Sometimes it's important to get in touch with our inner hunter-gatherer and go out foraging for ourselves. When it comes to summer, there's one juicy fruit that's at the top of our plucking list: the humble strawberry. While the berry was created in Brittany, France, in the 1750s, it wasn't until the 1850s that strawberry festivals and widespread growing fields appeared, and commercial picking began in the 1860s in America.
Nowadays, you can find an array of farms in and around London giving you the chance to come and pick your own fruit to dice and chomp with cream in front of the tennis, garnish cupcakes with and plop in a jug of Pimm's - the list goes on. And in our hand-picked guide (sorry), we'll help you find the best places for strawberry picking near London.
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Our Guide To Strawberry Picking In And Around London
1. Parkside Farm, Enfield
- Where: Hadley Road, Enfield EN2 8LA
- When: until 5pm
- Nearest station: Gordon Hill
- Price: £7.99 per KG
- Best for: strawberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, and beetroot
- Website: parksidefarmpyo.co.uk
Admittedly, you do need to venture a little outside of the city to get to a lot of these places on our list, apart from this gem. Nestled just a 25-minute walk from Gordon Hill station in Enfield, Parkside Farm is perfect for strawberry picking in London. With nearly 35 acres of fruit and vegetables ready for picking, it’s one of the capital’s largest and most established PYO destinations, having first grown strawberries back in 1979.
Today, the farm is especially known for its ingenious 'table-top' strawberry system, where fruit is grown in raised troughs, allowing you to pick sweet, sun-ripened berries without having to stoop, making it a back-friendly, family-friendly option. A commitment to quality underpins everything here - from the on-site irrigation system fed by a purpose-built reservoir, to the use of natural manure to enrich soil fertility. Just don’t forget: advanced booking is essential, and weekend slots are only confirmed after a crop check. Make a day of it by pairing your pick with a visit to nearby Trent Park and its charming petting zoo.
Strawberries are the star of the show here (pictured), but courgettes and French beans are on the cards too.
2. Hewitt's Farm, Orpington
- Where: Court Road, Chelsfield,
Orpington, BR6 9BX
- When: until
4.30pm
- Nearest station: Knockholt Kent Station
- Best for: strawberries, apples, pumpkins
and more
- Website: hewittsfarm.co.uk
Just outside of Orpington in Kent lies Hewitt’s Farm, a family-run, 78-acre working farm that’s been in the same hands for over 45 years. With a relaxed, traditional feel and no need to pre-book, it’s an ideal countryside escape for spontaneous fruit picking adventures. In summer, you can expect a generous spread of strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, beetroot, spinach, and chard. Come autumn, apple season takes centre stage, complete with free tractor rides on Sundays, which are a big hit with families.
Hewitt’s remains charmingly low-key: no entry fee, plenty of free parking, and a farm shop stocked with homegrown produce, local honey, free-range eggs, and apple juice. While barbecues and picnics are no longer allowed inside the farm, there’s a nearby grassed area for outdoor snacking. It’s a working farm with clear rules - pick only what you plan to pay for, and no nibbling as you go, no matter how tempting it is.
Make sure to visit the farm shop afterwards for some homegrown produce.
3. Stanhill Farm, Kent
- Where: The Farm House, Birchwood
Road, Dartford, DA2 7HD
- When: until 4pm
- Nearest station: Swanley
- Price: £3.50 per punnet, £15 per
basket
- Best for: strawberries and
pumpkins
- Website: stanhillfarm.co.uk
While strawberry season was short-lived this year at Stanhill Farm due to planting challenges, it remains a popular summer destination - especially with the launch of its themed Maize Maze, with a fun-filled ‘Puzzling Pets’ design, perfect for families during the school holidays. Just 17 miles from central London and a stone’s throw from Bexley, it offers a proper countryside escape without venturing far from the city.
