Gourd Big or Gourd Home: The Best Pumpkin Patches Near London 2026
- Tracy Tristram
- Aug 20
- 8 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Oh my gourd. 🍂🎃 Before we know it, spooky season will be flying in on its broom and we'll all be desperately trying to find somewhere to pick our own pumpkins near London. Because buying one from the supermarket is all very well, but where's the fun in that?
Give us muddy fields, wheelbarrows, enormous orange pumpkins, questionable autumnal photography and children arguing over which pumpkin is definitely the biggest one in the field.
So, if you're looking for the best pumpkin patches near London in 2026, we've rounded up the places worth knowing about — from traditional working farms where you can pick your pumpkin straight from the field to full-blown pumpkin festivals involving giant displays, entertainment, food and enough gourds to sink a ghost ship.
And because pumpkin picking is essentially a competitive sport in our household, we've also included a few London for Kidz tips to help you choose your patch.
🎃 Hobbledown Heath Pumpkin Patch – West London
📍 Hounslow, West London📅 25 September – 1 November 2026
If you want pumpkin picking without leaving London, this is one to put firmly on your radar.
Hobbledown Heath has its own pumpkin patch set beside the River Crane, where you can wander through rows of real pumpkins and choose your favourite to take home. But this isn't just a case of finding a pumpkin and leaving.
For 2026 there are seasonal games, themed photo spots, marshmallow toasting, street food, live entertainment, bubble shows, roaming characters and fairground rides. There are also special Pumpkin Nights sessions after dark if you fancy making things a little more magical.
And if you want to turn it into a full day out, bundle tickets combine the pumpkin patch with a full day at Hobbledown Heath itself, including the Great Barn, outdoor adventure areas and more than 100 farm and zoo animals.
London for Kidz tip: There are dog-friendly pumpkin days on selected dates too, so the entire family can get involved — including the member who will inevitably try to eat the pumpkin. 🐶🎃
🐴 Hopefield Animal Sanctuary – Halloween Festival
📍 Brentwood, Essex📅 24 October – 1 November 2026 | 10am–3pm
We're obviously going to mention Hopefield because where else can you combine pumpkin picking with rescued animals? Hopefield's Halloween Festival includes indoor pumpkin picking, a Pirate Treasure Trail, spooky barn, Halloween arts and crafts, creepy crawlies and fangtastic character walkarounds.
And here's the bit we particularly like: every paying child gets a free pumpkin, plus a goodie bag containing a free return voucher. There's also a Fright-Free Zone for little ones who like the idea of Halloween considerably more than they like actually being frightened.
The event has both indoor and outdoor activities, so it goes ahead come rain or shine — which, frankly, is useful information when you're planning anything in Essex in October. And, of course, your visit helps support the rescued animals who call Hopefield home
🎪 Garsons Esher – Pumpkin Parade
📍 Esher, Surrey📅 October 2026
Garsons is doing pumpkin picking with a circus twist this year. The 2026 Pumpkin Parade is all about stepping into a big-top world of colour and autumnal fun, with thousands of pumpkins and squashes, circus-themed decorations, interactive carnival games and loads of photo opportunities. It's a good one if your idea of pumpkin picking involves slightly more than trudging through a field in wellies.
The Pumpkin Parade is a separate ticketed event and tickets are already on sale, with additional dates being released later.
🎃 Crockford Bridge Farm – Pumpkin Picking
📍 Addlestone, Surrey📅 From 4 October 2026
If you want the proper farm pumpkin-picking experience, Crockford Bridge Farm is a great shout. You'll head into the growing fields, grab a wheelbarrow and choose from a huge selection of homegrown pumpkins and squashes in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colours.
There are photo opportunities and quirky displays around the fields, and weekend street food too.
Pumpkin picking is £7.50 + booking fee, with pumpkins paid for separately. Booking is essential and entry is timed.
One important thing: buggies aren't allowed into the pumpkin fields and dogs aren't allowed in the picking fields, so leave the pooch and potentially the enormous pram at home.
And wear wellies. Obviously.
🎃 Want something a bit more theatrical?
Crockford Bridge Farm is also running its Pumpkin Festival from 24–31 October, but this is a separate event from the actual pumpkin picking. It includes a narrated storyline, performers, fancy dress, pumpkin-themed displays, games and entertainment — and you can buy pre-picked pumpkins from the Pumpkin Boutique.
So if your children want pumpkin picking, book the picking event. If they want pumpkin-themed entertainment, look at the festival. Easy peasy pumpkin squeezy.
🌽 Cammas Hall Farm – Pumpkin Patch Extravaganza
📍 Hatfield Broad Oak, Hertfordshire📅 3–31 October 2026
Cammas Hall Farm is going big on pumpkins, with more than 80 varieties of pumpkins and squash to choose from. There are photo opportunities, seasonal food and drink and the famous Pumpcano — which is exactly what it sounds like: a pumpkin-themed volcano.
You can also add the Halloween Maize Maze, while weekends bring family entertainment including Auntie Celia's Anti-Crow Cure.
And if you're visiting during 26–30 October, there’s a Halloween party takeover with bubbles, magic, puppets, games, balloons and glow-in-the-dark fun.
Pumpkins aren't included in the admission price; you choose your favourites and pay separately by weight.
📍 Battlesbridge, Wickford, Essex📅 October 2026
We make an annual visit to Hurley's Pumpkin Forest ourselves and love it Hurley's is all about thousands upon thousands of pumpkins, squashes and gourds, with a proper pumpkin-farm feel and rustic family activities.
