fee), 

Carer (proof required)

Address: 

Cadwell Farm, Ickleford, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, SG5 3UA, 01462 434343.

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How to get to the Hitchin Lavender Farm: 

Hitchin Lavender Farm is located at Cadwell Farm, Ickleford, Hitchin, Hertfordshire. It takes about 44 minutes by car from Milton Keynes and around 1 hour from London. The nearest train station is Hitchin, which can be reached from London King’s Cross or St. Pancras. From the station, it’s just a short taxi ride to the farm.

We booked a cab and reached the farm within 40 minutes (around 9.30 am) on a bright weekday.

Things To  Do & See At Hitchin Lavender and Sunflower Farm:

We enjoy peaceful moments, so we always try to arrive early at our destination and visit on weekdays to avoid weekend crowds. But our plan failed miserably this time! By noon, the farm was crowded with families, kids, dogs, influencers, photographers  and what not 🙃!

To visit the farm, you need to book your tickets either online (best option) or directly at the gate. We showed our pre-booked tickets to the receptionist upon arrival and received a warm welcome.

Hitchin Lavender Farm is huge and scenic from every angle 😍. The free car parking area is located near the entrance and is quite spacious.

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Hitchin Lavender Field Experience:

The first thing we encountered was a vast lavender field with rows of plants, their distinctive green foliage and purple blooms stretching far into the distance, creating an incredible sense of depth and expanse.

The clever management team has set up a dark, ornate metal bench on an earthy patch so visitors can sit and get the perfect shot. Behind the bench, the lavender field stretches out beautifully creating a nice backdrop. I took at least 10 photos at this spot, because there was no queue of visitors, haha 😝!  

There are narrow earthy paths cutting through the rows, giving easy access through the field. You can walk among the blooms, enjoy the serenity, and take countless photos, whether you’re a traveller, admirer, or photographer. While I was busy photographing the lavender and the surroundings, my dear husband was soaking in the stunning countryside views. He loves secluded, scenic places and this spot was right up his alley!

One thing that caught my attention was the bees hovering around the lavenders. I’ve always been scared of these cute insects – one stung my cheek when I was eight 😭! I still have the mark, so naturally, I was afraid of touching the plants or even getting too close. Honestly, you don’t have a choice, as bees are strongly attracted to lavender fields. Thankfully, they did no harm. They didn’t even bother us while we explored the area.

We visited in August, a late summer month when the lavender was just past its peak, but the sunflowers were in full bloom. Still, the lavender bushes looked well-maintained and lush. The field is uneven and gently rises towards the end of the rows, giving a natural, sloping effect. We wandered through the narrow paths to the farthest edge of the field. I must admit, the views from the top were equally mesmerizing 😍!

Hitchin Lavender Farm is proud to be the UK’s largest lavender farm where visitors can pick their own lavender or sunflowers straight from the field. Picking bags can be added while booking. We noticed many families picking flowers with their kids, but we skipped it this time. Maybe next year!

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Hitchin Sunflower Field Experience:

The lavender and sunflower fields are located next to each other. After spending enough time in the lavender field, we headed toward the bright and charming sunflower patch. Ah, what a beauty!

Like the lavender area, the sunflower field is well-maintained and flourishing. Narrow paths allow visitors to walk right through the blooms. The bright yellow sunflowers were quite tall, almost my waist-high!

On either side of the paths, tall green stalks held up large, round flowers with golden petals that looked like sunbeams. Many faced the sun, gently moving with its direction. It felt like a giant carpet of sunshine ☀️ !

As a Bollywood movie lover, I wanted to recreate some of those filmy romantic dance or chase scenes in the field. Alas! My unromantic, super-shy husband didn’t allow it. He has more social anxiety than me, so I had to give up 😄. But of course, I’d never force him to do anything he’s uncomfortable with. I am a good wifey 😉. 

Also, I suggest wearing comfortable shoes, especially since the paths are uneven and could get tricky if it rains.

Amid the sunflowers, you’ll find some adorable tractor photo spots, perfect for snapping cheerful pictures 😍.

Do sunflowers have a strong scent? I couldn’t detect any, even though I was surrounded by them! However, I’m a huge fan of lavender’s fragrance, and my goodness, the smell was everywhere. Not too overpowering, just a soft, gentle, calming hug of lavender in the air. Every breath I took felt like inhaling peace. It truly made my senses come alive. So incredibly relaxing ❤️!

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Food, Shops & More:

After our photo session, we explored the gift shops and other areas. Several benches are scattered throughout the fields, perfect for taking a break while enjoying the views. There are food outlets in the Main Field area. You can grab light refreshments here or head to the Old Barn tearoom/café for sweet treats.

There’s also a gift shop right in the field, selling lavender-infused skincare products, plants, handmade bags, and souvenirs. I bought a lavender body lotion for my skin, review coming soon! After shopping, we headed to the barn zone, where you’ll find the café, plant nursery, and museum. We first explored the Perks & Llewellyn Museum.

It’s a small museum with a life-size replica of a woman shopkeeper, vintage lavender items, an oil extraction machine, and tools used for farming lavender.

The nursery isn’t huge, but it’s spacious enough to grow and sell a variety of lavender and other plants. I don’t have garden space at my apartment, otherwise I’d have picked a few plants for myself.

There’s a play area for kids near the Old Barn tearoom. Apart from cakes and marmalade, the charming vintage-style café also sells coffee mugs, floral tea towels, gifts, and decor items.

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Useful Info:

Hitchin Lavender Farm is dog-friendly. As long as they’re on leads, your furry friends are welcome to walk through the fields.

The toilets were surprisingly clean. One is located near the entrance and another at the Old Barn.

Please note:

• The Main Field is currently open every day of the week (open from 9am).
• ‘Late Nights’ (open until 10 PM) end on 7th August.
• Pimms lovers, take note: you can pre-order the classic English summer drink every Tuesday and get free entrance and lavender picking included! (You must be 25+, with photo ID required.)

Final Thoughts:

Overall, 

Hitchin Lavender Farm in the Hertfordshire countryside is absolutely worth a visit during the summer, whether solo or with family. If you love scenic rural landscapes, vibrant wildflowers, and the soft fragrance of lavender, this is a destination to consider. Plus, it’s easily accessible from both London and Milton Keynes!

We, as nature lovers and city explorers, had a memorable day at this stunning countryside farm. I highly recommend adding it to your summer travel list. 

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I hope you found this post informative and helpful.

Have you visited Hitchin Lavender & Sunflower fields farm in Hertfordshire? If yes, please share your experience in the comment section below.