October arrives and suddenly my Instagram feed turns orange. A visit to a
pumpkin patch is about more than just the photographs though, it is a great
autumn day out. Let's face it if you just want a big orange pumpkin at the
lowest price then you can head to the supermarket, so the pumpkin patches have
to offer something extra.
We have some brilliant farms in Essex that grow their own pumpkins and gourds
so you can choose to get your pumpkins direct from the growers. There are also
some fun pop up patches where pumpkins have been bought and arranged for the
purpose of entertainment. Which ever kind you want this post has you covered.
You might also want to check out our
guide to what to do in Essex this October half term
as there are lots of pumpkin and Halloween themed activities in that post
too.
This comprehensive guide covers all the best pumpkin patches across Essex for
2025, complete with prices, opening times and what makes each one special.
Why Choose Essex for Pumpkin Picking?
Essex boasts some of the UK's finest pumpkin patches, many growing their produce on-site and offering authentic farm experiences. From Brentwood to Braintree, these family-run farms and attractions provide the perfect backdrop for creating lasting Halloween memories with your children.
The Best Pumpkin Patches in Essex 2025
|
| There are some great farms growing their own pumpkins in Essex (taken at Hatter's Farm) |
Traditional Farm Experiences
Choose pumpkins from the farms they were grown in. Expect limited entertainment and amenities, but no booking is required and entry costs are minimal.Cobbs Farm, Maldon Road, Goldhanger, CM9 8BQ
Authentic Working Farm Experience- When: Weekends 11th/12th & 18th/19th October, plus 24th-31st October, 10am-4pm
- Price: Free entry and parking, no booking required
- Pumpkins: £1-£15, all grown on-site
- Perfect for: No-frills, authentic farm experience with homemade refreshments
The Pumpkin Patch, East Bergholt, Hadleigh Road, East Bergholt, CO7 6QU (opposite Elm Road)
Traditional Farm Picking- When: Friday 10th to Sunday 12th October, Friday 17th to Sunday 19th and Friday 24th to Friday 31st October from 10am to 4pm.
- Price: £2.50 for over 16s, children free, no booking required
- Pumpkins: Over 20 varieties grown on-site (previously priced between £1 and £10).
- Perfect for: A dog friendly experience with some photo ops, slides and refreshments.
Coggeshall Pumpkin Patch, Abbey Farm, Abbey Lane, Coggeshall, CO6 1RD
There isn't a lot of information available about this pumpkin patch, but
it is worth visiting this farm if you live nearby to check out if you
want to support growers directly when buying your pumpkins. Last year
they were open from 25th October till 31st with free entry and no
booking required.
Premium Family Experiences
A combination of pick your own sites, farm shops, seasonal farms and pop
ups going all out to get your business each Halloween. Expect pumpkins
galore and activities like mazes as well as brilliant back drops. These
experiences come at a price and normally need prebooking.
Cammas Hall Farm, Needham Green, Hatfield Broad Oak CM22 7JT
The Halloween Experience and Pumpkin Patch
- When: Weekends and selected dates, 4th to 31st October 2025
- Price: £6.95 to £9.95 per person (booking required)
- Special Features: Claim to have the World's Only Erupting Pump-Cano and creepy photo props including a walk through. Pumpkins grown on site.
- Extras: Halloween Maize Maze (20% discount when booked together), playground, refreshments.
- Evening sessions: Halloween Nights (Resurrected) takes place on selected evenings from 10th October, 6pm-9pm featuring live music tributes to Elvis, Amy Winehouse, and George Michael. Adults £14.95, children £9.95.
|
| Cammas Hall has lots of activities beside just choosing a pumpkin in their patch |
Farmer Johns Pumpkin Patch, Boydland Farm, Old London Road, Capel St Mary, IP9 2JU
Manage your budget easily at this patch as you just pay for entry
and everything else is included (unless you want food).
- When: Open every weekend in October plus Friday 24th to Friday 31st October 10am to 4pm.
- Price: £7 per person, no booking required
- Includes: All activities included and a free pumpkin of any size. Activities include: maize mazes, min ride on tractors, go karts, a straw pyramid and games
- Extras: Refreshments available.
Fobbing Farm Shop, Waterworks Lane, Fobbing, Stanford-le-Hope SS17 9HT
Have your photo taken with ghosts, ghouls and witches while you
choose your pumpkin at the Pumpkin Palace.
