Hatter's Farm Pick Your Own Pumpkin has everything you want from a modern pumpkin patch. We were invited to the family farm in Bishops Stortford to check out what’s happening this year and gifted entry and experiences for Instagram coverage. Hatter's Farm is in a great location and within easy reach of Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridge or even London. 

There are probably 3 main reasons to head to a pumpkin patches: get pumpkins, take seasonal photographs and to have fun. Hatter's ticks all 3 boxes.

Find out what there is to do at Hatter's Farm Pumpkin Patch this year

What Is There To Do At Hatter’s Farm Pick Your Own Pumpkin?

The Pumpkin Patch

There are actually 2 pumpkin patches at Hatter’s. The smaller one (which is still quite big) is in front of you as walk in (or to your left as you go through the ticket desk). There is also a really big one if you walk past the first one and round the corner. It’s easy to find, just follow the signs. 

The pumpkin patches are what I think of as a proper pumpkin patch. These aren’t lined up rows of pumpkins on straw, but an actual field where pumpkins grow. The pumpkins are all cut from the plants, and spread across the field. As it's an actual field it may be muddy and bumpy in places, there are pathways covered wood chip running through the field though which make it easier to use your wheelbarrow (that you can collect at the entrance).

As well as the fields full of pumpkins you can choose from the squash and pumpkins on display around the farm. There is a huge range to choose from including cute baby ones which are only £1. In fact all the pumpkins are a reasonable price (more than the supermarket but less than a lot of places). If you aren’t sure what size a pumpkin is ask at the tills, the staff are really helpful and have hoops they can check the sizes with.

An actual pumpkin patch where pumpkins have grown

Prices of the Pumpkin and Squash at Hatter's Farm

Photo Opportunities

From the pumpkin house, a giant wooden chair, hay bale spider, spooky pianos, a tractor and squash/ pumpkin displays (including a tribute to the late Queen) there are so many things to take photos of and with. 

Watch out for spiders, although this one is hard to miss

One of many pianos around the site available for you to play

There are plenty of places for photo opportunities around the site

Activities

• The Spooky Shack: an undercover walkthrough with ghosts, ghouls and a cow. It’s not super scary and my children 3, 6 and 11 were fine with it.
• The Hay Bale Maze: A small maze for little people
• The Hay Bale Mountain: stacked up hay bales which children can climb up.
• The Maize Maze (additional charge). I am hugely impressed that we went in the entrance, found the middle and made it out the exit, I’m not sure how as we are generally awful at mazes. We made a few wrong turns on our way though. It’s only when you reach the middle and climb the tower  (some scaffolding) that you’ll realise just how big the maize is. Apparently it’s 7 acres, but if that means as much to you as it does to me: it’s big. As an extra bit of entertainment on your way round you need to look for 11 letters which spell out a word. We only found 6 but guessed the word. If you tell the ticket office and you enter a competition which when we were there was to win a big pumpkin. Children will also be offered a sweet. There were a few emergency exits (I’m not sure if these are intentional or they have been made where people wanted to escape) so you won’t be stuck in there forever if you do get lost. The Maize Maze costs £3 per person (0-3 years/ non walkers are free). It is open 10am to 5pm (or 8pm on Pumpkin Nights)
• Pumpkin Cannon (additional charge). The first attraction in the UK to have a pumpkin cannon. My children loved firing baby pumpkins out of a cannon at Halloween targets. Age restrictions apply (but basically supervision of children is required and small children couldn't reach the control anyway). Closes 1 hour after last arrival slot of the day. It costs £2.50 a shot or 3 for £7.
• There is also a nature trail around the farm (we didn’t explore this).

The Halloween themed Spooky Shack is child friendly

Heading into the Maize Maze at Hatter's Farm

Firing pumpkins at targets with a purpose build cannon

What Else You Need To Know Before Visiting Hatter’s Farm Pick Your Own Pumpkin

Booking

You need to book a slot online before visiting. It costs £1 per person plus booking fee and they have some evening events as well as day time. Tickets only cost £1 per person plus booking fee.

When Is It Open?

Daytime: 9:30am-4:30pm on the 2nd, 8th, 9th, 15th, 16th, 19th. 10:00am-5:00pm on 22nd-30th
Pumpkin Nights: 5:00pm - 9:00pm on the 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 27th to 30th of October

How Long Will Your Visit Take?

We were at the farm for about 90 minutes of which about 20/25 minutes was in the maze (it didn’t feel like that long through). The website says you can stay for up to 2 hours (or less if closing time), but no one would be chasing you out.

Paying For Pumpkins

You can pay with cash or card, although card is encouraged. There isn’t a load of merchandise available like at some places so it’s only a wheelbarrow full of pumpkins (and squash) you'll be talked into buying by your children.

There are a huge variety of squash and pumpkins to choose from and take home

Toilets

There are portaloos available, we didn’t use them so I can’t confirm what they are like. 

Food

You are welcome to bring your own food, but there is food and drink available to buy. Local small business Waffle & Co are selling sweet and savoury waffles from their food truck as well as fries.

Muddy Uneven Ground

When we visited the ground was muddy (and a bit slippy in the maize maze) but my children were ok in trainers. If it has been raining a lot recently or you don’t want to get your shoes muddy then wear wellies. When we got our of the car it felt really windy and exposed, but when we were in the actual farm it wasn’t so windy. 

This also means pushchairs and people with disabilities might struggle.

Can you bring your dog?

Dogs are welcome on the farm, but not in the actual pumpkin patches. They need to be kept on a lead at all times. 

Where is Hatter’s Farm?

Parking 

There is a large onsite car park, but as on a field this may get muddy if the weather gets wet. 

Other Pumpkin Patches and Halloween Activities Near By

If you are looking for another pumpkin patch in Essex or a Halloween activity to enjoy this half term check out this post.