Ladies in Mayfield Lavender.

Have you ever been so blown away by a picture – something shared on social media, a postcard sent by a friend or a photo in a guide book perhaps – of somewhere so beautiful, so mesmerising, that you’ve instantly wanted to go there, to see it for yourself? This happens to me all the time; so much so that I’m constantly adding things to my bucket list (unfortunately quicker than I can tick them off at the moment).

I’ve said it before, but Instagram is forever fuelling my wanderlust. One morning last week, as I habitually scrolled through my feed on my way to work, I came across my friend (and fellow blogger) Erica‘s dreamy purple-hued pics of a lavender farm she’d visited the previous weekend. It looked like the perfect place to relax and unwind – but not content with just seeing a picture, I had to go and see it with my own eyes.

That’s why, much like those times when I saw pictures of the Czech Republic Skywalk and the Chouara Tannery and had to spontaneously jet off to satisfy my wanderlust, as soon as the weather permitted, off to Mayfield Lavender farm I went…

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After a week of continuous drizzle and grey cloudy skies, I decided to make the most of the dry, sunny Saturday that had been forecast and arranged an impromptu trip to Banstead with my friend Bambi, in search of purple lavender.

Mayfield Lavender farm is a family-run certified organic lavender farm, situated in the picturesque North Surrey Downs, less than 15 miles from central London. Owners Brendan and Lorna have been growing lavender for over 10 years, and love to welcome visitors to their 25 acres of fields, blooming with several varieties of lavender.

The lavender is grown on one of the same fields where it was originally grown back in the 18th and 19th Centuries. Over 100 years ago, Banstead and the surrounding area was home to a thriving industry which supplied lavender (which was viewed as a premium product) to companies such as Yardley and Potter & Moore. But sadly, as suburbia encroached and lavender went out of fashion, the miles and miles of beautiful purple fields disappeared.

That was until Mayfield Lavender not only revived the appreciation of lavender (who doesn’t appreciate such pretty pictures?), but has brought organic farming to the masses, making Mayfield the largest organic lavender farm in the UK, certified by the Soil Association.

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Lavender is renowned for its wonderful, calming properties. And despite the early start, Bambi and I certainly felt very relaxed walking up and down the fields among the bushes, surrounded by an ethereal haze of purple.

The fragrant fields were full of tourists taking selfies and photos, though fortunately the farm has room for everyone – even casual local daytrippers like us.

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There is something so soothing and restorative about the smell of lavender – you can feel the purpley perfume filling your nostrils, the hum of the bees buzzing from bush to bush, and all around you are bursts of beautiful blooms, as far as the eye can see.

Mayfield Lavender doesn’t use pesticides or fertilisers, so all weed control is done by hand (which it says is an enormous and never-ending job, as you can imagine). But as a result, the lavender and its oil are free of agricultural chemicals and residues. The fields are also a magnet for many species of insects and bird – from butterflies, bumble bees and honey bees, to pheasants and the family of kestrels that has made Mayfield its home, even when the day visitors have gone, the farm is still a hive of activity.

 

 

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It’s such a shame that the UK’s climate only allows the flower to bloom from June to September. But during those months Mayfield Lavender farm is open daily from 9am until 6pm (including bank holidays). This may vary at the start or end of the season though, so it’s worth checking the website and social media before you make the trip.

Entry costs just £1 per adult and there is no charge for children under 16.

 

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The farm attracts visitors from far and wide, so it can get very busy at weekends (especially during July, when the lavender is at its peak). Therefore, if you’re planning a trip over to Banstead, I’d recommend going early to avoid the crowds (and people wandering aimlessly into your shots).

We arrived at just gone 10am on Saturday, and the car park was already filling up. Luckily we were able to find a couple of unoccupied lanes of lavender in the back field, where we took most of these pictures (all taken on my mobile phone, by the way).

It’s worth noting that the car park at Mayfield has limited capacity, and when full cars are directed to the car park at the old Walcountians Rugby Club. It’s on Carshalton Road, a short walk away – however it operates independently so may be chargeable.

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If you fancy visiting Mayfield Lavender yourself, it’s pretty easy to find. If you’re driving, just pop the postcode SM7 3JA into your sat nav. Or if you’re coming by public transport, there are a few options:

  1. Train from London Victoria to West Croydon, then take the 166 bus to the farm gate (this way can get busy in peak season)
  2. Train from London Victoria to Sutton, then take the S1 bus to Banstead (Woolpack stop) and then the 166 bus to the farm gate (slightly faster route)
  3. Train from London Victoria to Purley Station, cross the road to the large Tesco and take the 166 bus to Oaks Park from the front of the store (top tip from a regular customer)
  4. Take a train from London Victoria to Sutton or Cheam and take a cab/minicab to the farm (fastest route).

