Lavender fields are most associated with provincial France, but many don’t realise there are three notable Lavender fields right here in the UK! Cotswold Lavender Fields, Somerset Lavender Fields and Mayfield Lavender Fields offer well over 40 acres of purple blooms.
I’m still truly amazed at the beautiful flower fields we have blooming right here in the UK full of sunflowers, poppies, snowdrops and more. Having visited the Confetti Flower Fields the year previous, the Lavender fields were high on my bucket list so I couldn’t resist a [socially distanced] visit when they opened in July.
Disclaimer: I visited the fields in June 2020 when the farm opened to visitors respecting social distancing. As a result, some experiences after the UK lockdown may differ.
What is the Cotswold Lavender Farm?
At this third-generation family farm, over 500,000 lavender plants are grown across over 90 acres to make the purest lavender essential oils shipped worldwide. Based in the Cotswolds, the Cotswold Lavender farm grows over 40 different varieties spanning some 140 miles of rows.
Social Distancing Changes
Visiting during the pandemic, a number of changes were implemented to ensure visitor’s safety. The shop, tea room and distillery were not open and plants were not available for sale. Payments were made by card only, and all of the picnic benches were available in the fields for visitors to bring their own picnics. Refreshments and shop items were available from an outdoor pop up shop.
When to Visit
Cotswold Lavender is open each year from around mid-June to the end of July. As the Lavender is a crop and thus harvested into a variety of products, the farm usually closes during the last week of July until early August to allow for harvest – opening again the following year.
It’s best to keep an eye on the website and social channels for exact opening dates, dependent on the flowering lavender. The fields are open from 10am to 5pm daily, booking is not required unless you are a professional photographer.
Visiting in late-June shortly after the farm opened to the public, the fields were surprisingly quiet when we arrived at lunchtime.
Entry ticket to Cotswold Lavender
How to get to Cotswold Lavender
Cotswold Lavender is a little off the beaten track in Snowshill, but the Sat Nav picked up the location without any issue. From Bristol, the journey time was around 1 hour 20 minutes but a lovely drive through rolling greenery and country lanes.
As you near the farm you’ll notice the purple haze in the distance. The official postcode is WR12 7JY,
It’s worth noting that Cotswold Lavender is just a thirty-minute drive from the Confetti Flower Fields. I’d highly recommend visiting both, but you’ll need to time is right since the Confetti Flower Fields are open for just 10 days a year.
Entrance to Cotswold Lavender
Parking and Access
Free on site car parking is available in a dedicated field, entry is clear upon entering the site. Toilets are available prior to entering the site via portable toilets.
The Car Park at Cotswold Lavender
The Field
It costs just £4 (adult) to enter the field for an indefinite time, payment is by card only during the current pandemic. We were able to exit the field to return our picnic to the car and reenter with our ticket without issue.
The rows of Lavender are planted to allow enough room to safely walk through the lavender without damaging the crop. Take a deep breath in, close your eyes and listen to the buzzing of the bees all around you.
You may as well do an impromptu photoshoot while you’re at it!
On Site Food and Drink
Drinks, ice creams and other treats were available in the fields, but it’s recommended to bring your own picnic.
Drinks Menu
Lavender Ice Cream
BYO Picnic
Respecting social distancing, the onsite refreshment options were limited but honestly, bringing your own picnic is far more enjoyable. All of the picnic tables had been moved outside to accommodate alfresco dining since the usual cafe was closed. There were a surprising number of picnic tables dotted around the field for visitors to enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of the lavender so bringing a picnic was actually advised by the farm during this time.
Some of the picnic tables available
Our epic picnic
Enjoy the Lavender at Home
Under normal circumstances, a small shop would be open to purchase Lavender plants and other lotions and potions made from the homegrown lavender. Despite the somewhat limited conditions, the farm still offered a limited range of products for you to enjoy at home available from the aptly named popup shop – ‘The Lavender Shed’.
