If you’ve searched for lavender fields near London, the answer you’ve almost certainly landed on is Mayfield Lavender Farm in Banstead — a 25-acre working organic farm just 15 miles southwest of the city that turns into rolling rows of purple every summer. It’s the closest lavender field of any real size to central London, it’s the UK’s only Soil Association-certified organic lavender farm, and 2026 marks its 20th anniversary since first opening to the public. Unlike the centuries-old palaces and castles on this site, Mayfield’s story is a genuinely recent one — which makes it no less worth getting right before you plan a visit.

The Story of Mayfield Lavender Farm

Reviving a Victorian Lavender Heritage

Mayfield Lavender Farm was founded in 2006 by Brendan Maye, on land that sits within an area with a genuinely deep lavender-growing history: through the 18th and 19th centuries, the belt of land covering Banstead, Mitcham and Carshalton was a centre of the global lavender trade, supplying oil and dried flowers to perfumers and pharmacists across Britain. That industry had largely disappeared by the 20th century, and the Maye family set out specifically to revive it, planting the farm on land that had once formed part of one of the original Victorian-era lavender fields in the area. Some of the plants that helped establish the farm were reportedly donated by local growers whose own lavender traced back to those original Victorian fields — a nice, literal continuity between the historic industry and the farm visitors walk through today.

The early years were genuinely difficult: establishing 25 acres of lavender from scratch took patience, with the family gradually building up the fields row by row before Mayfield became the recognisable, densely planted farm it is now. 2026 marks the farm’s 20th year open to the public, celebrated with an anniversary programme built around the themes of renewal, regrowth and regeneration.

The UK’s Only Certified Organic Lavender Farm

From the outset, Mayfield committed to genuinely organic farming rather than simply marketing itself that way, and it’s certified by the Soil Association — the British charity, established in 1946, that sets and audits organic farming standards in the UK. In practice, this means no agricultural chemicals or pesticides anywhere on the farm; weed control across the entire 25 acres is done entirely by hand, which the farm itself describes as an enormous, never-ending job. The result is a genuinely rich site for local wildlife: butterflies, bumblebees and honeybees are a constant presence through the summer, alongside pheasants and a resident family of kestrels that has nested in the field for years. The farm grows two varieties of English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Folgate and Maillette, chosen for how well they suit the chalky soil and mild local climate.

Two Sites: Banstead and the Secret Lavender Garden

Mayfield now operates across two separate locations roughly three miles apart. The original 25-acre working farm remains in Banstead, open seasonally each summer for the lavender bloom. A second site, Mayfield’s Secret Lavender Garden, sits in Epsom alongside the Glasshouse Café and gift shop, and — unlike the seasonal Banstead farm — is open year-round, hosting everything from hearty breakfasts and afternoon teas to winter wreath-making workshops. It’s a useful thing to know if you’re travelling from further afield and want to visit outside the narrow June–August bloom window: the farm itself is only open in summer, but the Epsom site and café operate all year.

Visiting Mayfield Lavender Farm: Practical Information

Verified against the official Mayfield Lavender website, checked 5 September 2026. As a seasonal farm with pricing that’s reviewed each year, re-verify these details before your visit rather than relying on this guide alone if you’re reading it more than a season or two after publication.

Best Time to Visit

For the 2026 season, the Banstead farm is open daily from Saturday 6 June to Sunday 23 August, 9am to 6pm, with last entry at 5.15pm. The lavender typically starts coming into bloom from mid-to-late June and reaches its most vivid, photogenic peak through July and into early August — though the exact timing shifts by a couple of weeks each year depending on the weather, and a particularly hot summer can bring the harvest forward. If you want the fullest, most vibrant purple for photos, aim for July; if you’d rather avoid the heaviest crowds and don’t mind a slightly less saturated field, late June tends to be quieter while still recognisably lavender-coloured. Whichever you choose, check the farm’s own site shortly before travelling to confirm bloom conditions, since this genuinely is a keyword you should search again close to your visit date rather than trust from memory.

Tickets & Entry Price

For the 2026 summer season, standard admission is £7.50 for adults and over-12s, £2.50 for children aged 5–11, and free for under-5s; a family ticket covering 2 adults and 2 children costs £18. New for 2026, flexible “Anyday” tickets and multi-visit “Purple Passes” are available to book online in advance, alongside the option to simply pay on arrival. Parking is included in the admission price at no extra charge, though the on-site car park has limited capacity and does fill on peak summer weekends.

This exact pricing structure is specific to the 2026 season — Mayfield has adjusted its age brackets and ticket types between years before, so treat these figures as a guide and confirm current prices on mayfieldlavender.com directly when you book.

Is Mayfield Lavender Farm Free to Visit?

No — despite how it sometimes gets described online, Mayfield is a working commercial farm with paid entry, not a free public field. Standard adult admission runs a few pounds, with young children going free depending on the age threshold in place that season. The confusion is understandable, since so much of Mayfield’s fame comes from casually shared Instagram photos that don’t mention admission at all, but it’s worth budgeting for a ticket rather than assuming you can simply walk in.

