Lavender field walks at Castle Farm, Kent

Castle Farm is the UK’s largest lavender farm, growing over 110 acres of lavender in their fields. We’ve visited Castle Farm in all seasons having both grown up in nearby towns, but there’s nothing like a visit during the Summer when the fields are saturated with the deep purple of the lavender flowers in full bloom. Eager to get up close and inhale the sweet smell, we headed to Castle Farm for one of their lavender field walks. Here’s everything you need to know about the event, and others, at Castle Farm.

Where is Castle Farm?

Castle Farm is situated halfway between the villages of Eynsford and Shoreham, Kent, nestled in charming countryside fields. We recommend driving to the Farm, arriving via the A225 and following the farm track down to the barn where there’s a free car park. The postcode can lead you to the wrong entrance, so be sure to follow local signage or use the What3Words location below to help you find your way. 

There are Go2 bus services that serve ‘The Hop Shop’ stops in either direction at the top of the farm track, from Swanley, Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks, though these do not operate on Sundays or after 7.30pm.

For those arriving by train, there are stations at Eynsford and Shoreham, both of which are 2.4 km (1.5 miles) from Castle Farm. There are no taxi ranks at either station, so you will need to pre-book a service or arrive at Castle Farm on foot via the Darent Valley Footpath.

When is the best time to visit Castle Farm lavender fields?

The lavender fields bloom from mid June to late July. The exact starting dates of events at the Farm can vary depending on the flowers blooming later or earlier than usual. This year, the lavender fields have bloomed earlier than expected and events begin on the 13th June. This is the perfect time to book your event tickets and head to Castle Farm to see the sprawling acres of purple for yourself. We’d highly recommend booking the lavender field walk for a peaceful stroll through the rows of lavender, taking in the relaxing scent and enjoying the sounds of nature from the countryside all around you.

Buying tickets for the lavender field walk

While Castle Farm try to accommodate walk-ins where possible, we highly recommend that you book your tickets to the lavender field walk event in advance to avoid disappointment. At the height of Summer, the event is very popular and is especially busy on the weekends. You can check availability on the Castle Farm website when you book your tickets, where you’ll be required to choose a time slot. Tickets are sold per person, with a reduced rate for children.

Time slots begin from 10am, with the last time slot of the day at 4pm on weekdays and 7pm on the weekend. The farm itself is free to enter with no ticket required, and is open from 9am – 5pm Tuesday to Saturday, and 10am – 5pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays, so there’s plenty of time to discover all the delights of Castle Farm either before or after your event time slot. Car parking is free for Farm visitors and event ticket holders, though expect the car park to fill up quickly at peak times.

What to expect during the lavender field walk

The lavender field walks last one hour, and as tickets have a timed entry you’ll need to ensure you arrive in plenty of time for the start of your walk. If you arrive late for your time slot, you won’t be able to stay longer to make up for the time you’ve lost. This walk is unguided so you can stroll through the lavender at your own pace, taking in the scent and the spectacular landscape in the valley. There’s a bench in the field that’s perfect for a photo memento of your walk, nestled perfectly amongst the rows of lavender.

While these field walk events do get busy, we still found that we were able to wander along empty rows with no other visitors and we had enough space to enjoy a peaceful stroll together. As you’ll see from our pictures, it feels like there are a lot of people when everyone first enters the field but the crowd disperses very quickly, and you’ll be able to snap some purple portraits without anyone in the background!

At the end of the field, there is a Castle Farm market stall selling ice creams, cold and hot drinks, seasonal fruit and lavender gifts. Every time we visit Castle Farm we always come away with at least one lavender souvenir! From lavender pillow mist spray and soaps, to fresh cut lavender bunches and even lavender biscuits, there’s something for everyone.

It’s worth knowing before you arrive for a lavender field walk that Castle Farm do not permit commercial photography or the use of drones during this event. However, you can book an entire lavender field to yourself if you’d like to arrange a professional photoshoot! Equally, you’re not able to bring picnics to the lavender field walk but can book a ticket to their lavender picnic event – more information on this below.

We’d recommend checking the weather on the day of your visit as the lavender field walks go ahead no matter the conditions. The fields are very open with little shade, save for a gazebo at one end, so it’s important to bring hats and sunglasses and wear suncream to protect yourself from the sun on hot Summer days. If your visit does coincide with a rainy day, we’d highly recommend bringing an umbrella and focusing on the fact that the lavender becomes even more beautifully fragrant in the rain!

Can you bring dogs to the lavender field walks?

As lovers of four-legged friends, we’re delighted that this event is dog-friendly! Visitors are permitted to bring dogs along on the lavender field walks, though dogs must be kept on lead. We suggest being alert to the presence of bees working in the lavender – if your dog is sensitive to bees there’s no getting around the fact that you’ll encounter quite a few of them, so take care as you take your pup for walkies along the lavender. Dogs are also permitted on lead throughout the farm, though they cannot enter the farm shop. There are water bowls for dogs in the courtyard just outside the shop entrance.

Can you visit the lavender fields at Castle Farm for free?

While you can visit Castle Farm for free, you will not be permitted to enter the lavender fields without purchasing a ticket to one of the seasonal events. You can enjoy views of the lavender on approach to the farm from the main road or via the Darenth Valley footpath.

Facilities at Castle Farm

In addition to the market stall set up for events in the lavender fields, Castle Farm has its own farm shop selling unique gifts, homeware and seasonal produce. Compared to when it first opened in 1985, when the shop stocked only dried hops and flowers, there’s now an enormous variety of treasures on sale and it’s easy to see why it was voted Small Farm Shop of the Year in 2025! We visit the shop throughout the seasons as it’s our go-to place for finding one-of-a-kind local gifts for friends and family, and there’s no better time to visit than after a walk around the lavender fields. Along with lavender bags, oils, jewellery and eye pillows, you’ll also find more quirky items like lavender tea, lavender fudge, and lavender and tomato chutneys. There are pamper hampers bursting with sweet-smelling goodies, as well as the option to make up your own hamper with an array of basket sizes available. There’s always something new to see and we love spending time perusing the shelves here.

There are field toilets at Castle Farm available to event ticket holders, and an accessible toilet on site for those who need it. For refreshments, Castle Farm’s new coffee cabin serves up barista-made hot drinks as well as refreshing cold drinks and ice cream for a sunny day. Where else would you find a beautifully cool and floral iced lavender latte?

Other events at Castle Farm

A few other events taking place throughout lavender season at Castle Farm:

• Guided lavender field and distillery tour. Have a peek behind the scenes of Castle Farm and learn about the varieties of lavender grown on site, as well as enjoying a visit to the distillery to see how the lavender oil is extracted. Tours last 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• Picnic in the lavender. Grab your blanket and favourite Summer treats and enjoy a picnic in the middle of 80,000 lavender plants. You can pre-order a bottle of Castle Farm’s lavender gin to sip on as you sit in the sunshine. Your ticket gives you 2.5 hours in the lavender field to sit or stroll at your leisure.
• Lavender wreath workshop. Create your own gorgeous heart-shaped wreath with lavender harvested from the Farm. All the equipment you’ll need is provided for you, plus refreshments. Workshops last approximately 2.5 hours.
• Guided breathwork class. Release tension in your body and quieten your mind with a 45 minute class guided by a qualified yoga and breathwork teacher, while you sit amongst the lavender. Includes access to a lavender field walk prior to your session.
• Seasonal events throughout the year. At various stages in the year, Castle Farm transforms as the seasons bring different produce and crops to life. When the Summer comes to an end, be sure to head back to Castle Farm during the Autumn to see the impressive selection of pumpkins grown on site!