Prettiest Autumn Walks in Hampshire
Nothing says a cosy autumn day quite like a family walk, lined with orange trees, crunchy leaves and a steamy seasonal drink.
Sunflower Season & The Best Places to Visit on The South Coast
If you’ve never experienced sunflower season, this summer is the year to do it! From late July through September, sunflower fields in the UK become a popular attraction. Many farms across the UK grow acres of beautiful sunflowers in their fields and welcome visitors. By turning their fields into temporary tourist attractions, it brings more people to the farms and helps to increase their revenue stream.
Why Sunflower Season is So Special
Unlike the manicured gardens we’re used to seeing with flowers, sunflower fields have a more wild, untamed beauty about them. The flowers grow to varying heights, some towering over most adults! They also grow in different directions, with stems bending more than others, making a large field of sunflowers an interesting sight. It’s great fun for the kids, as they get to run through the rows of sunflowers and as a family, you can capture some amazing shots.
When do sunflowers bloom? Well, the season is surprisingly short, which makes catching a glimpse of these flowers even more special. The best time to visit sunflower fields in the UK is August, when most sunflowers are at their peak for just two to three weeks. Miss it, and you’ll have to wait another year. For many families, this becomes an annual tradition, trying to capture the sunflowers at their best and getting some beautiful photos good enough to show off.
Best Sunflower Fields in The South of England
We have put together a list of some of the best sunflower fields near you.
Hampshire
Picking Patch, Fordingbridge
Picking Patch offers a wholesome day out with PYO sunflowers. They grow over 40,000 sunflowers annually and feature 9 different varieties of sunflowers. You can take part in a barrel train ride through the fields as well as various activities, including a maize maze, escape rooms, bee trail, wildflower photo opportunities and various crafts.
Silkstead Sunflowers, Four Dells Farm
Silkstead Sunflowers is in Four Dells Farm in Otterbourne, Winchester. This 10-acre sunflower field offers fantastic photo opportunities with a sunflower maze, which is great fun, as well as a viewing platform providing 360-degree views. If you’re looking to pick your own sunflowers, Silkstead offers this too, and you can either bring your own secateurs to cut with or borrow theirs for a donation to their chosen charity. There is also a picnic area with children’s games and visitors can bring a picnic blanket or chair as seating is limited.
Laverstoke Park Farm, Overton
Laverstoke Park Farm near Whitchurch has been growing sunflowers for several years. What started as a crop rotation experiment has become a much-loved local attraction. The farm usually opens its sunflower field in mid-August, and they often post updates on their social media when the flowers are at their peak for the best experience. The field sits on a gentle slope, which creates fantastic photo opportunities with the pleasant countryside views in the background.
Sussex
Sharnfold Farm, Eastbourne
Sharnfold Farm is situated in the East Sussex countryside near Eastbourne. The farm features a beautiful sunflower field that opens as part of their summer events from July 19th through September 7th, where visitors can stroll through the sunflower displays.
The farm offers more than just sunflowers, it has pick-your-own fruit and vegetables, a farm shop and butcher counter, coffee shop, playground, farm trail and a lake, as well as other seasonal crops throughout the year. Their summer pass provides unlimited visits for just £9.95 per person, covering the entire school holiday period.
Wiston Estate, North Farm
Wiston Estate near Steyning has created a spectacle designed to wow visitors as they plant acres and acres of sunflowers. The estate usually charges a small entrance fee, but we think it’s worth every penny. They provide maps showing the best walking routes through the fields and have designated photography spots to capture the best shots. The South Downs provides a fantastic backdrop, and on clear days, you can see the coast.
Tulleys Farm, Turners Hill
Tulleys Farm in Crawley is better known for its Halloween fright nights, but their sunflower fields are equally impressive. They plant multiple varieties, including some unusual deep red and burgundy sunflowers alongside the classic yellow ones. The farm usually opens the sunflower fields in late August, which works perfectly for the summer holidays.
Dorset
Maiden Castle Farm, Dorchester
Maiden Castle Farm has a hugely popular sunflower trail. The 20-acre sunflower trail provides an enjoyable stroll through their sunflower fields. There are two routes, one taking approximately 30 minutes and a shorter one that takes 10 minutes – ideal for those with prams, pushchairs and wheelchairs. The trail is open for three weeks in August from 11am–4pm daily. The entry fee costs £5 per person (children under 5 go free) which the farm has kept the same since 2021. This year they have sown over 300,000 sunflower seeds!