Where Is Mayfield Lavender Farm?

The farm’s address is 1 Carshalton Road, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 3JA, in the North Surrey Downs just south of Croydon and Sutton. The separate Secret Lavender Garden and Glasshouse Café site is at 139 Reigate Road, Epsom, KT17 3DW, roughly three miles from the main farm. Neither site sits inside the Ultra Low Emission Zone, so ULEZ charges don’t apply if you’re driving in from central London.

London to Mayfield Lavender Farm: Getting There

Mayfield sits around 15 miles southwest of central London, and by car the journey typically takes 40–60 minutes outside peak traffic, depending on your starting point. There’s no single station right at the gates, so public transport requires a short bus or taxi connection at the end: from London Victoria, take a train to Sutton and then the S1 bus to the Woolpack stop in Banstead, followed by the 166 bus to the farm gate — or, for a simpler if pricier option, take the train to Sutton or Cheam and finish the journey by taxi. An alternative route runs via West Croydon, again picking up the 166 bus from there, though this can get genuinely busy during peak lavender season.

Given the multi-leg journey by public transport, this is one of the London day trips where the maths on a private transfer genuinely works out reasonably for a family or small group, particularly if you’re travelling with children, a pushchair, or simply want to avoid juggling two separate bus connections after a train from Victoria.

Is Mayfield Lavender Farm Dog Friendly?

Yes — well-behaved dogs are genuinely welcome throughout the farm, provided they stay on a lead at all times, and owners are asked to bring their own poop bags. This puts Mayfield ahead of several other well-known lavender farms near London, some of which restrict access to guide dogs only, so it’s worth knowing if a dog-friendly day out is part of your plan.

Café & Gift Shop

The Banstead farm has an on-site al fresco café and a rotating selection of street food traders during the summer season, serving lavender-infused treats alongside more standard options like burgers, hot dogs and crêpes; picnics brought from home aren’t permitted anywhere on the farm, in order to protect the organic lavender and the wildlife it supports. A small on-site shop sells lavender bunches, oils and gifts, since picking your own lavender from the field isn’t allowed.

For a proper sit-down meal, the year-round Glasshouse Café at the Epsom Secret Lavender Garden site is the better bet, with a full breakfast and lunch menu and a popular afternoon tea that’s worth booking ahead. The adjoining gift shop stocks a wider range of lavender and non-lavender plants, gifts and homeware than the seasonal Banstead shop.

How Long to Allow

Most visitors spend 2 to 3 hours at the farm, enough time for a walk through the rows, photos at the farm’s well-known features (the red telephone box, the tractor, the heart-shaped bench), a ride on the Looby Loo tractor train, and a stop for food. Arriving right at 9am opening, or on a weekday rather than a weekend, is the most reliable way to photograph the fields without large crowds in the background.

Accessibility

The farm’s paths between rows are broadly level and manageable for pushchairs and most wheelchair users, though the ground can turn soft and uneven after rain, so sturdy footwear is worth the mention it gets in most visitor reviews. Parking, included in your admission, sits close to the entrance.

Managing Body

Mayfield Lavender Farm is an independent, family-run business founded and still operated by the Maye family, rather than a charity or heritage trust. It’s a genuinely working commercial farm first, and a visitor attraction second — which is part of why its organic certification and hand-weeded fields matter to how it presents itself.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Mayfield Lavender Farm?

Late June through early August, with the most vivid bloom typically in July. The 2026 season runs 6 June to 23 August, but exact peak timing shifts by a couple of weeks each year depending on the weather.

How much does it cost to visit Mayfield Lavender Farm?

For the 2026 season, adults and over-12s pay £7.50, children 5–11 pay £2.50, and under-5s go free, with a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) at £18. Parking is included. Check the official site for current-year pricing, as it’s reviewed annually.

Where is Mayfield Lavender Farm?

1 Carshalton Road, Banstead, Surrey, SM7 3JA, around 15 miles southwest of central London.

How far is Mayfield Lavender Farm from London?

Around 15 miles from central London, typically a 40–60 minute drive outside peak traffic. By public transport, it involves a train to Sutton or West Croydon followed by a bus or taxi, since there’s no station directly at the farm.

Is Mayfield Lavender Farm free to visit?

No. It’s a working commercial farm with paid entry for adults and older children, not a free open field, though young children typically go free depending on the age threshold in place that season.

Is Mayfield Lavender Farm dog friendly?

Yes, well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome throughout the farm, with no restrictions on where they can go.

Is there a Mayfield Lavender Farm gift shop or café?

Yes. The Banstead farm has a seasonal on-site café and street food traders during summer, plus a small shop. The year-round Glasshouse Café and larger gift shop are at the separate Secret Lavender Garden site in Epsom.

Mayfield pairs well with a wider Surrey day trip — browse the full Parks & Gardens collection for more of the country’s gardens, and see our England guide for the wider country beyond London’s borders.