- When: Open Friday 17th to Sunday 19th and Friday 24th to Friday 31st October. Open 10am to 4pm, early closing at 2pm on Sundays. Fridays 17th and 24th they are only opening evenings (4pm to 7pm).
- Price: £4.95 per child, accompanying adults go free.
- Includes: An undercover Halloween experience where you can pick pumpkins and take photos. This isn't a pumpkin patch, but a good option if it's a wet October. A 'Ghostbusters' magic show (at 20 mins past the hour).
- Extras: Halloween Shop
|
| Get lost and find your quest at Hatter's Farm Pumpkin Patch in Essex |
Foxes Farm Produce. Basildon: Watch House Farm, Wash Road, SS15 4ER. Colchester:
Bulbanks Farm, Halstead Road, Eight Ash Green, Colchester, CO6
3PT
Foxes run two pumpkin patches, one in Basildon the other in
Colchester.
- When: Open every weekend in October from Saturday 4th October and daily from 18th to 31st October 2025. Although the website also warns they might run out of pumpkins so wont definitely be open up to Halloween.
- Price: Prebooked ticket required for entry. Tickets cost £9 to £10 per person with discounted group ticket for 4.
- Includes: Free munchkin pumpkin per person.
- Extras: Both sites have pumpkin picking and some games, but the Colchester location also has a maze and licensed bar. Check their website for key dates including dog friendly days.
- Evening sessions: Pumpkin Patch Nights run on 18th (live music), 24th, 25th (Adult only), 30th and 31st October select dates in October and start from 6pm, tickets cost £10 to £12 per person. Pumpkins and some activities cost extra.
|
| The Pumpkin Jump Pad at Foxes Farm (Colchester) |
|
| Remember your wellies for the Pumpkin Patch |
The Green Barn Farm Shop North Benfleet Hall Fishery, Benfleet SS12 9JR
25 Acres of Pumpkin Paradise
- When: Weekends from 4th October, daily 25th-31st October, 9am to 5pm
- Price: Adults £12.50, children £9 (plus booking fee)
- Includes: Pumpkin of your choice (grown in their fields), Pumpkin Express tractor ride, maize maze all included in the entry price.
- Special Features: Meet farm animals, haunted barn, stilt walkers, marshmallow toasting (extra), face painting at peak times (extra).
Hatter's Farm Pick Your Own Pumpkins, Takeley, Bishop's Stortford CM22 6NP
- When: Weekends in October, daily 23rd to 31st October
- Price: £4 to £6 per person (booking required)
- Includes: Photo opps, Hatter's haunted mad house (child friendly), undercover play area, roaming actors, hay mountain.
- Extras: Pumpkin cannon (£2.50 a shot), maize maze (£2.50 in advance or £3 on arrival), marshmallow toasting (£1.50 for 1 ranging to £5 for 5). Pumpkins range from £1 to £12. There is a wide range of refreshments available at peak times. Read our review here.
- Evening Sessions: Pumpkin Nights are running from 5pm to 8.30pm on the 18th/ 19th, 25th/ 26th and 28th to 31st October. £9 per person.
|
| Get ready for photos |
|
| Enjoy toasted marshmallows this year at Hatter's Farm, Green Barn Farm, the Pumpkin Village |
Hurleys Pumpkin Forest, Christmas Tree Farm, Woodham Road (Old Road), Battlesbridge, Wickford, SS11 7QL
This Christmas Tree farm warms up for the season with a Halloween event with basic but fun games.- When: Open weekends in October plus everyday from Thursday 23rd to 31st October.
- Price: Early bird peak tickets cost £4 to £6 per person with a discount for families of 4.
- Includes: Activities (subject to availability) include: Precious ring swing, witches maze, pumpkin bowling and welly wangling.
- Extras: Pumpkins cost extra
- Evening sessions: Twilight sessions are on 24th to 30th October from 4pm to 7pm.
Lathcoats Farm, Beehive Lane, Great Baddow, Chelmsford CM2 8LX
Farmshop with Pumpkin Patch and Halloween Hunt with added bonus of Apple Picking
- When: 11th October to 1st November
- Price: Pumpkin Patch is £4.50 per person, under 1s free
- Includes: £2 off pumpkins with patch ticket, see the animals and play in the small play area. You can read more about visiting Lathcoats Farm here.
- Extras: The Halloween hunt is charged separately at £5.75 per person when booked online and includes an activity booklet, pencil and spooky treat. It is a small trail that runs around the outside of the animal area.