Sopley Farm, Sopley
Sopley Farm near Christchurch has been growing sunflowers for several years. The farm is close to the Hampshire border, and its fields benefit from the fertile soil of the Avon Valley. They usually welcome visitors in August, and the proximity to the coast means you can easily combine a sunflower visit with a trip to the beach.
Blandford Forum
The area around Blandford Forum has several farms, including Gorcombe Farm and North Farm, which grow sunflowers and allow visitors to pick their own sunflowers, usually at a small cost. The wide, open landscape of the Dorset Downs provides perfect growing conditions, and the fields are contrasted with rocky chalk hills.
Purcombe Farm, Bridgport
The sunflower field at Purcombe Farm provides visitors with an authentic working farm experience in a stunning West Dorset setting. The location offers lovely views across the Marshwood Vale countryside, combining sunflower viewing with the scenic beauty of rural Dorset. Purcombe Farm benefits from its proximity to the famous Jurassic Coast, making it an ideal stop for visitors exploring the region’s natural attractions and historic coastline.
Making the Most of Your Sunflower Visit
Timing is everything with the sunflower season. The flowers typically face east in the morning, following the sun throughout the day. This means early morning visits offer the best light for photography, with the bonus of fewer crowds. Late afternoon can be equally magical, with golden light filtering through the petals.
Weather plays an important role too. A few days of rain can bend the taller stems, while droughts can cause the flowers to wilt. Check the farm’s social media before travelling, most will regularly update on weather conditions and whether this affects the crops.
Bring comfortable walking shoes and expect to get a bit muddy, especially if it’s been raining. The paths between sunflower rows can be uneven, so make sure to watch your step. A hat and sunscreen are essential, as there’s very little shade in these fields.
How to Get the Best Photos
Sunflower fields present wonderful photography opportunities. Whether it’s a close-up of one flower or a wide shot of thousands, many people want to know how to capture them best.
Here are some tips:
- Try shooting from different angles, get low to shoot upward through the flowers or find an elevated position to show the extent of the field.
- Shoot into the sun and use a flash so there’s no silhouette.
- Sunflower fields during sunset (known as the golden hour) provide the most flattering light, as the yellow petals seem as if they’re glowing from within. Overcast days can work well too, providing even lighting that prevents shadows between the flowers.
- Don’t forget to include your friends and family in the shots for scale and for memories. A child running through the sunflower rows or an adult standing between the tall flowers showcases just how impressive these flowers are.
- Use light from the side to create depth and something a bit more dynamic. Most people have the sun straight in front of them, which can make faces flat and people often squint due to the harsh sun.
- Bring plenty of drinks and sun cream because when the sun is out, it’s very exposed. Happier kids = more smiles!
- If you have a selfie stick/tripod lying around, bring it with you so that the photographer can be included in the photos.
Planning is Always Recommended for the Best Experience
Check opening times and access before travelling to a farm. Some farms require you to book in advance, while others allow for impromptu visits. Many use honesty boxes for entrance fees when they’re not manned by staff, so it’s advised to bring cash.
Bring plenty of drinks and snacks to ensure everyone is happy and engaged, as well as suncream and hats if you go when the sun is at its strongest (11am – 3pm).
More Than Sunflower Spotting
What makes the sunflower season special isn’t just seeing the flowers, it’s the sense of adventure that you can create as a family. It’s also important for children to understand how hard farmers work and the challenges they face as well as how they adapt, such as finding ways to diversify their income by creating tourist attractions that everyone can enjoy.
Visiting sunflower fields is a cost-effective activity to do during the summer holidays. As the sunflower season is short, why not try visiting multiple fields in a day and make it a goal to find the most impressive? As Hampshire, Sussex and Dorset are neighbouring counties, you could start in one county and end in another. Enjoy the scenery, let the kids roam free, get some amazing photos and make memories as a family.
Featured Blogs
Best Places to Go Apple Picking in The UK
Best Places to Go Apple Picking in The UK (Hampshire, Sussex and Dorset) 2025 Guide
The Top Beaches in the South of England
Discovering the best beaches in the south of England