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As well as the acres of lavender, Mayfield Lavender also offers a little airstream cafe, a gift shop and a picnic area (though picnics are not actually permitted in the fields).

Hungry and decaffeinated after our early morning start, we headed over to the little trailer that housed the cafe, where we had a long chat with the server and her super cute son.

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The sweet treats on offer at the cafe were all homemade, and (unsurprisingly) all lavender based. I’m a big fan of desserts, so decided two cupcakes washed down with a cup of lavender tea. Covered in rich buttery icing, the cupcakes were so big they could have easily been classed as muffins, so were very good value at just £2.50 each.

After munching on the delicious-but-very-sweet s we made our way back across the field to have a mooch in the gift shop, we suddenly realised how busy it was. Little clusters of people were dotted all over the fields; lovestruck couples walking hand-in-hand, young children being chased by parents with cameras trying unsuccessfully to take their picture, dogs on leads itching to break free and run wild, their owners struggling to hold them back.

People were waiting to take turns posing in front of a phone box in the corner of the field (still not quite sure why that was there, but the bright red certainly made for a stark contrast against the pastel purples of the lavender).

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A large selection of plants are available to buy at the nursery, including a really tiny Peter Pan variety of lavender I’d never seen before. Inside the pop-up shop, there are all kinds of lavender produce.

Some of the edible products were definitely tempting, especially the handmade lavender mini meringues, the various teas, the ice cream, and so many different chutneys. I love a good homemade chutney, with cheese and crackers on a cold winters night (which I’m sure we’ll have plenty of soon enough).

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And then there were all the lavender non-edible products, ranging from hand creams and shampoos to reed diffusers, candles and soaps.

Something that instantly caught my eye, evoking memories of my grandma, was the box of little lavender sachets and pillows. Seeing them fondly reminded me of a weekend at grandmas when I was about six or seven years old, of the two of us sat there making lavender “smellies” to put in the pants and socks drawers, using fresh lavender from her garden and scraps of silky white fabric from my mum’s wedding dress, tying them with an elastic band. It’s a memory I will treasure forever.

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Mayfield Lavender farm is the perfect backdrop to get some creative photos, a real Instagrammers purple paradise. Entry to the beautiful Surrey spot is just £1, and it’s open from June to September. You can even tuck into a lovely lavender cream tea or a bottle of lavender cider. And all of this is just a couple of buses away from London.

*****

If you go, I hope you have a fantastic day – be sure to pop back and leave me a comment below to let me know what you thought of Mayfield Lavender farm.

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203 thoughts on “Ladies in Mayfield Lavender.”

  8. I can so relate to your comment that Instagram fuels your wanderlust, I’m always bookmarking places from Instagram with a note that I have to visit if I’m ever in that country. I absolutely love the pictures of the lavender fields but your hair Becca, are so amazing, love the pink highlights! As much as I love the fragrance of lavender, I cannot believe I’ve never seen them in bloom like this myself. What a lovely experience it must have been !

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    1. Ahhh thanks so much Medha – my hair has been various shades of pink over the last 3 weeks! If you ever get the opportunity to go to a lavender farm, you really should – it’s beautiful x

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  11. Haha yes I get this all the time especially now I use Instagram so much more now, some of the pics I see just make me want to pack my bags and head off. Love How spontaneous trips can happen off the fly like yours. I was going to say that I’m not much of a lavender fan but as I’m typing this I realized I love the smell of it and I bet the color was amazing 😀

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  13. Haha I hear you. Its like when I look at pictures of food, I ‘have’ to go and buy it so I get what you mean about wanderlust. Speaking of which I am yet to visit the lavender fields and would love to as I find walking through fields rather soothing. I really love the pictures as well, what camera did you use for the shoot? Also how is your new job going? xx

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  17. Majestic, lavender here, lavender there, lavender everywhere! Loved these fields and getting jealous of your lavender field visit, lol. It is beautiful and that snail, it looked so cute!

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  18. Thanks! I enjoy your writing. It’s like I quickly took a trip to those fields from Texas. Should go visit some when they are in bloom.

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  20. Lavender is my all-time favorite and your post of the fields is absolutely beautiful. Have you ever seen those of National Geographic of lavender farms from around the world? Stunning, absolutely stunning! x

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  27. I love scrolling through Instagram and seeing different places to visit and adding them to my travel wish list! Looks like you found one of the most beautiful places on earth for one of the most beautiful flowers!