This 150-acre working farm, run by brothers Max and Toby Williams, grows up to 30 varieties of fruit and vegetables each year and has built a loyal following thanks to its warm, community-focused approach. Beyond PYO, Stanhill boasts a well-stocked farm shop offering seasonal produce from its own fields and neighbouring farms, alongside local bread, cheeses, and free-range eggs. The Berries & Beans Café is also reopened with the maze, and a pumpkin patch returns in October.
Looking for a more hands-on connection to where your food comes from? Head to Stanhill Farm.
4. Crockford Bridge Farm, Surrey
- Where: New Haw Road, Weybridge,
Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 2BU
- When: until 5.30pm
- Nearest station: Addlestone
- Price: farm passes are needed from £4 per
adult, £2 per child
- Best for: strawberries, blackcurrants, raspberries, carrots, beetroot and more
- Website: crockfordbridgefarm.co.uk
Just outside Weybridge in Surrey, Crockford Bridge Farm is a family-run working farm that offers a flavour-first approach to fruit picking. Spanning 20 crop varieties, from rhubarb and asparagus to raspberries and blackcurrants, this is a farm for true produce lovers. But the star of the summer is undoubtedly the outdoor-grown strawberries, picked at peak ripeness for unbeatable sweetness.
With no polytunnels or raised beds in sight, Crockford prioritises traditional growing methods that deliver strawberries bursting with sun-ripened flavour, just be prepared to get a little low to the ground. The main crop hits its stride in June through mid-July, with smaller yields continuing into September, depending on the weather and foot traffic. Booking is essential for strawberry picking, especially during peak season, to ensure there’s enough fruit for everyone.
With rotating fields and ever-changing availability, no two visits to Corckford Bridge Farm (pictured) are quite the same.
5. Garsons Farm, Surrey
- Where: Winterdown Road, Esher, KT10
8LS
- When: until 5.15pm Mon-Sat and 4.15pm
Sundays
- Nearest station: Hersham
- Price: farm passes are needed
from £2.50 per person
- Best for: strawberries, beetroot,
blackberries, broccoli and more
- Website: garsons.co.uk
Still in Surrey, it's time to venture over to Garsons Farm, one of the largest PYO farms in the country, with over 150 years of growing history. From early June to late October, you can harvest everything from sun-ripened strawberries and raspberries to crisp vegetables and even fresh flowers, making it a true celebration of seasonal produce.
A pre-booked farm ticket is required for entry, and while it doesn’t include crop credit, it offers access to a beautifully maintained and well-organised picking experience. Despite its popularity, Garsons maintains a strong sense of quality and heritage, having evolved from a 19th-century supplier to Borough Market into today’s award-winning, family-run destination.
Garsons Farm is as much a day out as it is a PYO visit.
6. Spring Gardens Nursery, West Sussex
- Where: Spring Gardens Nursery at
Washington, Pulborough, West Sussex, RH20 3BS
- When: until 4pm
- Nearest station: unfortunately, this spot is only accessible by car
- Best for: strawberries, cherries, blackcurrants. plums and more
- Website: springgardensnursery.uk
If you're keen to pick your own strawberries in London and nearby, then check out Spring Gardens Nursery in West Sussex. It's a charming, family-run farm with over a century of growing heritage. Specialising in soft fruits, asparagus, and potatoes, this tranquil spot near Ashington is looked after by third-generation grower Holly, who has expanded her grandfather Alan’s legacy by adding a café and events space set in a beautifully restored Victorian greenhouse.
The pick-your-own experience is abundant and varied, featuring everything from strawberries, raspberries, and tayberries to sweetcorn, runner beans, and even boysenberries. With the South Downs AONB as a backdrop and the scent of ripe fruit in the air, it’s one of the most picturesque and peaceful places to harvest your own produce. Pair your picking with a visit to the farm shop or a bite in the greenhouse café for the full experience.
Make sure to check Spring Gardens Nursery's website to see what fruits can be picked on the day of your visit.
