With Autumn pretty much upon us, it’s time to leave your sunflower fields and lavender farms behind and focus on something a little more seasonal. Specifically, spooky season. With Halloween just around the corner – and we all know that means creepily-carved pumpkins filling windows and doorsteps around the capital – it’s time 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
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The Farm Pass will give you free rein 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 four quid, which is a real steal in our books – and you can book yours here.
📍You’ll find Garsons Farm at Winterdown Road, Esher, KT10 8LS.
2. Cammas Hall Farm, Hertfordshire
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The Cammas Hall pumpkin patch is coming back as good as new for another year of finding you a spherical orange carving canvas to pick out. For the fourth 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! Choose your spot and book your tickets for the pumpkin patch at Cammas Hall Farm here.
📍You’ll find Cammas Hall Farm at Needham Green, Hatfield, Broad Oak, CM22 7JT.
3. Hobbledown Heath, Hounslow
The glorious theme park that is Hobbledown Heath are launching their pumpkin picking experience as a debut event for 2024! Sat in a meadow on the River Crane by the Hounslow Heath nature reserve, you’ll be able to head over with the family to take photos and pick out your pumpkins for the season. Running from September 27 – November 3, 2024, it’s the perfect chance to start spooky season off early and combine it with a day out at Hobbledown Heath. Find out more and book your tickets here!
📍Find Hobbledown Heath on Staines Road, Hounslow, TW14 0HH.
4. Secretts, Surrey
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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 19-30, 2024, 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… Tickets for the pumpkin party at Secretts are due to drop here this month.
📍You’ll find Secretts at Hurst Farm, Chapel Lane, Milford, GU8 5HU.
5. 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 enjoy street food, photo-opps and pumpkin picking by day, and moonlit pumpkin walks and live music by night at the Tulley’s Pumpkin Nights Festival. You’ll be greeted by live characters throughout all times of day, and the entire Pumpkin experience at Tulley’s is one big Insta-worthy hoot. 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.
6. Foxes Farm, Essex
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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 in October, but be sure to book beforehand (you can do that here!). You’ll also find that they’ll be running Pumpkin Patch Nights at their Colchester farm once again, so head down for moonlit picking, hamster wheels, throwing games, refreshments and much more on selected dates between October 12-26, 2024.
📍You’ll find Foxes Farm at Watch House Farm, Wash Road, Basildon, SS15 4ER, and at Aldham, Colchester, CO6 3PR.
7. 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 2024 (from October 4 until October 20), and you’ll need to book them in advance. The farm’s annual Pumpkin Festival is also well worth paying a visit too, with activities and a narrated storyline running throughout the day.
📍You’ll find Crockford Bridge Farm at New Haw Road, Weybridge, KT15 2BU.
8. Four Winds Farm, Kent
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This cutely-named farm may be pretty small, but they’ve got pumpkins aplenty for the entire family which are ripe for picking in October. 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.
9. Priory Farm, Surrey
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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 4 this year so make sure you get involved, and you can plan your visit here.
📍You’ll find Priory Farm at Sandy Lane, South Nutfield, Redhill, RH1 4EJ.
10. Stanhill Farm, Kent
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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, but be sure to book in advance (the ticket system is due to go live this month).
📍You’ll find Stanhill Farm at Birchwood Road, Wilmington, DA2 7HD.
11. Hatter’s Farm, Essex
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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 2024 pumpkin patch includes their annual Pumpkin Nights event (which kick off on October 19), 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 5, 2024.
📍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, there’s no better time to visit one of these pumpkin patches we say! Happy picking.