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. Whichever kind you want, if you are looking for Halloween events for your family in Essex 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 (or it will do when updated for 2025, which will be soon I promise).
This comprehensive guide covers all the best pumpkin patches across Essex for
2026, complete with prices, opening times and what makes each one special. Scroll to the bottom for a map to find which is nearest to you.
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 2026
|
| 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 normally no booking is required and entry costs are minimal.Cobbs Farm, Maldon Road, Goldhanger, Maldon CM9 8BQ
Authentic Working Farm Experience- When: Weekends 10th/11th & 17th/18th October, plus 23rd to 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 9th to Sunday 11th October, Friday 16th to Sunday 18th and Friday 23rd to Saturday 31st October from 10am to 4pm.
- Price: £2.50 for over 16s, children free, free parking and no booking required.
- Pumpkins: 39 varieties grown on-site (this years prices tbc, but previously priced between £1 and £10).
- Perfect for: A dog friendly experience with some photo ops, slides and refreshments. They have toilets.
Coggeshall Pumpkin Patch, Abbey Farm, Abbey Lane, Coggeshall, CO6 1RD
They didn't open in 2025 because of a crop failure due the dry weather. Given 2026 has been worse than last year I think it is unlikely they will open this year either. Check their Facebook page for updates. They recommended people visit Olivers Plants, Coggeshall Road, Earls Colne. I will keep checking for when they update their site about pumpkins too.
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
Halloween Pumpkin Patch (day) and Resurrected (evening event)
- When: Weekends and selected dates, 3rd to 31st October 2026.
- Price: £6.95 to £10.95 per person depending on when you go (booking required). Weekends from 17th October and half term are at £10.95. Under 2s free. Dogs allowed in dining area, play area and maze during the day time, but not pumpkin patch. There is also a SEN session at 9am on 26th October.
- Special Features: Claim to have the World's Only Erupting Pumpcano, Halloween characters (non scary during the day time events) and two walkthroughs (including a scarier one for 12+). Over 80 varieties of pumpkins and squash, grown on site.
- Extras: Halloween Maize Maze £6 (20% discount when booked with entry tickets), A shoe on at weekends (£5.95 per person), Party Monsters events in half term (£5 adults, £8.50 children), playground and refreshments.
- Evening sessions: Halloween Resurrected (nights) takes place on selected evenings from 16th October, 6pm to 9pm featuring live music tributes to Amy Winehouse, George Michael and Freddie Mercury. Adults £15.95, children £9.95. They also have a "Haunted Resurrected" for 18+ only on Friday 30th and Saturday 31st October from 6pm (£19.95/ person)
|
| 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
Confirmed as opening but waiting for 2026 info. Manage your budget easily at this patch as you just pay for entry
and everything else is included (unless you want food).
- When: Opening dates tbc, but last year was every weekend in October plus Friday 24th to Friday 31st October 10am to 4pm.
- Price: last year was £7 per person, no booking required. Under 2s go free.
- Includes: All activities included and a free pumpkin of any size. Activities include: maize mazes, mini ride on tractors, go karts, a straw pyramid and games
- Extras: Refreshments available.
Farmer Scott's Pumpkin Patch in Brentwood, Coxtie Green Road, Brentwood, CM14 5RH
Indoor and Outdoor Fun
- When: Open weekends from 3rd October and half term week. 10am to 5pm
- Price: £4.95 to £6.95 in advance (£1 more on the door). Under 2s free. Dog friendly.
- Includes: Explore the Pumpkin barn with mini patch, indoor barn, outdoor patch and photo props. Pumpkins cost extra. Free parking and toilets.
- Extras: Apple cannon, Trucker Hat Bar, hair braiding and Shock Chair experience. Food available.
Fobbing Farm Shop Pumpkin Palace, 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 from Saturday 17th/ 18th and Friday 23rd onwards to Sunday 1st November. Sundays 10am to 2pm, Friday 23rd 4pm to 7pm and 10am to 4pm every other day.
- 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. There is also 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. Previously Basildon and Colchester.
