Where to Go Strawberry Picking in Birmingham: Best Farms for 2026

Strawberry season is here, and Birmingham families are spoilt for choice. Within an hour of the city centre you’ll find pick-your-own farms bursting with ripe berries, from the 55-acre fields of Manor Farm Fruits in Tamworth to the one-mile-from-Solihull convenience of Caldicott’s Nursery.

The 2026 strawberry season is well underway. Peak picking runs from June through to late August, with some farms extending into September. If you’ve been wondering where to go strawberry picking near Birmingham this summer, this guide has everything you need.

We’ve checked directly with each farm to bring you accurate 2026 opening times, pricing, booking requirements, and family tips. No outdated information, no guesswork.

Here’s what’s in this guide:

• Why strawberry picking makes such a brilliant family day out
• Seven of the best farms for strawberry picking near Birmingham
• Booking advice and what to expect on arrival
• FAQs: season, storage, and how it all works

Strawberry picking sits in that rare sweet spot of being genuinely fun for children and genuinely useful for parents. It is outdoors, screen-free, educational, and surprisingly affordable, with most farms charging only for the fruit you pick.

Here is why families keep coming back every summer:

• It connects children with where food comes from. Picking a strawberry from the plant and eating it within minutes is a completely different experience from pulling a plastic punnet off a supermarket shelf.
• It is a cheap family day out. Most farms charge no entry fee, and a family can fill a basket for under £15. Some farms, like Manor Farm Fruits, charge a small admission fee, but this is offset by the quality of the experience.
• It supports local farmers. PYO farms rely on visitors to harvest their crop. Your day out directly supports a local, often family-run business.
• It works for all ages. Toddlers can toddle along the rows. Older children can get competitive about who fills their basket fastest. Teenagers can be trusted to wander off and actually find the best berries.
• Many farms offer extras. Farm shops, cafes, maize mazes, and pumpkin picking later in the year mean you can make a full day of it.

Top tip: Go on a weekday morning if you can. Fruit picks faster and fresher before the afternoon heat, queues are shorter, and the best berries haven’t been taken yet.

All seven farms below have been checked for current 2026 season information. Distances are approximate driving times from Birmingham city centre.

Farm	Location	Distance from Birmingham	Booking required?
Manor Farm Fruits	Tamworth	~40 mins	Yes, book online
Essington Fruit Farm	Wolverhampton	~30 mins	No
Scaddows Farm	Ticknall, Derby	~55 mins	No
Stanleys Farm Shop	Harvington, Worcestershire	~45 mins	No
Canalside Farm	Great Haywood, Staffordshire	~50 mins	No
Caldicott’s Nursery	Solihull	~20 mins	No
Kinver Edge Farm Shop	Kinver, Staffordshire	~40 mins	No

Manor Farm Fruits is one of the most popular pick-your-own destinations in the West Midlands, and for good reason. Family-run since 1971, the farm sits between Staffordshire and Tamworth and offers 55 acres of soft fruit, with 17 acres dedicated to PYO across strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, and blackberries.

What makes it stand out in 2026: The farm has a covered picking area, so you can still come even if it rains. Strawberries and raspberries are available to pick under cover, making it a reliable choice even on an unpredictable British summer day.

Key 2026 Details

• Season: Mid-May to early September (opened 14 May 2026)
• Booking: Pre-booking is strongly advised and tickets are released approximately one week in advance based on fruit availability. Walk-ins are turned away if the farm is at capacity. Book at manorfarmfruits.co.uk and save £1 per person by booking online.
• Pricing: Entry fee applies (see the website for current rates). Fruit is charged by weight.
• Parking: Free, with allocated disabled parking near the entrance.
• Dogs: Not permitted during PYO season.
• Catering: Multiple options on site including a snack van, Pippins Picnic Hut (children’s lunch boxes, scones, cream and jam), and a snack shack in the farm shop.
• Extras: Children’s birthday parties, educational school visits, and seasonal events including pumpkin picking in autumn and a Christmas grotto.