7. Hawkswick Lodge Fruit Farm, Hertfordshire
- Where: Harpenden Road, St Albans, AL3
6JG
- When: until 6pm
- Nearest station: St Albans City
- Price: minimum spend of £3 per person
- Best for: strawberries and
raspberries
- Website: hawkswickfruit.co.uk
Just north of St Albans in the Hertfordshire countryside, Hawkswick Lodge Fruit Farm offers a relaxed, no-fuss pick-your-own experience in a lovely rural setting. This family-run farm specialises in soft fruits such as sun-ripened strawberries, blackberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, raspberries, and more, and is known for its friendly atmosphere and excellent-quality produce.
The PYO process here is refreshingly straightforward: grab a basket, head to the clearly signposted fields, and pick only what you need. There’s a £3 minimum spend per person (children under five exempt), and the fruit is perfect for everything from homemade jams and desserts to freezing for winter treats. Just remember your sensible shoes - this is proper farmland after all.
Load up your baskets with an abundance of juicy berries.
8. Maynards, East Sussex
- Where: Windmill Hill/Cross Lane,
Ticehurst, Wadhurst, TN5 7HQ
- When: until 5pm
- Nearest station: unfortunately, there are no stations nearby
- Price: £6 per KG
- Best for: strawberries, apples, cherries,
plums and more
- Website: maynardsfruit.co.uk
Maynards in East Sussex is one of the UK’s longest-established pick-your-own fruit farms and a true family affair. Founded in 1952 by David and Mary Maynard, the farm has blossomed over four generations, with family members often spotted helping out during the busy season.
With beautiful views over Bewl Water and the surrounding countryside, and charming country pubs nearby, Maynards offers a wonderful day out for fruit lovers. Bring your own baskets to collect strawberries (£6 per kilo during the season), or even cherries (£9), or purchase a container for a small fee. There’s a designated picnic area to enjoy a relaxed lunch after your picking adventure. Fun fact: the farm also supplies local shops and businesses, growing plums for supermarkets and blackcurrants for Ribena.
Driving to Maynards? There's a two-hour free parking limit, with a £20 charge after.
9. Roundstone Farm, West Sussex
- Where: Worthing, Angmering,
Littlehampton, BN12 6PW
- When: until 4.30pm
- Nearest station: Angmering
- Best for: strawberries, raspberries,
rhubarb, redcurrants, peas and more
- Website: roundstonefarm.co.uk
Roundstone Farm in West Sussex offers a wide range of fruits and vegetables from May through September. The farm uses environmentally friendly methods and provides a convenient tractor service to help you access different crops across the beautifully maintained farmland. What's more, refreshments are sold near the car park for those in need of a relaxing break from all that picking (or if you're letting someone else do the hard work).
You can pick strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, blackcurrants, redcurrants, and a variety of vegetables, including peas, broad beans, carrots, beetroot, and onions to your heart's content here. However, pooches have to stay at home as dogs aren’t permitted for hygiene reasons, and you're encouraged to bring your own bags or use the farm’s biodegradable options as it's super eco-friendly.
Make your way over to Roundstone Farm before September to get the quality goods.
Strawberry Desserts In London
And if the thought of some London strawberry picking has got you craving the good stuff, here's where to find some glorious strawberry desserts in the capital this summer:
- The Clove Club - glazed English strawberries, dressed with sugar and Carpano Antica Formula.
- Gelupo - strawberry ice cream.
- Fonda - strawberry corn cake with guajillo chilli and cream.
- Toklas - strawberry and pistachio galette.
- Trivet - rosé marinated strawberries, paired with Fleur de chèvre goat's cheese and a tangy Sumac chantilly.
- Trullo - vanilla pannacotta with strawberries and grappa.
- GAIA Mayfair - strawberries and cream cheesecake.
- Jolene - strawberry cream cake.
- Finks - shortcake covered in honeyed brown butter, filled with gariguette strawberry jam, topped with mascarpone whipped cream and a few Gariguettes.
- Don't Tell Dad - strawberry jam and buttermilk rice pudding Danish.
The Clove Club (pictured left) and Toklas (left) have wonderful strawberry desserts.
For more, check out our guide to wholesome activities in London.
