Nothing says summer like a golden field of sunflowers and picking sunflowers can be such a fun family day out. Many sunflower farms invite visitors to pick their own blooms, which makes for a gorgeous and memorable day out for the whole family.
Many of the farms welcome picnics and have a cafe or farm shop on site, and some even offer photoshoots among the towering flowers, should you like a lasting memento of your day.
Don't forget your secateurs for picking the sunflowers, and be sure to wear suitable footwear as the ground can be muddy and uneven underfoot. Looking to grow your own sunflowers? Here is our guide to how to grow your own sunflowers.
The best farms for picking sunflowers in the UK
Cairnie Fruit Farm, Fife
This PYO fruit farm is a wonderful place for a day out with the family, with a farm shop and cafe on site and a Kids Funyard that includes sunken trampolines and a straw bale climbing fortress. There's even a Maize Maze to get lost in. Come August, their small field of sunflowers are ripe for picking, as well as a delectable host of soft fruit.
Cairnie, Cupar, Fife, KY15 4QD, Tel 01334 655610, cairniefruitfarm.co.uk
Writtle Sunflowers, Essex
This year the farm is growing an earlier and shorter variety of sunflower along with their old favourites. Mixed flowers are also available to pick, and photo shoots can be arranged if you fancy a lasting memento of your day. Refreshments are available from visiting food vans.
Pooty Pools Farm, Chelmsford CM1 4NW, writtlesunflowers.weebly.com
Rougham Estate, Suffolk
Growing sunflowers is an exciting new venture for this Suffolk estate. They've planted 88,000 seeds so be prepared for a spectacular display. You'll find a clearing in the middle of the sunflower field with a swing to pose on for photos, and there's plenty of picnic spots on the grass and among the sunflowers themselves. You can even pre-order afternoon tea to collect from the nearby Courtyard cafe.
Ipswich Road, Rougham, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP30 9LZ, Tel 01359 270238, roughamestate.com
Glebe Farm, Oxfordshire
This family-run farm near Shipston opened its PYO sunflower field last summer and proved very popular. They also have honey for sale, plus coffee and cake to fuel your flower harvest. Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic.
Butchers Ln, Lower Brailes, Banbury OX15 5HR, email marycole1280@gmail.com for more info.
Williams Sunflowers, Yorkshire
A 'sea of sunflowers' in the Yorkshire Wolds, this is a magical place to spend the day. Private photo shoots can be arranged among the towering blooms, children can enjoy the adventure play areas and woodland trails, then perhaps after a day of sunflower picking you can tuck into a wood-fired pizza or Yorkshire pudding wrap in the cafe.
Williams Den, Castle Farm, World Hill, North Cave, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU15 2LS, williamssunflowers.co.uk
Lower House Farm, Herefordshire
This year the farm is adding new varieties of pollen-free sunflowers to their patch, alongside traditional 'giants' for fun photo opportunities. There'll also be a field of 19 varieties of mixed annuals, including zinnia, marigold, malope, cornflower and cosmos. Open 30 July to 4 September, check website for dates you can visit.
Gilbert’s Farm, Lilly Hall Lane, Little Marcle, Herefordshire HR8 2LD. Tel 01531 670730, lowerhousefarm.com
Palette and Pasture, Somerset
A field of golden sunflowers next to an ice cream parlour – what more can you ask for? As well as flower picking, children can enjoy the Fairytale Trail, Bale Trail and meet some of the animals. Of course it would be rude not to sample some of the farm's Somerset gelato.
Pyle Farm, Trudoxhill, Near Frome, Somerset BA11 5DL, Tel 01373 836249, paletteandpasture.co.uk
Nottinghamshire Pick Your Own
Another farm that launched its sunflower picking last year, with over 30,000 golden blooms to get lost in. There's also a wildflower meadow to explore, a cafe and a nursery selling shrubs, perennials and fruit plants.
Oaks Lane, Oxton, Southwell, NG25 0RH. Tel 07872958253, nottinghamshirepickyourownpumpkins.com
The Flower Pot, Hampshire
So popular was their sunflower picking last summer they've expanded their crop to two fields. Find bale 'Minions' and flowerpot characters among the blooms, then enjoy an ice cream or milkshake in the Sunflower Shack.
Hartley Court Farm, Hartley Wespall, Hook Hampshire RG27 0BB. flowerplot.co.uk