Pumpkin picking, a somewhat American concept, has really taken off in the UK during October/Halloween, with patches and pick your own farms springing up all over the place. Here are some PYO farms and pumpkin patches near London opening their gates to pumpkin pickers for autumn 2024.
Due to the rural nature of these farms, you're probably going to need a car to get to most of them... and wellies.
Tulleys Pumpkin Farm, Sussex
View this post on Instagram
Tulleys Farm, near Crawley in West Sussex, has absolutely got seasonal entertainment nailed, from its tulip festival in the spring, through to sunflowers in the summer, and pumpkins come autumn.
Tulleys Pumpkin Festival consists of 1 million (!) pumpkins across 100 acres of farmland. Wander among them and pick your own, with roaming performers and photo opportunities dotted around the fields. Tuck into hot dogs, donuts, burgers and the like at the street food festival.
This one always sells out way in advance, so be quick if you want tickets. If you miss out, sign up to hear when they go on sale for next year.
Tulleys Pumpkin Festival 2024, 28 September-31 October.
Pumpkin patch at Cammas Hall Farm, Hertfordshire
Cammas Hall is a PYO farm with a steady stream of crops all summer. But when the soft fruits are over, it's pumpkin time. There are 60 varieties available to pick here, including the knobbly Knucklehead, and the more unusual white Snowman pumpkin. Either harvest your own from the field, or choose from the ready picked pumpkin patch.
There are other Halloween activities, including a terror tunnel and a maize maze (extra charge), and refreshments and a farm shop are also on site.
Cammas Hall Farm, Needham Green, near Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, CM22 7JT. From 5 October 2024.
Pumpkin picking at Crockford Bridge Farm, Surrey
The first pumpkin patch at this Surrey farm opened more than 15 years ago, and it's getting increasingly popular. This year, the pumpkin fields open to the public again on selected days, when you can head to the field to pick your own gourd. Alternatively, between 4 October and 1 November, you can take home a ready-picked one (lazy) from the Pumpkin Boutique, no ticket required.
Crockford Bridge Farm, Weybridge, Surrey, KT15 2BU. Booking is essential for PYO. 4-20 October 2024.
Pumpkin picking at Stanhill Farm, Kent
Sitting on the edge of Swanley, Stanhill Farm offers 150 acres of fields in which the public are invited to pluck their own crops. And surprise, surprise, one of the most popular is pumpkins. Grab a wheelbarrow, head to the pumpkin patch, and stock up on gourds. Pumpkin patch sessions are on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October; Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 October; and Wednesday 16 through until Tuesday 29 October. They may or may not open the patch after these dates — it depends if they have any pumpkins left! Pre-booking is essential, and tickets cost £5 per ticket (one vehicle of up to seven people). Any pumpkins you pick naturally cost extra.
Stanhill Farm, Birchwood Road, Dartford, DA2 7HD. 5-29 October 2024, specific days only.
Pumpkin picking at Beck Evans Farm, Sidcup, Kent
Slap-bang on the London-Kent border, Beck Evans Farm is a family-run establishment offering seasonal events throughout the year. At Halloween, that means pumpkin picking from the farm's own patch. Sounds like hungry work, so don't forget to swing by the on-site Penelope's Restaurant, which'll be serving up seasonal dishes including pumpkin soup.
Pumpkin picking at Beck Evans Farm, Water Lane, Sidcup, DA14 5ET. Pumpkin picking selected dates 5-31 October 2024.
PYO pumpkins at Foxes Farm, Basildon and Colchester, Essex
Foxes Farm has two pumpkin patches in Essex, located close to Basildon and Colchester. They started out by growing them for wholesale, before deciding to let the public get in on the picking action, accompanied by games, a corn maze trail, and photo opportunities. Ready picked pumpkins are available too, but for an extra-special experience, book for Pumpkin Patch Nights at the Colchester location. It's an opportunity to pick pumpkins and navigate the corn maze (watch out for roaming actors!) as darkness descends, with other seasonal entertainment thrown in.
Got energy to burn? Sign up for the Pumpkin Run, a new event this year with 1k, 5k or 10k routes through the fields, pumpkin patch and corn maze.
