What? You did not know lavender could survive the usually humid British weather? Ah, yes indeed. Remember the famous Yardley… and Crabtree and Evelyn, of course… Both use English lavender exclusively.

Do go and discover Mayfield Lavender Farm. Contrary to Cotswold Lavender, who do make you pay to step into the fields, this family faarm welcomes you warmly and even invites you to picnic under the big tree, right in the centre of the plantations… It only takes a few seconds to feel completely soothed by the smell and feel like walking barefoot, caressing the flowers with your fingertips.

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Around you, kids run and jump, as if drunk with the perfume. Bees dance around, butterflies do not even seem to know where to start.

Although you cannot pick your own flowers, you can get lovely bunches at the shop for £3.50 as well as lavender plants from £2.50, soaps, perfumed sachets for your drawers, essentiel oil and even… lavender fudge! A mini-cafe will provide fresh and hot drinks and… lavender cupcakes, of course.

Come and see life in purple! The flower season lasts until July 27th.

Croydon Lane
Banstead
SM7 3BE

Opening hours vary through the year. In June and July, the flowering season, open from 10.00 to 19.00
Entry is free.

Living in Farnborough – a very boring dorm-town – I haven’t really had a chance to enjoy a lovely roast dinner in a welcoming pub. We’re kind of lacking those around – let alone child friendly ones.

For that kind of situations, I know no better solution than blogger friends. Mindlegap certainly has quite a few addresses in stock!

We meet at the Black Swan, amidst the countryside. Lovely wooden notes, showing timbers, naturel light, lots of space between the tables, a few antiques here and there to give a nostalgic touch such as this wonderful old style cash-register. Modern and pure lines you expect to find in a gastropub bu a home feeling. As soon as you step in, a welcoming chimney, comfy armchairs in case your table is not ready yet and a pile of board games.

The place has an extraodinary feel good effect. Families do know the place – plenty of children and babies around. We’ll stay 3 hours and a half, chatting the afternoon away with not even a frown from the staff, our kids happily playing around the table.

The menu has a lovely range of British classics -  huge plates for the sunday roast (the lamb is fab), but also excellent fishcakes, wonderful mashes potatoes with spring onions…. and so much to try! Mindlegap strongly recommends the cheese platter. The bread and butter pudding is to die for -  although you could easily share it, I struggled to finish my very large portion! Oh and do steal a spoonful of chocolate-hazelnut icecream from the kids…

Plenty of tables outside for the sun days to come. A few countryside paths around too and a forest a few minutes drive away for a walk.

The place is so pleasant that time just flies. I can picture myself there every Sunday… But do book, as it is quite successful!

The Black Swan
Old Lane
Ockham
Surrey
KT11 1NG

Immense parc, ideal pour les dejeuners sur l’herbe, les parties de frisbee, les grands jeux d’exterieur. Sans compter le lac, ses cygnes, canards, oies egyptiennes…

Les enfants l’aimeront tout particulierement pour ses follies – au 18eme, les Anglais revenant d’italie aiment tout particulierement agrementer les espaces verts de tours, ruines romantiques (construites volontairement en l’etat pour l’effet).

Hamilton, revenant de visiter l’Europe, souhaiter ici creer de vraies tableaux naturel et proposait d’ailleurs des cadres pour mieux apprecier un paysage. Il cree donc ici… une abbaye en ruine, un temple gothique, une roue a eau, un tente turque, un hermitage… Chaque point donne une vue particuliere sur la region et les enfants s’y imaginent bien entendu quantites d’aventures…

Et d’un point de vue adulte?
Cela depend des raison de votre venue:
- vous souhaitiez epuiser vos bambins? C’est gagne: toute la famille dormira merveilleusement ce soir.
- vous souhaitiez vous vider l’esprit, profiter du calme, ecouter le chant des oiseaux? A moins d’avoir comme moi une fille qui detaille le paysage dans son integralite puis pose question sur question, ce qui a tendance a user votre zen, c’est l’endroit ideal. Beaucoup viennent d’ailleurs avec leurs jumelles.

- vous souhaitiez un wow effect? Mmmh… Mis a part la grotte de cristaux, impressionnante de travail et de creativite, je m’avoue… peu impressionnee. Peut-etre suis-je tout simplement blasee? Follie mises a part, j’aurais pu profiter d’une nature reserve du National trust pour le meme paysage, les memes forets et cela pour pas un sou.