great spots to visit: petersfield

The Blacksmith’s Daughter
If you love your plants and flowers, any trip to Petersfield needs to include a visit to The Blacksmith’s Daughter. Tucked away behind the main road, this flower-filled haven is the first place I go when I’m looking for something special; buckets of soft white ranunculus jostle for space with colourful hyacinths, and the old wooden table at the front is laden with potted plants and succulents. It’s one of my favourite places to potter around in, and I’ve never left empty handed.

The Happy Cow Farm Shop
If you’re a lover of good quality, local produce, then the Happy Cow is going to seem like a goldmine when you visit. Packed full of everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to artisan bread and locally produced jams and chutneys, it’s one of those places that makes you want to potter about in the kitchen, making lovely things to eat (even for me, and I’m absolutely the worst cook EVER).

The Natural Apothecary
We only recently tried this little place for the first time – we usually drive past it on the way to the market, but when the kiddos were at their Grandparents a few weeks ago, we popped in for tea and cake. It was SO GOOD. Firstly, the decor inside is amazing; lots of old bottles, beautiful wallpaper and an incredible set of drawers at the back, and heaps of vintage apothecary tools dotted on the shelves at the front. Secondly, the menu is incredible – we just had coffee, tea and cake (the vegan chocolate – yes, yes, yes), but they also offer breakfast and lunch, with plenty of vegan, vegetarian and wholefood options. You can also stock up on teas and healthfood items to take away and enjoy at home.

The Market
Petersfield actually has two markets, one every Saturday and the farmers market on the first Sunday of every month. The farmers market is basically a foodies heaven; they sell everything from bread and cakes to meats, cheeses and deli items, all locally produced and many organic. The Saturday market is a bit more varied (and my favourite!); the artisan bread stall is incredible (I strongly recommend the cinnamon loaf and the pumpkin bread), and the tea stall next door has a great selection. A quick wander will take you past two wonderful flower stalls, the fruit and vegetables and a vintage stall with amazing flower pots and rugs – plenty to tempt everyone!

Petersfield Heath
Whenever the weather is nice in the summer, we head here on a Sunday morning – with 69 acres of land to explore, it’s a great way to pass the time. There are two play areas, a cafe which serves hot and cold drinks, cake and sandwiches (and duck food!), toilets, fishing opportunities, plenty of benches and seats to relax on and of course the lake to walk around. It’s always clean, safe and well looked after – definitely one of our favourite places to visit.