Address: Watling St, Hints, Tamworth B78 3DF

Family tip: Bookings are non-refundable unless you add Booking Protection at checkout, which allows you to reschedule within 48 hours of your original slot. Worth adding if your plans depend on the weather.

Essington Fruit Farm, Wolverhampton

Essington Farm has been in the Simkin family since 1892, which tells you everything you need to know about their commitment to quality. This award-winning farm, around 30 minutes from Birmingham near Wolverhampton, is one of the most complete days out on this list.

PYO fruit includes strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, plums, damsons, runner beans, sweetcorn, rhubarb, and more across the season. The farm also has a multi-award-winning butchery and deli, a restaurant serving farm-to-fork meals (including a full Sunday roast), and a bakery producing fresh bread daily.

Key 2026 Details

• Season: PYO strawberry season runs from late May through summer. Check the farm’s website or social media for current availability before visiting.
• Booking: No advance booking required for PYO fruit picking.
• Pricing: Pay for what you pick.
• Catering: Full restaurant on site serving breakfast, lunch, and Sunday roasts. Farm shop stocked with local meat, produce, and fresh bakes.
• Extras: Seasonal events including pumpkin picking in autumn (with a tractor trailer ride to the pumpkin field). Loyalty card scheme available.

Address: Bognop Rd, Essington, Wolverhampton WV11 2AZ

Family tip: The restaurant is brilliant for a post-picking meal. Portions are generous and everything is made with farm-fresh ingredients. Book a table if you’re visiting on a weekend.

Scaddows Farm is a little further afield, sitting just inside Derbyshire near Ticknall, but it is well worth the drive for families who want a classic, no-fuss PYO experience. The farm grows a wide range of orchard and soft fruits including strawberries, raspberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, and gooseberries.

The pricing model here is refreshingly simple: you pay a small fee for your container on arrival, fill it up at your own pace, then pay by weight when you bring it back. There is no entry fee and no advance booking needed.

Key 2026 Details

• Season: Opening end of May / beginning of June through summer. Check the farm’s website for current picking status.
• Booking: No booking required. Walk-in only.
• Pricing: Small container fee on arrival, then pay by weight for what you pick.
• Dogs: Check with the farm before visiting.
• Important: Only pick what you plan to eat. The farm asks visitors not to over-pick.

Address: Scaddows Farm, Scaddows Lane, Ticknall, Derby DE73 7JP

Family tip: This is one of the most relaxed farms on the list. No timed slots, no crowds at peak times, just proper countryside fruit picking at your own pace.

If sheer variety is what you’re after, Stanleys Farm Shop near Harvington in Worcestershire is hard to beat. The farm offers PYO produce across all four seasons, from spring rhubarb to winter sprouts, but summer is when it really shines.

Strawberries are available from June through August, alongside raspberries, damsons, blackcurrants, gooseberries, redcurrants, tayberries, beetroot, broad beans, broccolini, carrots, cauliflower, courgette, patty pan squash, romanesco, and much more. The range is genuinely impressive and makes this one of the best all-round PYO experiences near Birmingham.

Key 2026 Details

• Season: Strawberry picking available June to August. Ring ahead to check availability before visiting, as conditions vary.
• Booking: No entry fee. No advance booking required.
• Pricing: Pay for what you pick, by weight. You can bring your own containers (weighed empty at the till on arrival) or buy containers from the shop.
• Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 16:00; Sunday 10:00 to 12:45. Closed Mondays.
• Accessibility: The shop, picnic area, and marked paths are accessible. The fields are uneven and can be muddy in wet weather, so buggies and wheelchairs may find it difficult.
• Dogs: Welcome in the car park and picnic area, but not in the shop or fields.

Address: Fisher Castle Farm, Sandy Lane, Harvington, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY10 4NF

Family tip: Wear wellies or sturdy shoes. The fields are proper farmland and can be muddy even in summer. Kids will love it; parents will appreciate the warning.

Canalside Farm is a multiple award-winner (Large Retailer of the Year in the Midlands at the Farm Shop and Deli Show 2023, Small Farm Shop of the Year 2020) set in a beautiful conservation area near Great Haywood in Staffordshire. The farm produces over 40 tonnes of strawberries and raspberries per season, which gives you a sense of the scale.

