It might be a bit of a trek compared to Kew Gardens or Vauxhall Park, but visitors making the journey up to north Hertfordshire to check out Hitchin Lavender are rewarded with a true purple paradise. Cadwell Farm in Ickleford has been managed by five generations for more than 100 years, and first planted lavender here back in 2000.
The farm features plenty more attractions besides its 30 acres of indigo flowers, including a 17th-century barn housing a cafe, children’s play area and gift shop, a display field planted with over 60 varieties of lavender, a British wildflower meadow, a sunflower field and autumn pumpkin patch.
If you visit during the flowering season, you’ll even be able to pick some blooms to take home with you, while the shop is open year-round for you to stock up on pretty much any kind of lavender product imaginable, from candles, eye masks and aromatherapy oils to teas, jams and infused gins.
It’s worth going the extra mile(s) for.