Cammas Hall, Essex

Open: Tuesday-Sunday 9am-4pm.

Cammas Hall won Pick Your Own Farm of the Year in 2021, which comes as no surprise when you visit its beautiful farm. On the Essex-Hertfordshire border, it’s easily reached from London and you can pick your own until October, when squashes, sweetcorn, pumpkins and sunflowers are all up for grabs. Cammas holds events and workshops throughout the year and fires up its outdoor food-wired pizza oven during weekends. There’s also a maize maze and children’s play area, which little ones will love.

Hatfield Broad Oak, Essex, CM22 7JT

Visit CammasHall.co.uk

Crockford Bridge Farm Shop, Surrey 

Open: Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm; Sunday 10am-4.30pm.

In Addlestone, Crockford Bridge Farm has 80 acres of land and is one the oldest farms in Surrey. Since the 70s it’s been owned by the same family who specialise in traditional methods, growing produce without the use of polytunnels. Crockford Bridge also sells pumpkins during the autumn months and Christmas trees later in the year, both of which can be handpicked from the allotments. There’s a lovely tea shack on site where you can enjoy cakes, sandwiches and quiches, as well as an ice-cream parlour which has 24 flavours made with the farm’s own fruit.  

Weybridge, Surrey, KT15 2BU

Visit CrockfordBridgeFarm.co.uk

Open: Tuesday-Saturday 9.30am-4pm; Sunday 10am-3pm.

Head to Stanhill Farm in Dartford to enjoy 150 acres of farmland. Just a short drive from central London, the farm is managed by two brothers who harvest up to 30 varieties of fruit and veg each year. Pick up a container from the shop and pick your own strawberries (a punnet is £3 while a whole basket is £15), then choose from raspberries, runner beans, courgettes, marrows and mini cucumbers. If you have kids in tow, head to Stanhill’s maize maze and finish the afternoon with lunch in the picnic area.

Dartford, Kent, DA2 7HD

Visit StanhillFarm.co.uk

Open: Tuesday-Friday 10am-6pm; Saturday & Sunday 9am-4pm.

This family run business is in the Hertfordshire countryside, just a 50-minute drive from London. Hawkswick specialises in soft fruit and visitors can pick raspberries, blackberries, gooseberries, currants, plus three types of strawberries – Sonata, Jive and Malling, the latter of which is particularly juicy. Look out for the Black Blute blackberries which will be extra juicy this year (according to Hawkswick’s farmers) and the Ben Connan blackcurrants which can be made into delicious jams. 

St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 6JG

Visit HawkswickFruit.co.uk

Open: Tuesday-Saturday 9am-5.30pm; hours vary on Sunday depending on availability.

This family run farm has been harvesting fruit and veg since 1983. In recent years, it’s become famous for its strawberries which are grown on a table-top system, so you don’t have to bend down when picking the fruit. Parkside also has several areas of potted raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants, as well as allotments containing broad beans, courgettes, onions, beetroot and tomatoes. Tickets to the farm will be fully refunded against your PYO produce, which will be calculated by weight. Once you’ve filled up a basket or two, head to the farm shop to stock up on ice cream, honey and fresh juices.

Enfield, Greater London, EN2 8LA

Visit ParksideFarmPYO.co.uk