With Summer almost over and with the weather beginning to change, it’s time to leave your sunflower fields and lavender farms behind and focus on something a little more seasonal. Specifically, spooky season. With October just around the corner – and we all know that means creepily-carved pumpkins filling windows and doorsteps around the capital – it’s never too early to start planning your creations and your assault on where to pick your pumpkin. If you’re looking to make a day of it, here’s a roundup of all the best places to go pumpkin picking near London:
1. Garsons Farm, Surrey
The Farm Pass will give you free reign to pick what you’d like at Garsons Farm in Esher, but we’d advise you to make a beeline for the pumpkin patch, which is set to reach picking season this October. You’re well placed to strike out for Hampton Court Palace from here, should you fancy a little day trip. A so-called ‘pumpkin pass’ costs just three quid, which is a real steal in our books.
📍You’ll find Garsons Farm at Winterdown Road, Esher, KT10 8LS.
2. Cammas Hall Farm, Hertfordshire
The Cammas Hall pumpkin patch is reportedly bigger and better than ever this year. For the third time ever, you’ll be able to enjoy a spooked out version of events at night, when all the monsters and creepy crawlies come out in the dark. They’ve also got live music on and even a show called ‘Monster Mayhem’. Enter if you dare!
📍You’ll find Cammas Hall Farm at Needham Green, Hatfield, Broad Oak, CM22 7JT.
3. Secretts, Surrey
Come for the pumpkin picking, stay for the farm’s English wine collection from their vineyards and biggest selection of craft beers in Surrey. This year, you can roam their pumpkin patch from October 21 – 29, but you’ll need to book your ticket in advance. They’ve been known to shift over 30,000 pumpkins in the space of a week and have 100 different varieties, so expect it to be popular…
📍You’ll find Secretts at Hurst Farm, Chapel Lane, Milford, GU8 5HU.
4. Tulley’s Farm, West Sussex
Whilst sunflower picking is popular here in the Summer, Tulley’s Farm really kick things into high gear around Autumn and during Halloween. This October, you can tackle their horror mazes, theme park-style rides and carnival games, catch a circus of horrors live show, watch some gigs and, of course, pick up some of your own pumpkins. Weekends are pretty busy already so make sure you get your tickets soon!
📍You’ll find Tulley’s Farm at Turners Hill, Crawley, RH10 4PE.
5. Foxes Farm, Essex
Foxes Farm produce so many pumpkins that they actually supply other pumpkin patches around the country. Should you want to snag one of their gorgeous gourds for yourself, pop along to their Colchester or Basildon sites on late September or early October weekends, or from October 14 – 29 (advanced booking is essential). We’d definitely pencil in a return visit just for their gleefully mucky Mud Run, too… It was closed for 2022 but looks to be open again this year. Plus, they’ve got picnic areas, mini tractors and fun farm obstacles for the kids, a maize maze (Colchester only) and even a licensed bar (Basildon only). Winner, winner!
📍You’ll find Foxes Farm at Watch House Farm, Wash Road, Basildon, SS15 4ER, and at Aldham, Colchester, CO6 3PR.
6. Crockford Bridge Farm, Surrey
This farm is something of a pick-your-own specialist, with rhubarb, asparagus, and strawberries available to harvest in the Spring and Summer, and Christmas trees up for grabs in Winter. They’ve most likely got a handful of pumpkin picking dates in 2023 (from September 30 until October 15), and you’ll need to book them in advance – find them all here and keep your eyes on their website for further details. The farm’s annual Pumpkin Festival is also well worth paying a visit to!
📍You’ll find Crockford Bridge Farm at New Haw Road, Weybridge, KT15 2BU.
7. Four Winds Farm, Kent
This cutely-named farm may be pretty small, but they’ve got pumpkins aplenty for the entire family which are ripe for picking from October 21 until October 29. Just remember to pack your wellies, because the Autumn weather can make things really rather muddy…
📍You’ll find Four Winds Farm at Poundsbridge Hill, Fordcombe, Tunbridge Wells, TN3 0RL.
8. Priory Farm, Surrey
Another great addition to this roundup of the best pumpkin picking near London here. At Priory Farm, you can follow the Halloween Trail to solve the mystery of the missing pumpkins, or hop aboard a tractor ride, which will ferry you to the farm’s pumpkin patches. With all that, plus a Pumpkin Palace, it’s no wonder they count no less a figure than acting royalty Judi Dench amongst their loyal customers. It’s open from October 7 this year so make sure you get involved!
📍You’ll find Priory Farm at Sandy Lane, South Nutfield, Redhill, RH1 4EJ.
9. Stanhill Farm, Kent
Abundantly aware of the Instagram potential of pumpkin patches, Stanhill Farm invite you to grab your camera, nab a wheelbarrow, and head off in search of the perfect pumpkin. Head down from during October (from October 7), but be sure to book in advance.
📍You’ll find Stanhill Farm at Birchwood Road, Wilmington, DA2 7HD.
10. Hatter’s Farm, Essex
Rounding off our list of the best places to go pumpkin picking near London is Hatter’s Farm, who recently won the London & South East England Prestige Award for Farm of the Year. Just a stone’s throw from Stansted Airport, this family-run spot has been farming here since all the way back to 1940. Their 2023 pumpkin patch includes their annual Pumpkin Nights event, as well as a hay bale maze, street food stalls and even the ‘Hatter’s Fun House’ – a spooky clown-themed walkway-come-funhouse. Yikes! Tickets are on sale now for their events, which begin on October 1.
📍You’ll find Hatter’s Farm at Takeley, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 6NP.
So there you have it – a roundup of some of the best places to go pumpkin picking near London. And with Halloween just around the corner and it almost being October, there’s no better time to visit one of these pumpkin patches we say! Happy picking.
Also published on Medium.