If you are looking for a family day out that feels a little more special than another trip to the soft play, sunflower season is calling. Essex is home to some beautiful sunflower fields where you can wander through towering golden blooms, pick your own flowers, enjoy farm activities and, in some cases, bring the dog along too.
Sunflower season is short, with most fields opening for just a few weeks depending on the weather and how quickly the flowers bloom. That makes a trip to a sunflower field feel like one of those lovely summer traditions you want to squeeze into the calendar before the opportunity disappears.
We have rounded up some of the best sunflower fields in Essex to visit with kids this year, including what children can do while you are there and whether four legged family members can come along.
Writtle Sunflowers, Chelmsford
Writtle Sunflowers is arguably one of the best known sunflower experiences in Essex, and for good reason. This family run flower field has been welcoming visitors for years and has become something of a summer tradition for local families.
Located near Roxwell, just outside Chelmsford, Writtle Sunflowers offers families the chance to wander through the flower field, pick their own sunflowers and wildflowers and enjoy plenty of photo opportunities.
For children, there is more to do than simply admire the flowers. There is a small maze and a sunflower walk, giving little ones somewhere to explore when they have inevitably decided that standing still for a photograph is absolutely not happening. There is also a picnic area and refreshments available, making it easy to turn your visit into a relaxed afternoon rather than a quick flower picking trip.
The farm is also dog friendly, so your four legged family member can join in the fun. Dogs are accepted at the field, although it is always sensible to check the latest visitor guidance before setting off.
Book Writtle Sunflowers tickets
Cammas Hall Farm, Hatfield Broad Oak
Cammas Hall Farm is another brilliant option if you want to combine your sunflower visit with plenty of other things to keep the children entertained.
The family run farm sits in the Essex countryside near Hatfield Broad Oak and offers seasonal pick your own experiences throughout the year. Sunflowers are part of the farm’s summer offering, with special sunflower events taking place during the season.
The sunflower experience is particularly appealing for younger children because it can be more than simply walking through a field. During the Sunflower Festival, children can pick a sunflower to take home and meet the farm’s Sunflower Fairy and other characters. There are also photo opportunities dotted around the meadow, which should keep the family photographer in your group very happy.
There is also a farm shop and café, while the farm’s wider activities include pick your own fruit and a six acre Footgolf course. Later in the summer, the seven acre Maize Maze provides another reason to make a full day of it.
Cammas Hall also welcomes dogs at certain farm events, and it has even hosted dedicated dog events, but its rules can vary depending on the activity. If you are planning to take your dog specifically for the sunflower experience, check the current event guidance before visiting.
The Green Barn Farm, Benfleet
The Green Barn Farm is a great choice for families in South Essex looking for a sunflower field with plenty going on around it.
The farm’s Sunflower Festival takes place during the summer and gives visitors the chance to wander through a natural sea of sunflowers, take photographs and pick flowers to bring home. The 2026 flowers have been slower to bloom than expected, so the farm has advised visitors to check for opening updates before travelling.
This one is particularly good for families because there are plenty of other things to do at the farm. Children can enjoy the outside play area, and the farm also has animals including cows, goats, pigs, rabbits, ducks and guinea pigs, with opportunities for children to interact with them during selected events and weekends.
The sunflower experience also includes the chance to explore the farm’s maize maze and climb the bale pyramids, so there is plenty to keep energetic little ones occupied after they have finished admiring the flowers.
And what about the dog? The farm confirms that dogs are welcome in its shop and café when kept on a lead. Its wider farm events can have their own rules, so check the specific sunflower event before bringing your pooch into the field itself.
When is the best time to visit Essex sunflower fields?
Sunflower season usually falls in the height of summer, but there is no guaranteed date every year. The flowers are very much in charge, and sunshine, rainfall and temperatures all affect when they are ready.
For 2026, several Essex sunflower experiences have had slightly different opening windows, so checking the farm’s website or social media before leaving home is particularly important.
It is also worth remembering that a field can look very different from one week to the next. If you want those classic photographs surrounded by huge, bright yellow blooms, try to visit close to peak flowering rather than waiting until the very end of the season.
Tips for visiting sunflower fields with kids
Sunflower fields are beautiful, but they are still working farms, so sensible footwear is a good idea. Even on a sunny day, paths can become muddy or uneven, particularly after rain.
If you are planning to pick your own flowers, check whether you need to bring secateurs. Some farms provide them for a refundable deposit, while others recommend bringing your own.
For younger children, a pushchair may be tricky in some areas of a field. If your little one is still small enough for a sling or carrier, it can be a useful option, particularly where paths are grassy or uneven.
Do not forget water, sun cream and a hat either. A sunflower field can have surprisingly little shade, and children have an uncanny ability to become thirsty approximately three minutes after you leave the car.
And if you are bringing the dog, always check the individual farm’s current rules. Dog friendly does not necessarily mean dogs can enter every part of a sunflower maze or flower field. Some farms restrict dogs to particular paths or picnic areas.
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