A Visit to Hitchin Lavender
If you’re looking for a beautiful yet affordable location to shoot some photos in this summer, then you’ve come to the right place.
Hitchin Lavender is a working farm based in Hertfordshire, just a short drive away from the town of Hitchin. The flowers bloom from mid-June to late-July, depending on the species, and they have two main varieties (angustifolia and lavendin for the botanists out there), but have more than 60 proudly blooming in their display area.
When I first entered the field during my own visit I was surprised by just how potent the flowers were - that might sound silly but I had been enticed to the farm by the beautiful photos I’d seen on Instagram and hadn’t put much thought into the rest of the experience. This is one of those places that truly surpasses the Instagram photos, and you just can’t replicate the feeling of strolling through their field on a sunny summer’s day. One word of warning though; me being me, I managed to get stung by a bee within my first 15 minutes of walking through the field. My advice (and this is going to sound so obvious, but I can’t have been the only one to make this mistake), is either to wear loose clothing that covers your legs, not to walk through the rows of taller plants, or both. Walk a bit further down the field where the flowers are still beautiful, but you’re much less likely to get stung. It’s not something that anyone talks about in the captions of those beautiful Instagram photos!
Although this particular farm is best known for its lavender (the giveaway is in the name), they also grow sunflowers and pumpkins which bloom in their respective seasons. Pop by in the middle of August to see the sunflowers (although this is weather dependent), and autumn for the pumpkins. If in doubt, keep an eye on their Facebook page which will tell you what is currently in bloom to make sure that you’re not disappointed.
Food wise, it’s a glorious spot for a picnic, and during my visit I tried their delicious homemade lavender ice cream. Their tearoom has been relocated into an outside undercover area where you can purchase refreshments, and there’s a farm shop where you can buy yourself some lavender to take home. Before the pandemic I believe that visitors were able to take their own cuttings in the field, so it’s lovely that there’s still a way to take the flowers home with you.
Pricing
The farm currently operates on a ticketing system, so make sure that you purchase yours in advance to make sure that you don’t miss out. Prices for the 2021 season are as follows:
Peak: £7
Off Peak: £6
Disabled: £4
Family of 4: £25
Family of 6 £36
Under 5's: Free of charge
Do bear in mind that those who are planning professional photoshoots are required to pay a £75 licensing fee, and will need to provide their own photographer.
Aside from that additional fee, a visit to Hitchin Lavender is a pretty affordable day out for couples, families and Instagram influencers alike!
How to get there
The easiest way to access Hitchin Lavender from London is by getting the train from Kings Cross directly to Hitchin station. From there you can get an Uber for just £8 directly to the farm. The Thames Link trains only take about half an hour, and the Uber/taxi from the other side is a mere ten minutes, so it’s super easy to access even if you don’t have a car.
For those who are planning to drive, the farm has free parking spaces available for you to use during your visit.
What else is in the area?
Hitchin is a lovely little town in Hertfordshire where I actually lived for a short while. It’s a historic market town with loads of little independent cafes and coffee shops - my favourite being Halsey’s Deli & Eatery on Market Place. Other faves of mine are the cakes from Simmons Bakers, the Nutella hot chocolate from Rainbow Smoothies, and the granola bowls from Chia Naturally Healthy.
There’s also a super cute bath bomb shop called Fizz, which you can peruse for a range of different bath products, and the tourist information centre sells artwork created by local artists. Hitchin really is a delightful place and, while you’re in the area, it’s worth a wander through to see what it has to offer.
As I’ve said, I had a wonderful time during my visit to Hitchin Lavender. As well as snapping some great photos, I had a most enjoyable afternoon out with a very good friend!
To find out more information about Hitchin lavender, visit their website here.
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