Very much like myself, lavender truly comes into its own during the summer months. And despite the mild identity crisis the weather is currently experiencing; summer is slowly but surely (emphasis on the word slowly) making its way to the capital city – and I’m well-and-truly ready for a season of live, laugh, lav-ing.
Now, you’ve probably heard of Mayfield Lavender Farm; the purple paradise that Londoners flock to each year to frolic in the fragrant flowers and fill their Instagram feeds with photos captioned ‘a lav-ley day for it’. Or perhaps that’s just me. Anyway, what you may not have heard of, however, is Mayfield’s slightly smaller and far more surreptitious sibling, the Secret Lavender Garden. Sounds pretty interesting, right?
The Secret Lavender Garden
Just ten minutes from Mayfield’s main floral farm, and less than an hour from the capital, is the new-for-this-year Secret Lavender Garden. This exclusive experience allows far fewer people to enter at a time, making for a much more intimate and peaceful way to enjoy lavender season.
This hidden haven is filled with rows upon rows of gorgeous lavender, and also boasts an apple orchard, over 500 fruit trees, sweeping views and plenty of local wildlife. The Secret Lavender Garden is swinging open its gates on June 21 and will remain open until August 24. And by welcoming just 40 guests in each morning slots and 60 in the afternoon, the secluded sanctuary will offer visitors a terrifically tranquil way to revel in the blooms.
If meandering through the sea of lavender leaves you feeling a tad peckish, fear not. There’s an on-site café that will be serving up a whole host of lavender-themed tasty treats. But if you fancy an al-fresco feast, you could pack yourself a picnic to enjoy outdoors, or opt to preorder one of Mayfield’s hand-crafted hampers. It all sounds blooming wonderful to me, that’s for sure.
Getting to the Secret Lavender Garden from London
The nearest station to the Secret Lavender Garden is Epsom Downs, which is a direct and fairly speedy train from London Victoria. The garden is then just a short walk from the station. If you’re travelling by car, the Secret Lavender Garden is approximately an hour’s drive from central London. Parking is free, but spaces are limited and need to be booked in advance on their website.
Find out more about Mayfield’s Secret Lavender Garden and plan your visit here.