Sam's Sunflowers 2026: a summer day out near Portsmouth

If you are after a summer day out that is easy to reach from Portsmouth, Sam's Sunflowers on Hayling Island is hard to beat. It is a seasonal pick-your-own sunflower field run by Stoke Fruit Farm, spread across a 50-acre site at St Peters Road in Northney, just off the A3025 and about a mile south of Hayling Island. The 2026 season runs from 1st June right through to 31st August, so there is plenty of time to fit it in before the end of summer.

Getting there is straightforward enough if you know what to look for. From the A3025, turn right at the sign for Hayling Island, then turn left at the sign for Stoke Fruit Farm, and you will find yourself at the site. Once you are through the gate, the main draw is the sunflower field itself, where you can pick sunflowers and other floral blooms to take home. It is the kind of place that is as much about the photos as the picking, so it is worth going on a day when the weather is playing along.

There is more here than just the flowers, which is what makes it a full day out rather than a quick stop. This year the farm has laid out a 12-acre maize maze shaped like David Attenborough to mark his 100th birthday, so it is a good one to bring the kids along for. Beside that there is a footgolf course, for anyone who has never come across it: you tee off and aim to get a number 5 soccer ball into the hole in the green zone in as few kicks as possible. Between the sunflowers, the maze and the footgolf, there is enough to keep you busy for a few hours.

Opening hours are worth checking before you set off, as they change depending on the day. From Monday to Wednesday it is open 10am to 4pm, and on Sundays it runs 10am to 6pm. Thursdays and Saturdays are the long days, both 10am to 9pm, and Thursday is the one to pick if you are bringing the dog, as they are only welcome after 5pm. There are also some ticketed events planned across the summer, so it is worth keeping an eye on the farm's updates if you are planning a visit on a weekend.

On price, it is reasonably easy on the wallet. Adults are £10, children aged 4 to 15 are £5, and under 4s go free, with a family ticket for two adults and two children at £30. If you are heading down with the whole family, the family ticket is the obvious choice. Because it is seasonal, the whole thing only runs while the sunflowers are in bloom, so the window is really the summer months.

And because it is on Hayling Island, you can easily make a day of it. The island has plenty more going on, from the Funland Amusement Park and the Hayling Island Donkey Sanctuary to the Hayling Island Station Theatre, plus kite surfing, sailing and a five-mile stretch of coastline to walk along. Whether you want a quiet wander through the flowers or a full day of island activities, Sam's Sunflowers is a simple, seasonal addition to a summer near Portsmouth.