Few activities feel more appropriate for the Garden of England than wandering through an orchard and choosing apples straight from the tree. Apple picking in Kent, alongside blackberry picking makes a lovely late-summer or early-autumn family outing. Children can see where their food grows, everybody gets some fresh air, and you return home with something considerably more useful than another plastic souvenir.
It can also be an affordable activity. Some farms offer free entry and simply charge for the fruit you collect, although others require an admission ticket or minimum purchase. For free things to do in Kent this summer, take a look at my post 75+ Free Things To Do In Kent.
The difficulty is knowing which farms genuinely allow visitors into their orchards. Plenty of Kent farm shops sell locally grown apples, but relatively few offer pick-your-own apples—and opening dates can change quickly according to the weather and crop.
My post covers the most promising places for pick-your-own apples in Kent during 2026, along with practical advice about visiting with children, choosing apples and storing your goodies.
Apple Picking in Kent
Where Can You Pick Your Own Apples in Kent?
These are the main Kent orchards to have a closer look for the 2026 apple season.
Be aware that apples ripen according to the weather and can be picked out early, so always check the farm’s latest infomration before travelling.
| Orchard | Location | Expected apple period | 2026 position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brogdale Collections | Faversham | September–October | PYO weekends confirmed |
| Castle Farm | Shoreham, Sevenoaks | September | Awaiting 2026 dates |
| Chegworth Valley | Near Maidstone | August–September | PYO season open |
| Milebush Farm | West Farleigh, Maidstone | Late summer–autumn | 2026 PYO season open |
| Meopham PYO | Meopham | Late summer–October | Apples listed as a crop; check current opening details |
Brogdale Collections, Faversham
Brogdale is the most distinctive apple-picking destination in Kent and one of my personal favourites.
The farm is home to the National Fruit Collection, which contains thousands of varieties of apples, pears, cherries, plums and other fruits. It is less like visiting a conventional commercial orchard and more like exploring a living library of fruit.
Pick-your-own weekends are scheduled to run during the 2026 fruit season until 1 November, excluding certain event days. Apples and pears are normally available during September and October, although the varieties change as they ripen.
Fruit is charged by the punnet. Adult visitors who do not hold an Orchard Pass need to buy an admission ticket, while children under 16 can enter free. Prices for the fruit are confirmed on the day.
Brogdale is a particularly good choice if you would like to:
- Find unusual apple varieties
- Combine picking with an orchard walk
- Teach children about how different fruits grow
- Visit later in the season
- Make a fuller day of the experience
Its 2026 Apple Fair is scheduled for 3 and 4 October. This is separate from an ordinary PYO weekend and is likely to be busier, so check the event information and ticket arrangements before attending.
Address: Brogdale Farm, Brogdale Road, Faversham, Kent ME13 8XZ
Castle Farm, Shoreham
Castle Farm opens a small orchard for pick-your-own apples during September.
The farm grows Norfolk Royal, a heritage eating apple with colourful red skin, as well as Cox apples. Its PYO season is usually short and may last only three or four weekends.
In 2025, the orchard opened on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during September. Entry was free, with visitors paying £3.25 per kilogram for the apples they collected. Reusable bags and baskets were welcome, and the orchard had its own field car park.
Castle Farm had not published its 2026 dates when this post was published. Its previous pattern suggests that information is likely to appear closer to September, but this should not be treated as confirmation that the same dates or prices will apply.
This could be a good option for families who want a straightforward picking trip rather than a large attraction. The farm shop and coffee cart can be visited separately, but check where the PYO orchard is located because it may not use the same entrance.
Location: Castle Farm, Redmans Lane, Shoreham, Sevenoaks, Kent TN14 7UB
Chegworth Valley, Near Maidstone
Chegworth Valley grows apples, pears, plums, cherries and soft fruit at Water Lane Farm near Maidstone.
The farm opened for PYO plums on 17 July 2026, confirming that its current picking season is underway. There are signs locally saying that you can also pick apples, but no information on their website as yet. Its 2025 apple and plum picking was available daily from early August.
Watch the farm’s current updates or contact it before travelling specifically for apples. The availability of individual fruits can change daily, particularly after a busy weekend.