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  28. Visiting Lavender fields is on my list for so long and your post and beautiful pics augmented my craving to take in the views and aromas of beautiful lavender fields. I can imagine when the pics of flowers are so beautiful how beautiful in real they would be.

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  30. Very well written article and you have also described the place very good. Well done 🙂

    I really enjoyed my visit there. Didn’t have the patience to queue second time to take an ice cream… 😓

    Made a video about the place with useful information and interesting facts. Here it is

    https ://youtu.be/AsURHeXM2Z0

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  33. Mayfield Lavender looks a gorgeous day out. I can’t believe it’s only £1 too! Your photos of everything are stunning.
    I’d have had a hard time leaving all those foodie treats behind, especially the lavender meringue.

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    1. Yeah, it did take everything in my power not to buy one of the bags of meringue, I won’t lie! It’s such a bargain day out for only £1 – do you have any fields like this up near you? x

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  38. How lovely! Our local lavender fields aren’t anything like this slick operation, but were still stunning and we got some great photos. This is an amazing find so close to London, and so accessible. Just lovely.

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  39. I would have spent a fortune at Mayfield Lavender. It’s one of my favourite flowers!! I keep a bag of dried lavender in my kitchen for a variety of purposes. As you mentioned it is a calming fragrance and I’ve used it when I was feeling poorly. I’ve made lavender water, tea, & ice cream. I have yet to bake or make jam with it. Great ideas to try. Thanks for this post, the pictures lovely.

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  41. Lovely pics! Growing up the countryside I still get in the mood where I’d love to be able to step out of my front door and into a field within a minute or two of walking again!

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  45. I’m the same as you, my bucket list is forever growing! I’ve just added the sky walk and the tannery on their now.. lol. I’ve been to mayfield before and it’s beautiful. Try hitchin next year as well- they also have a sunflower field too.

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    1. I’m so happy to hear that I’ve inspired you to add a few more things to your bucket list! And thanks for the tip off about Hitchin, I’ll add it to my list for next year x

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  46. I have always wanted to visit a lavender field for some great pictures like these. Never thought about the smell though! Pretty pics and looks like a fun afternoon.

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  54. Mayfield Lavender farm sounds like a great place to visit. I love how they have the cafe and the little shop too where they sell products make from they farm. Thanks for sharing these gorgeous photos and your awesome experiences.

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  57. This is so beautiful, and very easy for me to get to from Victoria! I’ll be honest with you however, I’m not keen at all on lavender haha, but your photos are stunning! Plus those cupcakes look yummy!

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  63. Wow these Lavender fields are so beautiful and I too have been meaning to visit one, it’s such a great backdrop for photos. Also this shop here looks very cute and nice products

    Laura x

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  64. I can’t stand any products that smell of Lavender but give me a lavender plant any day. My mum had a lavender bush by her front gate when I was little, sadly it died

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  65. I don’t even consider myself to have a desire to travel, but seeing instagrammers going to beautiful places definitely stirs something. These fields are gorgeous. I’m thinking of all the beautiful pictures I could take there.

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  71. I love flowers. I tried my best to plant lavender but none of them cooperate and they never even pop up on the pot! I’m so disappointed and laughing at myself because maybe.. just maybe.. I don’t have a green thumb. LOL

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  75. We don’t have easily accessible lavender farms here in India or at least I never tried to look for it. However after looking at those pics I think it’s worth a search. 🙂 beautiful purple theme pic. I agree that sometime entries of want see increases rapidly as compared to seen places in the wish list & we struggle to catch up.

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  78. This is awesome. I would love to visit the Lavender farm. the shop looks fab too..that Jam! And lavender products smell so good. I love love love your photos too! 🙂

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  79. I’ve been wanting to go to a lavender farm/field for a long time. I saw one on a trip to nice, France and was just amazed by the rich hues, especially during the sunset. Talk about great Selfie background too

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  88. I had plans for a lavender farm trip this year in the Cotswolds but we won’t be visiting until the end of July, by which time it’s likely to be harvested. We’ll see!
    I have booked trips based purely on an Instagram photo too!

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  91. Oh my goodness what a great place to visit. I can imagine the smell of the field would be incredible as well. I only learnt about lavender in food a few years ago when I had lavender scones.. I expected them to taste soapy for some reason but was really surprised they were tasty!

    Jackie – Organised Mum Life

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  94. I really like your dress in this! I also love that the shop even has shampoos! I would buy one because I love the way that lavender smells. Also purple is my favorite color and also my blog color, so I’d be all about some Instagram photos here!

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