Two strawberry varieties are grown here: Mailing Centenary (superb flavour, conical shape, typically ready by mid-May) and Elsanta (aromatic, glossy, and succulent, available throughout summer until September). Crucially, the strawberry plants are raised to waist height, making them accessible for children of all ages, as well as for wheelchair users and pushchair users.

Important 2026 update: The farm’s website currently shows PYO strawberries and raspberries as temporarily closed while crops replenish. The farm will post an update on social media when picking reopens. Check canalsidefarm.co.uk or their social channels before making a trip.

Key 2026 Details

• PYO status: Temporarily paused as of August 2026. Check website for reopening date.
• Farm shop and cafe: Open daily 10:00 to 17:00. Coffee Hut open daily 10:00 to 15:00.
• Parking: Small fee for parking; collect a parking ticket on arrival.
• Accessibility: Waist-height strawberry plants, wheelchair and pushchair friendly.
• Extras: Watercolour painting workshop during summer holidays (25 August 2026); Autumn Market on the Farm (12-13 September 2026); Pumpkin Picking Experience (October 2026, online booking opens 2 September).
• Dogs: Welcome, particularly at the Coffee Hut and on the canal walks.

Address: Mill Lane, Great Haywood, Stafford ST18 0RQ

Family tip: Even if PYO is paused, the farm shop and cafe are well worth a visit. The canal walks starting from the farm gate are lovely for families with young children.

For Birmingham and Solihull families, Caldicott’s Nursery is the most convenient option on this list. It sits just one mile from Solihull town centre, with Widney Manor station only 500 metres away, making it genuinely accessible without a car.

The nursery grows a wide range of PYO fruits across the season: strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants, redcurrants, tayberries, blackberries, plums, and apples. Tomatoes and cucumbers are also available from June to November. The fruit area sits on flat, firm grass, making it easy to navigate with a pushchair.

Key 2026 Fruit Calendar

Month	What’s available
Mid June	Strawberries
July	Strawberries, raspberries, red and black currants, blackberries, gooseberries, tayberries, plums
August	Autumn raspberries, plums, apples, strawberries
September	Strawberries, apples, autumn raspberries
October	Autumn raspberries, apples

Key 2026 Details

• Opening times: Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 13:00. Closed Sundays. Starting at 10:00 is strongly recommended, as some fruits can be fully picked by the afternoon.
• Booking: No booking required. Walk-in only.
• Pricing: Punnets and baskets provided. Pay by weight. Minimum spend of £5 per basket. Most families spend between £5 and £15.
• Payment: Cash and card accepted.
• Dogs: Not permitted in the fruit picking areas.
• Checking availability: Call 0121 705 3168 or check @pyoSolihull on X for daily updates on what’s ripe.

Address: 50 Lovelace Avenue, Solihull B91 3JR

Family tip: Peak strawberry season at Caldicott’s is mid-June to early July, just before Wimbledon starts. Go early in the morning on a weekday for the best selection and shortest queues.

Kinver Edge Farm Shop offers a slightly different experience to the other farms on this list. Rather than a traditional PYO field, it sells ready-picked local strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and rhubarb from June onwards, all home-grown or locally sourced.

What makes Kinver special is the setting. The farm sits near Kinver Edge, one of the most beautiful areas of Staffordshire, with long forest walks, steep hills, and the famous Kinver Rock Houses nearby. It makes for a wonderful combined day out: explore the Edge, then stop at the farm shop for fresh berries and a browse.

The farm also runs a popular Maize Maze in summer, making it a great option for families who want more than just fruit picking.

Key 2026 Details

• Opening times: Open every day 09:30 to 16:30.
• Strawberries: Available from June onwards (ready-picked, not PYO).
• Entry: Free.
• Extras: Kinver Maize Maze runs during summer. Check kinvermaizemaze.co.uk for dates and booking.
• Also sells: Jams, honeys, potatoes, leeks, onions, lettuce, and other seasonal produce.

