Name: Graveley Fruit Farm
Rating: 5.0

Graveley Fruit Farm

Graveley Fruit Farm, Graveley Lane, Graveley, Hitchin SG4 7EH, UK

1-90 Years

Paid

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Description

Graveley Fruit Farm offers a brilliant outdoor day out for families looking to experience a traditional pick-your-own farm in the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside. This family-run attraction provides a hands-on rural adventure, making it one of the best things to do with kids in Hitchin and the surrounding areas. As an active fruit farm and outdoor play arena, it lets children discover exactly where their food comes from while burning off steam in the fresh country air.

Planning your trip is simple and highly budget-friendly because general entry to the farm fields is completely free. You only pay for the specific baskets of fruit you pick by weight, alongside small, independent fees for the individual children's ride-on attractions scattered around the central hub. This flexible pay-as-you-play setup keeps a family day out affordable and customizable to your schedule.

If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids, this countryside space balances active fun with delicious reward. Parents can relax at outdoor tables with a hot coffee from the cafe while younger children tackle the massive sandpit and adventure frames safely within sight. It is a fantastic setting to slow down, pick fresh berries, and enjoy a classic British summer afternoon together.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Key Features

Sensory Play and Exploration: A massive outdoor play space featuring a giant shaded sandpit where toddlers can dig, scoop, and build freely.
Interactive Exhibits: Accessible waist-height poly-tunnels that let children carry their own baskets and carefully select ripe seasonal berries.
Educational Day Out: A working country estate context where families can see seasonal food production up close and directly interact with real farm livestock.

What to See

The Table-Top Picking Polytunnels: Rows of strawberries grown at waist height, making it incredibly easy for small children to pick fruit without kneeling in mud or damaging the plants.
The Piggy Enclosure: A central farmyard pen home to the farm's friendly resident pigs, where children can get close and feed them special treats.
The Adventure Playground: A large grassy play area packed with climbing frames, swings, a roaring zip wire, and a rustic haystack climbing stack.
The Electric Go-Kart Track: A dedicated driving circuit for young racers featuring a fun train-style tunnel to zoom through.
The Graveley Farm Cafe: A welcoming refreshment hub surrounded by beautiful flower displays, offering an outdoor patio that directly overlooks the main children's play zones.

Facilities

Toilets & Changing: A dedicated, static toilet block is located on-site, complete with integrated baby changing facilities.
Food & Drink: The on-site cafe serves teas, barista coffees, ice creams, and light snacks, alongside plenty of outdoor picnic tables with parasols.

Pro-Tips:

Check Facebook Before Traveling: Fruit availability varies daily depending on the weather and crowd levels; always check social media updates to make sure fields aren't picked out.
Bring Separate Tupperware: You can bring your own containers to save on plastic, but remember to get them weighed at the kiosk before you start picking.
Separate Your Berry Types: Keep strawberries and raspberries in separate baskets while picking, as they are priced at different rates per kilo at the final checkout.

Targeted FAQ

Is it worth it for toddlers? Yes, it is incredibly worth it for toddlers because the fruit is grown on elevated table-tops at perfect waist height for little hands. The giant shaded sandpit, low-speed ride-ons, and flat grassy viewing areas make it a safe, gentle, and highly engaging outdoor space for young children.
How long does a visit take? A typical family visit lasts between 2 and 3 hours. This gives you plenty of time to fill a couple of berry punnets, let the children tackle the playground climbing frames, enjoy a weekend tractor ride, and stop for an ice cream at the cafe.
Where is the best place to park? The best place to park is the farm's own dedicated, spacious gravel parking lot located immediately adjacent to the main shop and play area. Parking here is completely free for all fruit pickers and cafe customers, meaning no long walks with tired children.
What are some cheap indoor activities in Hitchin for young families? If the British weather turns and you need cheap indoor activities in Hitchin, visiting the dedicated children's room at the North Hertfordshire Museum or exploring the local Hitchin Library offer fantastic, low-cost indoor alternatives to keep young minds active.

The Visitor Verdict: What Parents Really Think
What Visitors Love

The table-top growing system is a massive hit with parents, meaning no muddy knees or aching backs while picking with toddlers.
Excellent layout that places the sandpit and ride-on toys right next to the cafe seating, allowing parents to enjoy a hot drink while keeping a clear eye on the kids.
The fact that entry and parking are entirely free makes it a low-stress, affordable morning out.
The weekend tractor rides are highly praised for being genuinely fun, bumpy, and authentic.

