Looking for the best strawberry picking near York and North Yorkshire? You’re in luck. Many local farms open their strawberry fields during the summer months, offering a delicious, fresh fruit and enjoyable days out.
Whether you’re after a fun family day out or just want to stock up on fresh local fruit, these are the best spots for strawberry picking in York and the surrounding area.
Top Places for Strawberry Picking Near York, UK
Spilmans Farm – Sessay YO7 3NB
Spilmans Farm, located near Sessay, has become a popular choice for picking your own strawberries. This family-run farm grows acres of strawberries each summer, and the 2026 season is already underway.
The crop is ripe and ready to pick right now. Fields typically run from early June through to early August, depending on the weather. They grow loads of different varieties – Allegro, Verdi, Falco, Rumba, Elegance, Marieka, Faith and Malwina – all grown uncovered so they ripen naturally in the sunshine. New this year: table top strawberries for easier picking (much less bending required).
Alongside strawberries, the farm has raspberries ripening from late June, a wildflower field where you can pick your own bunches, sunflowers in August, and a dinosaur-themed maize maze from July.
Entry is £2.50 per person, or £2 per person on a family ticket (two adults and up to three children). If you spend £5 or more per person on fruit, the entry fee is refunded. Weekday visits between 6th June and 10th July also get a £1 voucher to spend on fruit. Booking is highly recommended – walk-ins are welcome if there’s capacity, but the entry fee is higher without a pre-booked slot. Last entry is between 4pm and 5pm; the fields close at 5:30pm.
I’ve been to Spilmans for lambing and Christmas events – it’s a lovely little place and the staff are always so nice to chat to.
Address: Church Farm, Thirsk YO7 3NB
Website: https://www.spilmans.co.uk/
Please read my review of Christmas at Spilmans.
The Balloon Tree Farm Shop & Café – Gate Helmsley YO41 1NB
The Balloon Tree Farm Shop & Café sits in Gate Helmsley, just off Stamford Bridge Road. PYO strawberries are not yet open for 2026 – they’re expecting the season to start from mid-June. Check theballoontree.co.uk for the latest before you head out.
Here you’ll find acres of strawberries ready to pick, along with other soft fruits like raspberries and rhubarb. The fields are large and well-kept, there’s a café with a children’s play area, and a lovely farm shop selling local produce.
No booking needed – just turn up when the farm is open. Entry is £2.50 per person, which goes towards keeping the PYO farm maintained.
Address: Stamford Bridge Rd, Gate Helmsley, York YO41 1NB
Website: theballoontree.co.uk
Please read my review on pumpkin picking at Balloon Tree Farm.
Kemps Farm – Malton
Kemps Farm in Barton-le-Street offers one of the best pick your own strawberry experiences near York. The Kemp family have been growing fruit for the PYO season since 1984, choosing varieties for flavour rather than shelf life – which you can genuinely taste when you’re picking straight from the plant.
The Malton site expects to reopen mid to late June 2026, running through to early September. Raspberries are available from July, and sunflowers come into season throughout August – there are over 20,000 stems this year, so plenty to go around. All strawberries are now grown on table tops, which makes picking a lot less back-breaking than it used to be.
Once picking is done, there’s a small pop-up shop with refreshments and farm produce. Depending on when you visit you might also spot cattle and turkeys in the adjacent fields, which is a nice bonus if you’ve got children with you.
Prices are charged per kg – check the website for current rates before you visit. No booking required.
Address: Glebe Farm, Barton-le-Street, Malton, YO17 6PP
Website: https://www.kemps.farm/
Kemps Farm – Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5ES
If you’re searching for strawberry picking near Leeds, this is the one to know about. Kemps Farm has a second site at Horsforth, and it runs alongside the Malton operation with the same commitment to growing for flavour over shelf life – the family have been at it since 1984.
Strawberries at Horsforth are typically ready from mid-June through to late August, with raspberries available over the same period. Blackberries come in throughout August, though there’s a limited amount so it’s worth going earlier in the month if that’s what you’re after. The wildflower meadow opens from July to August and is included with your entry ticket when the flowers are in season – it makes for a brilliant afternoon even if the queues for the fruit are a bit long.
All strawberries are grown on table tops and baby tops for easier picking. Prices are per kg – check the website before visiting for current rates. Booking is required at this site, so it’s worth planning ahead rather than just turning up.
Address: W End Ln, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5ES
Website: kemps.farm/pages/horsforth-pyo-leeds
The Fruit Yard, Shiptonthorpe
Keep an eye on The Fruit Yard’s Facebook page – they post when PYO strawberries will be available. 2026 dates are yet to be confirmed, so it’s worth following the page to catch the announcement. They also have raspberries and currants. Entry is free, and they have a lovely little shop as well.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PYOShiptonthorpe
Address: Towthorpe Lane, Shiptonthorpe YO43 3PW York,
Hope you enjoy strawberry picking near York – it’s a proper treat of a day out. Whether you’re heading to Spilmans this week while the crop is at its best, or waiting for the others to open later in June, there’s loads to look forward to. Grab a punnet (or three) and make the most of the season while it’s here.
What’s your favourite spot for PYO strawberries in Yorkshire? Drop a comment below, I’d love to know.
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