Chegworth Valley is also known for its farm-pressed juices, so it provides an opportunity to show children another way in which an apple harvest can be used. Chegworth Valley
Address: Water Lane Farm, Water Lane, Chegworth, Maidstone, Kent ME17 1DE
Milebush Farm, West Farleigh
Milebush Farm is a small family-run PYO farm near Maidstone.
Its 2026 season is open, with current information advertising daily picking from 10am until 4pm, free admission and free parking. The crop available at the beginning of the season was strawberries, with other produce becoming ready later.
Milebush Farm includes apples among the fruit traditionally offered at Milebush Farm, alongside strawberries, raspberries and plums. However, a general PYO opening does not guarantee that apples are ready on a particular day.
Check the farm’s latest crop update before setting off. This matters especially if you are visiting at the beginning or end of the apple harvest.
Address: Shingle Barn Lane, West Farleigh, Maidstone, Kent ME15 0PL
Meopham PYO, Meopham
Meopham PYO is based at Broomfield Fruit Farm and lists apples among the crops grown on the farm.
Its usual PYO season runs from the middle of June until the end of October. The site also grows strawberries, blackcurrants, squash and pumpkins, with different produce becoming available throughout the season.
The farm’s website still displayed older opening details when checked in July 2026, so confirm the current days, times and apple availability directly before travelling.
A tearoom operates at the farm, although its opening times should be checked independently. The farm describes itself as dog friendly, but visitors should confirm whether dogs are permitted inside the active fruit-picking areas.
Address: Broomfield Fruit Farm, Ifield Road, Meopham, Kent DA13 0QH
When Is Apple-Picking Season in Kent?
The principal apple-picking season in Kent runs from late August until October.
The precise timing depends on the variety and that year’s weather:
- Early apples may become ready during August
- Many popular eating apples ripen in September
- Later eating and cooking varieties continue into October
- A small number may remain available into early November
An orchard does not necessarily open as soon as its first apples are ripe. Farms may wait until there is enough fruit to make public picking worthwhile.
Equally, a published season can end early if the orchard is busy or the crop is smaller than expected. Apples do not remain available simply because an advertised closing date has not arrived.
For the best chance of a successful trip:
- Check the farm’s website or social-media update that morning.
- Look for the specific word “apples”, not simply “PYO open”.
- Check whether booking is required.
- Confirm the entrance and postcode for the orchard.
- Ask whether card or cash is accepted.
- Find out whether containers are provided.
- Check the forecast before leaving.
Which Apple Varieties Might You Find?
The varieties depend entirely on the orchard and the time of your visit.
Possible Kent-grown apples include:
- Discovery
- Cox
- Gala
- Bramley
- Egremont Russet
- Worcester Pearmain
- Spartan
- Red Devil
- Norfolk Royal
- Scrumptious
- Howgate Wonder
Early varieties often have a fresh flavour but a relatively short storage life. Later apples are generally more suitable for keeping, although every variety is different.
Brogdale offers the greatest opportunity to encounter unfamiliar heritage fruit. Castle Farm, meanwhile, is particularly associated with Norfolk Royal apples.
If you want a particular variety, contact the orchard before visiting. An apple may be grown on the farm without being ripe or available for public picking that weekend.
How Does Pick-Your-Own Apple Picking Work?
Every farm has its own system, but the usual process is simple.
When you arrive, staff will explain which rows are open and how the fruit is priced. You may receive a container or be asked to use your own bag or basket.
You then collect apples from the designated trees and pay for them by weight, punnet or container when you leave.
Some farms charge admission as well as the price of the fruit. Others offer free entry but expect everyone entering the orchard to make a purchase.
Do not assume that you can leave unwanted apples behind after picking them. Once an apple has been removed from the tree, the farm may no longer be able to sell it.
Decide roughly how much fruit you can use before filling several large bags. Apples feel wonderfully light for the first few minutes but quickly become heavy.
How to Pick an Apple Properly
Pulling an apple straight down can damage the fruiting spur or cause nearby apples to fall.
Instead:
- Support the apple gently in your palm.
- Lift it slightly.
- Give it a careful twist.
- Allow the stalk to detach naturally.
- Place it into your container rather than dropping it.
Castle Farm advises visitors to twist rather than pull and, where apples grow close together, to support the neighbouring fruit with the other hand.