Foxes Farm, Green Lane, Aldham, Colchester, CO6 3PR, and Watch House Farm, Wash Road, Basildon, SS25 4ER. Advance booking required. Open 5 October-1 November 2024.
Pumpkin picking and Halloween Trail at Priory Farm, Surrey
Dialling up the pumpkin/Halloween hijinks to 'positively American', this sustainable, family-run farm offers up a variety of seasonal experiences. You can simply 'park and pick' pumpkins from the patch (with play features and Halloween-themed photo ops along the way for young 'uns). There are also tractor rides to the pumpkin patch — and really, why would you turn down a tractor ride?
Closer to Halloween, other events take place at the farm, including a Hay Bale Maze and the House of Pumpkins. There's also a Discovery Land Halloween Trail, where kids have to unravel a mystery caused by the 'Weather Witch' and the mischievous 'Mud Monster'. (Various fees apply for these.) There's also a farm shop, gift barn, cafe... all in all, easily an entire morning or afternoon out. Booking is recommended.
Halloween on the Priory Farm Estate, Sandy Lane, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 4EJ. Pumpkin picking 5 October-3 November 2024.
Pumpkin picking at Four Winds Farm, Bidborough, Kent
This small, family-fun farm near Tonbridge in Kent offers all the seasonal goodness you could want — Christmas trees at Christmas, lambing weekends in spring, and of course, pumpkin picking in October. This year, the Country Pumpkins PYO is back, with a variety of pumpkin sizes and colours to pick (wheelbarrows available if you're going XL), as well as a scarecrow trail and face painting.
Pierson Agriculture at Four Winds Farm, Penshurst Road, Bidborough. Advance booking required. 19-20 and 26-31 October 2024.
Pumpkin Week 2024 at Secretts, Surrey
100,000 pumpkins spanning 11 different varieties form the centrepiece of Pumpkin Week at this Surrey farm and farm shop.
Pumpkin picking runs over half term week, when you can pick your own pumpkins from the field. There's also a fancy dress competition and scavenger hunt for kids, and a pumpkin-centric menu at the cafe.
Pumpkin Week 2024 at Secretts, Hurst Farm, Chapel Lane, Milford, Surrey, GUB 5HU. Advance booking required. 19-30 October 2024.
View this post on Instagram
Pumpkin and squash picking at Garsons, Kent
A whole host of crops are available for picking at this popular farm a touch south-west of Greater London. Right now, various squash are ripe to be harvested by your own fair hands (great for autumnal soups, stews, and indeed decorations). At time of writing (late Sept), the pumpkins need a little longer to grow, but they should be ready soon (check 'what's picking today?'). In the meantime, it's worth pre-booking a pumpkin pass, which gets you entry to the Garsons Pumpkin Parade, a kid-friendly trail with plenty of Halloweeny photo ops.
Pumpkin picking and Pumpkin Parade, Garsons, Winterdown Road, Esher KT10 8LS. Pumpkin season is expected to kick off early October 2024.
Pumpkin picking in Hobbledown Heath, Hounslow
Within the boundaries of Greater London itself, Hobbledown Heath — an almighty adventure playground feat. four themed villages, plus a zoo — has sprung a pumpkin patch for 2024. Don wellies, fetch a wheelbarrow and load up on orange orbs. There are also funfair rides and Insta-worthy photo points. Extra spooky fun can be had at special Hobbleween sessions (12-13 Oct, 19-20 Oct and 26 Oct-3 Nov).
Pumpkin patch at Hobbledown Heath, Staines Road, Hounslow, TW14 0HH. 10am-6pm every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 27 September-20 October 2024. Then daily until 3 November 2024.
Halloween pumpkin trail, Chelsea Barracks
For one afternoon only, Garrison Square at Chelsea Barracks is hosting a free family-friendly pumpkin trail. You don't get to take any home, but if you complete the trail, you win a prize. There's also entertainment from Sharky & George, face painting and a spooky floral installation.
Halloween pumpkin trail, Chelsea Barracks, SW1W 8DS. Saturday 26 October, 1pm-5pm, free