Address: Hill Farm House, Sandy Lane, Kinver, Stourbridge DY7 6HX

Family tip: Pair this with a walk on Kinver Edge and a visit to the National Trust Rock Houses for a full and very affordable family day out. The farm shop is a lovely end-of-walk reward.

A little preparation goes a long way when you’re heading to a PYO farm with children. Here’s what experienced pickers know:

Before You Go

• Check availability the day before. Fruit ripening depends on weather, and farms can sell out on busy days. Most farms post daily updates on social media or their website.
• Book in advance if required. Manor Farm Fruits requires pre-booking and will turn away walk-ins when full. Other farms on this list are walk-in only, but can still get busy on sunny weekends.
• Check the farm’s dog policy. Most farms do not allow dogs in the picking fields, even if they are welcome elsewhere on site.

What to Wear and Bring

• Comfortable, closed-toe shoes or wellies (fields can be muddy even in summer)
• Sun cream and a hat on warm days
• A light waterproof if the forecast is uncertain
• Water and snacks for younger children
• A cool bag or chilly bin for transporting your strawberries home

At the Farm

• Arrive early. The best fruit goes first, especially at smaller farms with limited opening hours.
• Only pick what you’ll eat. Strawberries do not ripen further once picked. Over-picking wastes fruit and your money.
• Supervise small children carefully. Eating unpaid-for fruit is frowned upon at most farms. A small taste is generally tolerated; eating handfuls is not.
• Handle the fruit gently. Strawberries bruise easily. Fill your basket loosely rather than piling fruit on top of itself.

When You Get Home

Refrigerate your strawberries as soon as possible. Fresh-picked strawberries will keep for 3 to 4 days in the fridge. For longer storage, hull and freeze them flat on a tray before bagging. They are brilliant in smoothies, jams, and crumbles straight from frozen.

When is strawberry picking season in the UK?

Britain’s strawberry season typically begins in late May, peaks in June and July, and can continue into September depending on the variety and weather. The farms near Birmingham generally open for PYO from late May or early June. Peak season, when fruit is most plentiful and flavour is at its best, is mid-June through July.

Do strawberries ripen after picking?

No. Once a strawberry is picked, it stops ripening. This is why it is important to only pick fully red, ripe berries. Green or white strawberries will not turn red once they are off the plant.

How long do freshly picked strawberries last?

Stored in the fridge, fresh-picked strawberries will keep for 3 to 4 days. They are best eaten within 24 to 48 hours for peak flavour. Do not wash them until you are ready to eat them, as moisture speeds up deterioration.

How do you clean picked strawberries?

Rinse your strawberries in a mixture of 1 cup of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and 3 cups of cold water. Let them soak for around 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly under cold water. This removes bacteria and helps the berries last a little longer.

Is strawberry picking expensive?

Most farms near Birmingham charge only for the fruit you pick, with no entry fee. A family can typically fill a basket for between £5 and £15. Manor Farm Fruits charges a small admission fee on top, but the overall cost is still very reasonable compared to most family days out. It is one of the most affordable summer activities you can do with children.

Can I go strawberry picking if it rains?

Yes, at some farms. Manor Farm Fruits has covered picking areas for strawberries and raspberries, making it a reliable wet-weather option. Other farms are open fields, so check before you go and dress appropriately.

Strawberry picking is just one of the brilliant ways to spend a summer day in and around Birmingham. If you’re looking for more inspiration, we’ve got you covered:

• Strawberry Picking Near Me – Our full UK guide to PYO strawberry farms.
• Strawberry Picking in London – Planning a trip to the capital? We’ve got the best London farms too.
• Pick Your Own Fruit Near Me – Beyond strawberries: the best PYO farms across the UK.
• Pumpkin Picking Near You – Many of the farms above also run brilliant pumpkin picking events in autumn.
• Ice Cream Farms Near You – The perfect follow-up to a strawberry picking session.
• Cheap Family Days Out – More brilliant affordable ideas for families across the UK.
• Things to Do in Birmingham – Browse all family attractions in and around the city.

Whether you’re after a relaxed afternoon in the fields or a full day out with maize mazes, farm cafes, and animal encounters, the farms near Birmingham have something for every family this summer.