5 Pick-Your-Own Fruit Farms Near London

Summer, also known as British berry season, is here. It's when farms across the country are open their doors for PYO, or 'pick your own' fruit activities. Not only does picking your own fruit provide an idyllic and active way to bond with friends and family, but it guarantees the freshest produce for jams, salads, smoothies, or just eating plain. (To shop for jam and preserve tools, click here.)

We gathered a list of six farms no more than two hours outside of London by car or train. Harvest times for different fruits and vegetables vary, so make sure to call ahead to ask what’s on offer before you go. Some farms require booking in advance.

Taking up 80 acres of green belt land in West Surrey, Crockford Bridge Farm specialises in traditionally grown produce, meaning they do not use polytunnels. (Their reasoning is simple: taste!) In the summer, they typically have rhubarb, strawberries, gooseberries, currants, and blackberries, and beetroot ready to pick. However, with any PYO farm, it’s worth calling in advance to see what’s available before you go, as every growing season has its challenges. Crockford Bridge Farm requires booking in advance. Bonus: There’s a gelato bar on the premises, and big market once a month. crockfordbridgefarm.co.uk.

Distance: About 45 minutes by car from our Chiswick store, or 1 hour and 30 minutes by bus and train.

If you’re looking for a place to have a long, leisurely lunch after picking fruit, go to New House Farm, located in the outskirts of Horsham in West Sussex. Their Strawberry Fields Tea Room serves food made with ingredients sourced from their own or nearby farms, most of which is available for purchase in their Farm Shop, located in a converted 16th century barn with vaulted ceilings. Please note that strawberry season starts in June and lasts about two weeks, so if you miss the window, take note for next year.  newhousefarmshop.co.uk.

Distance: Approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes by car from our Borough Market shop, or 1 hour and 15 minutes by train and bus.

Established in 1871 and once a supplier of fresh produce to Borough Market, Garsons in Surrey is one of the UK’s largest PYO farms (they also have a location in Hampshire). You need to book a Farm Pass to participate, which is easy to do on their website. Depending on the time of the year, you can pick beetroot, broccoli, carrots, gooseberries, strawberries, broad beans, cabbages, cauliflowers and spinach. There is also a large garden centre, a tea house with a sprawling menu, and a farm shop voted Surrey’s Best, with ingredients from local butchers, bakers, vineyards, and breweries. garsons.co.uk. 

Distance: About 45 minutes from our Chiswick store, and 1 hour and 30 minutes by train and bus.

One of the UK’s longest established PYO operations, Maynards is a small family-run fruit farm located on a picturesque, high elevation spot that avoids spring frost. Depending on the time of year, you can pick strawberries, cherries, gooseberries or rhubarb. There’s no booking system in place, so give them a call before visiting. While you’re there, it’s worth visiting nearby Scotney Castle, a National Trust site, and Pashley Manor Gardens, which has a lovely cafe that’s open from April to September. maynardsfruit.co.uk.

Distance: About 1 hour and 30 minutes by car or train from our Borough Market store.

Copas Farms are PYO farms with two locations west of London, both reachable under two hours; in Iver (Buckinghamshire) and Cookham (Berkshire). According to their website: 'A wide range of fruit and vegetables are grown, the season starting with asparagus in May and finishing with plums and sweetcorn in September. Summer fruits, including strawberries, raspberries and cherries remain great favourites with customers.' Make a booking at either location on their website, or give them a call. Their Farm Shops include honey made on site, as well as a range of other local produce from chutneys to eggs. copasfarms.co.uk

Distance: The Iver location is a 30-45 minute drive from our Chiswick store by car, and slightly more than an hour by train. The Cookham location is about an hour by car from Chiswick, and just under two hours by train.