What Visitors Don't Like

The wide-open play fields have very little natural tree shade, meaning it can get intensely hot during clear summer days.
Because it is a seasonal outdoor venue, activities scale back significantly outside of the peak June-to-August fruit window.

What to see

Detailed Inventory

The Strawberry Polytunnels: Large, sheltered fruit structures housing the main table-top strawberry crops from early summer.
The Raspberry Fields: Dedicated fruit patches available later in the season for harvesting sweet, fresh raspberries.
The Giant Canopy Sandpit: A huge sand arena fitted with a protective shade sail to keep children protected from the midday sun while they play.
The Aerial Runway: A long, exciting zip wire built for older children looking for a bit of extra speed.
The Stationary Play Tractor: A real, retired farm tractor parked safely in the play area for children to climb aboard and pretend to drive.
The Bumpy Tractor and Trailer Rides: Weekend-only farm tours that take families on a lively, rumbling journey across the open arable fields.
The Crazy Golf Course: A family-friendly mini-golf layout designed for a quick, competitive round in the sunshine.
The Touring Caravan Site: A small, five-pitch corner of the farm equipped with electric hookups for overnight rural stays.

Beyond the Main Attraction:

Graveley Village Lanes: A traditional, picturesque village just a quarter-mile south, showcasing historic cottages and peaceful walking footpaths.
Local Country Pubs: The village boasts welcoming independent pubs within a short walk from the farm boundary, ideal for a traditional lunch.
The Hertfordshire Way Footpaths: The village sits directly on this famous long-distance trail, allowing families to easily branch off onto gentle, signposted loop walks across wide pastoral meadows and quiet woodland tracks.
The Cricketers Village Green: A classic English green located close to the farm, where children can watch local birdlife or stretch their legs on flat, grassy banks.
Historic St Mary's Church: A short, scenic walk down the lane leads families to the village's historic landmark, offering a peaceful look at regional heritage.

New for 2026:

The 2026 Updated Go-Kart Fleet: A refreshed lineup of electric go-karts on the tunnel track, providing smoother handling and safer speeds for younger drivers this season.
The 2026 Weekly Car Boot Market: An expanded, family-friendly outdoor car boot sale running every single Saturday from April through October, perfect for browsing local treats, crafts, and vintage goods before picking fruit.
The Refreshed Poly-Tunnel Layouts: Upgraded interior pathways within the table-top strawberry houses, offering wider tracks to make navigation even smoother for families trailing small berry baskets.

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Entry to the fruit farm is free, no need to book.
Use of the play area and sandpit is free.
Go-karts are £1.50 per go, or £5 for four goes.
Crazy Golf is £6 per adult £3 per child
Jumping Pillow is £3 per hour.
Titanic £2 a go or £5 for three goes.
Golden ticket to include all activities plus a free round of golf per accompanying adult, £15 per child. (Available Mid June to end of August).

Fruit Prices:

Strawberries £7.10 per kilo
Raspberries £12.00 per kilo
Please check availability of our fruit on Facebook before coming.

Pricing URL: https://www.graveleystrawberries.co.uk/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

Private Event Inquiries: While standard party packages are not directly detailed online, the farm regularly accommodates large groups and educational visits. To inquire about hosting a private birthday gathering or school group, contact the team directly at [email protected] or check the website for updates.

Open daily from April, and the fruit picking starts in mid June. Please check on Facebook for up to date information, as sometimes have to close to let the fruit ripen.

Address: Graveley Fruit Farm, Graveley Lane, Graveley, Hitchin SG4 7EH, UK

Post Code: SG4 7EH

Council: North Hertfordshire

County: Hertfordshire

By Car: Located just 1 mile from Junction 8 of the A1(M). Take the B197 north through Graveley village; the farm entrance is clearly signposted on the right-hand side.
Car Parking: A large, free designated visitor car park is situated on-site right next to the main play area and cafe.
By Train: The nearest rail stations are Stevenage and Hitchin, both located roughly 3 to 4 miles away, where local taxis are readily available.
By Bus: Regular regional bus routes run along the B197 connecting Stevenage and Hitchin, stopping right near the village center.