Only pick from the rows identified by the farm. Different varieties can look ready before they have developed their proper flavour.
Children should never shake branches or climb the trees. If an apple is out of reach, leave it for the farm staff or another authorised picker.
What Should You Take Apple Picking?
You do not need specialist equipment, but a few practical items make the trip easier:
- Wellington boots or sturdy closed shoes
- Clothes that can cope with mud
- Lightweight waterproof coats
- Reusable bags, trugs or baskets if permitted
- Drinking water
- Hand wipes
- Sun cream on bright days
- Sun hats
- A change of clothes for young children
- A bag for muddy footwear
- A charged phone
- Any required medication
- A towel or blanket to protect the car boot
A rigid, shallow container protects apples better than a deep shopping bag. Fruit at the bottom of an overfilled bag can become bruised by the weight above it.
Leave large pushchairs at home if the farm warns that its orchard has rough or muddy ground. A robust all-terrain pushchair may cope, but accessibility varies considerably between venues.
Is Apple Picking Suitable for Toddlers?
Apple picking can work very well with toddlers, especially where trees have fruit growing on low branches.
Keep expectations modest. A toddler may enjoy choosing three apples and walking between the trees more than spending an hour filling a large container.
Useful precautions include:
- Keep children within arm’s reach around vehicles and farm machinery
- Do not allow them to climb trees
- Keep them out of closed rows
- Remove fallen or damaged fruit from their mouths
- Supervise them near uneven ground, ditches and wire
- Wash fruit before eating it
- Plan a short visit with an easy exit
- Bring a complete change of clothes
Farms are working environments rather than conventional playgrounds. Tractors, uneven surfaces, insects and muddy ground are all part of the experience.
Can You Eat Apples While Picking?
Do not eat fruit in the orchard unless the farm has expressly said that tasting is allowed.
The apple still belongs to the grower until it has been weighed or paid for. Eating as you pick makes it impossible for the farm to charge accurately.
Fruit may also have soil, dust, bird droppings or agricultural residues on its surface. Take your apples home and wash them thoroughly under fresh running water before eating or cooking with them.
What Happens if It Rains?
Light rain does not always close an orchard, but it can make the ground slippery and the fruit wet.
The RHS recommends choosing a dry day for harvesting because wet fruit spoils more readily and is less suitable for storage.
Individual farms may close during heavy rain or strong wind. Check for an update before leaving, even if you have visited the same orchard in previous years.
If thunder is heard while you are outside, move to a safe enclosed building or vehicle rather than sheltering beneath an apple tree.
How Much Does Apple Picking Cost?
Prices vary according to the farm and the variety.
Possible charging systems include:
- A price per kilogram
- A fixed price for a punnet or bag
- An entry ticket plus the cost of fruit
- A minimum spend for each adult or family
- Free entry with payment for everything picked
Castle Farm charged £3.25 per kilogram in 2025, while Brogdale’s 2026 fruit is charged by the punnet in addition to adult admission for visitors without an Orchard Pass.
Treat older prices as a guide only. Farms can change their charges each season, and special events may use different admission arrangements.
Apple picking is not always cheaper than buying supermarket fruit. You are also paying for freshness, traceability and the experience of entering the orchard.
How Many Apples Should You Pick?
It is remarkably easy to collect more apples than you intended.
Before beginning, think about:
- How many people will eat them
- Whether they are eating or cooking apples
- How long that variety stores
- Whether you have a cool storage space
- Which recipes you genuinely plan to make
- Whether friends or relatives would like some
A small basket can provide plenty for snacks, a crumble and a batch of apple sauce.
Avoid filling a huge bag simply because the trees are abundant. Picking more than you can use increases food waste and leaves less fruit for later visitors.
How to Store Freshly Picked Apples
Separate the apples as soon as you return home.
Use bruised, split or damaged fruit first. Do not place it into long-term storage because decay can spread to neighbouring apples.
Apples intended for storage should be:
- Dry
- Unblemished
- Free from insect damage
- Handled gently
- Kept somewhere cool and frost-free
- Checked regularly
The RHS recommends arranging suitable apples so they do not touch, ideally in a single layer in slatted crates or fruit trays. A cool, dark and well-ventilated place is best. Early varieties generally need to be eaten quickly, while some later apples can keep for several months.
