From Devon to Cheshire and everywhere in between, The Times has scoured the country in search of the best farm shops and has come up with a list of the top 35.
Introducing the list, the news outlet said: “What do you think of when it comes to British farm shops? Besides homemade pies, freshly-picked veg and family-run butcher counters and creameries, many have delis, smokehouses and cosy cafés attached.
“Some fancier farms have their own microbreweries or private swimming lakes to make the journey even more worth it.
We found the 35 best farm shops in Britain, so you don’t have to.
From a cider farm in Somerset to a market garden with its own wood-fired sauna in Wales, here’s where to find the freshest local produce ⬇️https://t.co/NLKQ37Chy9
— The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) October 26, 2024
“So, here’s where to head with your basket (or reusable tote bag) — empty stomachs recommended.”
The best farm shops in Britain
The best farm shops in Britain, according to The Times, are:
- The Longhorn Farm Shop, Cottenham, Cambridgeshire
- Carfrae Farm Shop, Haddington, East Lothian
- Wellington Farm Shop, Hook, Hampshire
- Wright’s Food, Carmarthen, Carmarthenshire
- Sheppy’s Cider Farm, Taunton, Somerset
- Yolk Farm, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
- Alder Carr Farm, Ipswich, Suffolk
- Blue Tin Farm Shop, Ipsden, Oxfordshire
- Fordmore Farm Shop, Cullompton, Devon
- Lathcoats Farm, Chelmsford, Essex
- Fordhall Organic Farm, Market Drayton, Shropshire
- Essington Farm, Wolverhampton, West Midlands
- Hutchinson Hobbs Farm Shop and Butcher, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham
- Sunfield Farm Shop, Stourbridge, West Midlands
- Hawarden Farm Estate, Deeside
- Yare Valley Farm Shop, Norwich, Norfolk
- Blair Drummond Smiddy Farm Shop, Stirling, Stirlingshire
- Henbant Farm, Tai’n Lon, Caernarfon
- The Milk Shed at Fen Farm Dairy, Bungay, Suffolk
- Greendale Farm Shop, Farringdon, Devon
- Moorhouse Farm Shop, Morpeth, Northumberland
- Tori and Ben’s Farm Shop, Derby, Derbyshire
- Over Farm Shop, Over, Gloucestershire
- Pamphill Dairy, Wimborne, Dorset
- Colwith Farm Shop, Lostwithiel, Cornwall
- West Lea Farm Shop, Alresford, Hampshire
- Village Greens at Denbies, Dorking, Surrey
- Loddington Farm Shop, Maidstone, Kent
- Cairn Lodge Farm Shop, Lanark, South Lanarkshire
- Kenyon Hall Farm, Warrington, Cheshire
- Legges of Bromyard Farm Shop, Bromyard, Herefordshire
- The Pantry at Baythorne Hall, Halstead, Essex
- Newton Farm Shop, Bath, Somerset
- Daylesford farm shop, near Kingham, Oxfordshire
- Farm Shop, Durslade Farm, near Bruton, Somerset
- Jolly Nice Farmshop, Stroud, Gloucestershire
- The Newt, Hadspen, Somerset
The 2 North Wales farms shops among Britain’s best
Hawarden Farm Estate (Deeside)
Hawarden Farm Estate, in Deeside, was one of two farm shops in North Wales named among Britain’s best by The Times.
The news outlet explained: “Fruit and veg are grown at this first-rate sustainable farm shop and the milk from the machine is produced by the happy Ayrshire cows across the road.
“The 100-year-old PYO fields offer abundant autumn spoils at this time of year.
“Visit the airy café for a hearty breakfast, smoked trout sandwich or Welsh rump steak.
“It is part of the enormous Hawarden Estate, which has its own private lake, walled garden, two grand self-catering houses and a shepherd’s hut, if you want to soak up the peace of the countryside as you toast marshmallows over the campfire.”
Visitors also have rave reviews about Hawarden Farm Estate with it boasting a 3 (out of 5) rating on Tripadvisor.
Henbant Farm (Tai’n Lon)
Henbant Farm also featured on The Times’ list, commended for its “small but well-stocked” shop.
The news outlet said: “Chickens, veggies, and cows are nurtured in step with nature at this agriwilding idyll at the gateway to the Llyn peninsula.
“There is a small but well-stocked farm shop on site, and visitors are encouraged by the owners Matt and Jenny to explore the farm, no-dig gardens and rewilding site.
“Perched between mountain and sea, it is worth lingering at Henbant Permaculture farm.”
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The Times continued: “Cabins (which are nothing short of magical) are dotted around, there is a sauna to steam in, and you can join courses in kitchen gardening, rewilding and nature connection.
“Guests can collect their own eggs from the hens and pick fresh salad from the polytunnels.
“One of Europe’s leading permaculture farms, this is a wild, working, wonderful place (wellies are wise).”