It's set in the Essex countryside but is still a relatively easy option for families coming out from East London. You'll need to pre-book your entry, but you only pay for the pumpkins you actually choose, rather than paying for a pumpkin as part of your admission.
📍 Wilmington, Kent📅 October 2026
Stanhill Farm has been running its pumpkin patch for more than a decade, and it's another good option if you're after a traditional pumpkin-picking experience close to South East London.
Grab a wheelbarrow and head into the patch to choose from pumpkins in a whole range of shapes and sizes. The farm has confirmed that its 2026 Pumpkin Patch will open in October and that pre-booking is essential, although the exact 2026 dates are still to be released.
So this is one to bookmark and keep an eye on rather than turning up expecting to find a field full of pumpkins tomorrow.
📍 Turners Hill, Crawley, West Sussex📅 Selected dates from 19 September 2026
Now we're talking serious pumpkin commitment.
Tulleys describes this as Europe's largest Pumpkin Festival, with a frankly ridiculous 1.5 million pumpkins and gourds to discover. For 2026 there's also a brand-new attraction: The Pumpkin Valley, featuring giant pumpkin sculptures, ponds and new areas to explore.
Alongside the pumpkin fields you'll find seasonal food, street entertainment, live music, photo opportunities and the 33-metre Observation Wheel.
And if you fancy going after dark, Pumpkin Nights brings illuminated pumpkin displays, a woodland walk, roaming characters, live music and lots of glowing autumnal atmosphere.
Basically, if your child has ever said “I want a BIGGER pumpkin”, take them here.
📍 Hoo, Rochester, Kent📅 10–31 October 2026
This is another proper pick-your-own pumpkin farm, and it's been running for 17 years.
PYO Pumpkins at Beluncle Farm grows its pumpkins and squashes on the farm, with different varieties, colours and sizes available to choose from.
The 2026 season opens on Saturday 10 October, with weekend dates initially followed by daily opening during half term. You book by vehicle rather than individual person — up to seven seats per vehicle — and once you're there you grab a wheelbarrow and head into the field.
Pumpkins are then bought separately, with prices ranging from around £1 to £15 depending on what you choose.
Important: dogs aren't allowed, and you can't simply turn up without a ticket.
🎃 A few more pumpkin patches to watch
Not every farm has released its full 2026 details yet, and we're not going to pretend it has. Because making up pumpkin dates is not really the sort of journalism we're aiming for. 😂
These are worth keeping on your radar as their October information is confirmed:
Four Winds Farm, Kent
A popular autumn option in Penshurst with pumpkin picking and family Halloween fun. 2026 dates are currently TBC, so check before travelling.
Priory Farm, Redhill
Priory Farm runs its Pick-Your-Own Pumpkin experience with a tractor-and-trailer ride out to the pumpkin fields. Its events page confirms the pumpkin experience is returning, but full 2026 dates weren't available when we checked.
🎃 London for Kidz Pumpkin Picking Tips
Before you head off in search of your perfect pumpkin, a few things we've learnt:
🎟️ Book ahead. Pumpkin patches have become ridiculously popular, particularly at weekends and during October half term. Many are advance-booking only.
🥾 Wear wellies. It is October. You are going to a field. There is going to be mud. This is not a drill.
🧤 Bring gloves. Some pumpkins are enormous and surprisingly awkward to manoeuvre. Your children will insist they can carry theirs. They cannot.
🛒 Check whether wheelbarrows are provided. Many farms have them, but not all do — and some have limited numbers.
🎃 Your pumpkin may cost extra. Don't assume the admission price includes the pumpkin. At many traditional patches, you pay an entry fee and then buy your chosen pumpkin separately.
🐶 Check the dog rules. Some farms welcome dogs, while others don't allow them anywhere near the picking fields.
🌧️ Accept that October is October. Some of the best pumpkin-picking photographs involve glorious autumn sunshine. Others involve a child standing in six inches of mud looking furious. Both are valid.
📸 Leave room on your phone. Pumpkin patches are basically giant autumn photo studios.
🎃 Which pumpkin patch is best?
Best for staying in London: Hobbledown Heath
Best for animals + pumpkins: Hopefield Animal Sanctuary
Best for a traditional farm experience: Crockford Bridge Farm
Best for East London/Essex: Hurley's Pumpkin Forest
Best for South East London: Stanhill Farm
Best for a huge pumpkin extravaganza: Tulleys Pumpkin Festival
Best for pumpkin choice: Cammas Hall Farm
Best for a circus twist: Garsons Pumpkin Parade
Best for a proper pick-your-own experience: PYO Pumpkins at Beluncle Farm
🎃 Final gourd
Pumpkin picking has officially become one of our favourite signs that autumn has arrived.
There is something rather lovely about getting everyone outside, wandering around a pumpkin field, arguing over whether a pumpkin is “actually too big”, and coming home with muddy shoes and something enormous to carve.
Whether you're after a traditional farm, a full Halloween experience, somewhere close to London or simply the biggest pumpkin you can physically lift, there are plenty of brilliant options for pumpkin picking near London in 2026.
And remember: there is no such thing as too many pumpkins.
There is only insufficient storage space.
Happy pumpkin picking! 🎃🍂👻
We'll keep updating this guide as more 2026 dates and pumpkin patches are confirmed, so bookmark it and check back before you head out.
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