- Special: Their Annual Apple Day on 18th October and entrance on that day is by prebooked ticket only (£3.50 adults, £2.50 children).
Otto's Pumpkin Patch, Long Green, Cressing, Braintree CM77 8DL
A pumpkin patch is on a working family farm in Braintree.
- When: Open weekends in October and from Thursday 23rd to Friday 31st October 9:30am to 5:00pm.
- Price: adults £6, children £3, Under 2’s are free (booking essential).
- Includes: A decorated faraway forest with an interactive quiz, games area, giant art board, loads of photo opportunities
- Extras: Pumpkins costs extra. Hot and cold refreshments available.
Pumpkin Picking Village, Marsh Farm, Marsh Farm Rd, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford CM3 5WP
Photographers Paradise where pumpkins aren't grown on site and the village is entirely set up each year for the purpose of entertainment.
- When: 26th September to 31st October
- Price: £2.99 to £6.99 per person
- Includes: Photo opps and the ambience.
- Extras: There are some dog friendly sessions and SEN sessions (first thing in the morning 5th and 11th October).
- Evening Sessions: There are a number of "Pumpkin Dog Nights" evenings (from 5.15pm to 6.30pm on 4th, 12th, 18th, 25th, 26th and 29th October). £5.99 to £6.99 (plus booking fee)
|
| There are more twilight sessions than ever before at pumpkin patches in Essex this year |
Scott's Halloween Pumpkin Picking Barn, Scott’s of Southend Garden Centre, Sutton Road. Rochford, Essex, SS4 1LQ
Indoor and Outdoor Fun
- When: Daily 1st to 31st October, 9am to 5pm (10am to 4pm on Sundays), last entry 90 minutes before closing.
- Price: £7.50 to £10 advance, £15 weekends on door. Under 2s free.
- Includes: Indoor barn, outdoor patch, maize maze, medium pumpkin
- Extras: Halloween afternoon tea (£35 adults/ vegans, £18 children), Haunted VR Ride (£3), Dog friendly.
- Evening sessions: Twilight Sessions are running on 25th, 26th, 30th & 31st October, 6pm-9pm, £12 per person (8+ years). These feature a Halloween disco, games, spooky characters and a free pumpkin.
Planning Your Essex Pumpkin Patch Visit
What to Bring
- Wellies (especially after wet weather)
- Dress for the weather: while some have undercover areas, the pumpkin patches are mostly outdoors so it can be cold and wet. While fancy dress can make for some great photos, warm and dry children will have more fun.
- Camera for family photos
- Check whether your preferred destination requires cash or card.
-
Bring wipes: The toilet facilities at some of the locations are temporary portaloo type toilets and there may not be running water so it's worth bring reusable wipes or baby wipes for cleaning muddy hands.
- Protect your car: Stick a ground sheet or waterproof mat in your boot to protect against muddy pumpkins and wellies
Booking Tips
- Many patches require advance booking, especially weekends
- Book early for popular dates like half-term
- Check individual websites for last-minute availability
Best Times to Visit
- Weekday visits are typically quieter
- Morning sessions can offer the best pumpkin selection as some patches 'reset' before opening
- Evening sessions provide unique spooky atmospheres
- Don't leave it too late: whether you want great photographs or great pumpkins the best choice are earlier in October. Patches don't want to have too many left over so the numbers will dwindle as you get closer to Halloween.
Making the Most of Your Pumpkin Patch Adventure
Choosing the Perfect Pumpkin
Look for pumpkins with:
- Firm, undamaged skin. They can last months in cool conditions if they are not cut into.
- A variety of colours for the most fun Autumnal display.
- Good shape for your intended use (carving vs. decoration).
Photography Tips
- Golden hour (the hour before sunset) often provides the best lighting.
- Costumes and autumn coloured clothing look brilliant in pictures
- Capture candid moments of children exploring
Essex Pumpkin Patches: More Than Just Pumpkins
These attractions offer so much more than pumpkin picking. From meeting farm animals to getting lost in spooky mazes, they provide complete family days out that celebrate the magic of autumn in Essex. Many patches also support local communities, offering employment and showcasing Essex's agricultural heritage. By visiting, you're supporting local farmers and keeping these wonderful traditions alive.
*Information given in good faith, always check the website and social media of the pumpkin patches before booking or visiting in case of cancellations*
No comments
Thanks for your comment (unless it's spam in which case, why?)