Foxes Farm no longer run pumpkin patches. They now have pickleball, a PT studio and dog walking. run two pumpkin patches, one in Basildon the other in
Colchester.
The Green Barn Farm Shop North Benfleet Hall Fishery, Benfleet SS12 9JR
25 Acres of Pumpkin Paradise
- When: Weekends from 3rd October, daily from 24th to 31st October, 9am to 5pm. Also Magical Moonlit evenings with music and actors (family friendly) 4.30pm to 8.30pm.
- Price: £5 to £6.50 depending on date visiting (plus booking fee). Tractor trailer ride £5/ person, pumpkin cannon £7 for 3 shots, maize maze £3, pumpkins from £1 and giant marshmallows £1.50. Adults £12.50, children £9 (plus booking fee)
- Includes: Photo opps, roaming actors, bale mountain, animals, free parking (last year it was an all in price, this year everything is charged separately).
- Special Features: Meet farm animals, haunted barn, stilt walkers, marshmallow toasting (extra), face painting at peak times (extra). Dog friendly.
Hatter's Farm Pick Your Own Pumpkins, Takeley, Bishop's Stortford CM22 6NP
- When: Weekends in October, daily from 21st to 31st October. Both daytime and evening opening times.
- Price: £5 to £6 per person, plus booking fee (booking required)
- Includes: Photo opps, Hatter's haunted house (child friendly), farm play area, roaming actors, hay mountain.
- Extras: Pumpkin cannon (£2.50 a shot), maize maze (£2.75 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 9pm 16th to 18th and 23rd to 31st October. £10 to £12.50 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 Wednesday 21st to 31st October, 9 to 5pm.
- Price: Early bird peak tickets cost £4 to £6 per person with a discount for families of 4.
- Includes: Activities (subject to availability) to be announced, previously these included: Precious ring swing, witches maze, pumpkin bowling and welly wangling.
- Extras: Pumpkins cost extra, starting at £1.
- Evening sessions: Twilight sessions from 5pm to 7pm (website says 23rd to 30th October, but tickets only showing from 23rd to 24th October).
Lathcoats Farm, Beehive Lane, Great Baddow, Chelmsford CM2 8LX
Farmshop with Pumpkin Patch and Halloween Hunt with added bonus of Apple Picking
- When: from 10th October 2026, details and tickets not yet released.
- Price: In 2025 Pumpkin Patch was £4 to £5 per person depending on date, under 1s free (plus booking fee).
- 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 (last year it was £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 17th October and entrance on that day is by prebooked ticket only ( last year it was £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 Friday 23rd to Saturday 31st October 9:30am to 5:00pm (last entry 4pm).
- Price: adults £6, children £3 plus booking fee. Under 2’s are free (booking essential).
- Includes: A decorated faraway forest with an interactive quiz, games area, giant art board, 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/ 27th September, 2nd to 4th October, 9th to 11th October and everyday from 16th October.
- Price: £4.95 to £7.95 per person plus booking fee.
- Includes: Photo opps and the ambience. You can buy pumpkins and enjoy the Halloween Shop.
- Extras: There are dog friendly sessions (26th and 27th September, 17th October and select times on 27th and 29th October and SEN sessions (2rd and 9th October at 9am).
- Evening Sessions: Previously there have been both day and evening sessions, but evenings have not been announced for this year currently.
|
| 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: Last year open daily 1st to 31st October, 9am to 5pm (10am to 4pm on Sundays), last entry 90 minutes before closing.
- Price: Last year £7.50 to £10 advance, £15 weekends on door. Under 2s free. Brentwood confirmed as dog friendly.
- Includes: Indoor barn, outdoor patch, photo props, baby Highland cows, mini maize maze and spooky characters at weekends and half term.
- Extras: Last year Scott's Southend also had: Halloween afternoon tea (£35 adults/ vegans, £18 children), Haunted VR Ride (£3), Dog friendly. These are TBC for this year
- Evening sessions: Last year they had Twilight Sessions, not announced yet for 2026. Last year these were 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 many 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 if you want to visit at 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 is spam in which case, why?)