Small quantities can be kept in perforated bags in the fridge for a few weeks. Keep them separate from strongly scented foods and inspect them regularly.
What Can You Make With Picked Apples?
A successful PYO visit can leave you looking for more ambitious uses than adding an apple to every packed lunch.
Try making:
- Apple crumble
- Apple and blackberry crumble
- Baked apples
- Apple sauce
- Apple compote
- Apple muffins
- Apple flapjacks
- Apple cake
- Apple chutney
- Apple and cinnamon porridge
- Pork with apples
- Parsnip and apple soup
- Stewed apple for yoghurt
- Frozen apple-pie filling
Cooking apples such as Bramley soften into a fluffy purée. Many eating apples retain more shape and can be naturally sweeter, so a recipe may need less added sugar.
Children can help wash apples, count them, arrange slices or rub crumble topping together. Cutting, peeling and hot pans should remain age-appropriate adult tasks. Here are some tips about how to get your kids interested in cooking
Can You Freeze Apples?
Yes. Freezing is useful when the fruit is already ripe or slightly bruised and will not store well whole.
Peel and core the apples, then cut them into slices or chunks. A little lemon juice can help reduce browning.
Freeze the pieces in a single layer before transferring them to a freezer container, or cook the fruit into an unsweetened purée first.
Frozen apples lose some of their crisp texture, but they remain suitable for:
- Crumbles
- Pies
- Sauces
- Porridge
- Cakes
- Smoothies
- Cooked desserts
Label the container with the variety, preparation and date. Knowing whether you froze eating apples or sharp cooking apples will make choosing a recipe much easier.
Apple-Picking Etiquette for Families
A few simple rules protect the trees and help keep PYO affordable:
- Follow the farm’s instructions
- Use only the designated rows
- Pick gently
- Do not climb or shake trees
- Do not throw apples
- Pay for everything you pick
- Leave farm machinery alone
- Keep children supervised
- Take rubbish home
- Close gates when instructed
- Keep dogs out of prohibited areas
- Avoid damaging branches
- Do not enter private working areas
Fallen fruit may look tempting, but the farm may not permit visitors to collect it. Windfalls can be bruised, contaminated or intended for a different purpose, so ask first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need to book apple picking in Kent?
It depends on the orchard. Castle Farm has previously operated without advance booking, while Brogdale charges admission for adults without an Orchard Pass. Always check the current arrangements before visiting.
Where is the best apple picking near Maidstone?
Chegworth Valley and Milebush Farm are the most convenient possibilities near Maidstone. Their available crops change throughout the season, so confirm that apples are ready before travelling.
Where can you pick unusual apples in Kent?
Brogdale Collections near Faversham offers the greatest variety. Its orchards form part of the National Fruit Collection and contain many apples not normally found in supermarkets.
Are there free apple-picking farms in Kent?
Some orchards offer free entry and charge only for the apples collected. That does not mean the complete visit is free, because visitors are expected to pay for all picked fruit.
Can you take dogs apple picking in Kent?
Policies differ. Even a dog-friendly farm may exclude dogs from active fruit fields for hygiene or livestock reasons. Check directly and keep dogs on a lead wherever required.
Can you bring your own basket?
Many farms welcome clean reusable bags or baskets, but others use their own containers to calculate the price. Check before you arrive.
Which month is best for apple picking in Kent?
September usually provides the greatest choice. August is better for early varieties, while October can be excellent for later apples and cooking varieties.
Apple Picking in Kent
For confirmed 2026 picking and the widest choice of unusual varieties, begin with Brogdale or Chegworth Valley.
Castle Farm is worth watching for a short, traditional September season, while Milebush Farm and Meopham PYO may provide additional options as their later crops become ready.
Whatever destination you choose, check its update on the morning of your visit. A farm can be open while its apples remain unripe—or close an orchard early because visitors have picked the available crop.
Take sturdy shoes, collect only what you can use and show children how to twist apples gently from the branch.
You will return home with fresh Kentish fruit, a better understanding of where food comes from and, almost certainly, plans for a very large crumble. Whilst you are here, why not plan ahead and have a look at the 10 best places to pick your own pumpkins in Kent.
Other Posts
How to Raise a Curious Child Who Loves to Learn