The UK’s greatest pumpkin patches revealed: Report by The AA lists the perfect farms for autumnal enjoyable

The calendar has clicked over to October and pumpkin picking season is about to start in earnest. So, where to go to find the prettiest patches and the best Halloween squashes?

A new report published by The AA this week analysed 83 of the most searched-for pumpkin patches across the country – and picked out the top spots. 

Some of those that made the list also include maize mazes, fright nights and carving sessions, ideal for families during the upcoming October half-term.

Factors considered in compiling the pumpkin patch list included social media popularity, adult entry price and whether the crop is grown on site or bought in. 

Whether you’re looking for a gnarly misshapen squash to cook with or a perfectly round pumpkin to carve, these are the UK patches, from Essex to Yorkshire, that promise a mix of spooky antics and autumnal fun. 

1. Hatter’s Farm, Essex

Hatter’s Farm has been crowned the pumpkin king with a top score of 66.15 out of 100. 

The Essex-based patch boasts an impressive 4.8 star rating from 795 Google reviews raving about its 100,000 homegrown pumpkins and squashes.

Pumpkin pickers will have 75 different varieties to choose from and actors roam around the site interacting with customers, adding to the Halloween spirit.

Aside from the pumpkin patch, there’s a maize maze to get lost in, a haunted house and a bale mountain amongst other attractions. 

Price? Tickets are priced from a very affordable £5.36 each for both adults and children, under twos go free. Entry increases to £7 per person on peak days. 

Some additional attractions at the patch can be purchased for an extra cost. 

Open weekends from October 3 to 18. Then open October 21 to 31.

2. Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire

Doddington Hall just misses out on the top spot with a score of 65.22 – and it has plenty to offer for those seeking out the perfect pumpkin this Halloween. 

The Lincolnshire patch grows its own pumpkins and offers 30 different varieties of pumpkins, squashes and gourds. 

Hidden ‘golden bottom’ pumpkins offer the chance to win the pumpkin, a family ticket to Christmas in the Hall and a 4ft Doddington homegrown Christmas tree.

Price? Entry is completely free, visitors just pay for what they pick with prices starting from £4, depending on the size.

Open from October 1 to 31.

3. Stockeld Park, Yorkshire 

Pumpkin picking at Stockeld Park begins with a tractor trailer ride to the patch and then you’re free to head to the field and hand select your favourite orange beast.

The Leeds-based patch scored 60.47 out of 100 and impressed with its 15,600 Instagram and 1,102 TikTok hashtags – making a notable impact on social media with its offerings.

Pumpkin Nights, new for 2026, promise ‘good food, live music, games and plenty of atmosphere’ and are held on October 17 and 24, £15 per person.

Price? Adventure park only tickets, which give access to the enchanted forest, maze, adventure playgrounds and pumpkin patch, are available from £13.75 online. 

Open from October 3 every weekend and daily from October 24 to 31. 

4. Dunham Massey Ice Cream Farm, Greater Manchester 

Dunham Massey Ice Cream Farm, in Altrincham, is home to a colourful pumpkin patch adorned with hay bales and charming decorations. 

The 30,000 pumpkins are priced by size and there is a ‘Spooky Maze’ to check out too. Visitors can also enjoy hot food, farm-made ice cream and photo opportunities.

It bagged a score of 59.06 from AA and boasts an impressive 4.5 star rating on Google.  

Price? Entry from £6 per car (or group), it offers a great day out without a frightening price tag.

Open September 26 to October 31. 

5. Kenyon Hall Farm, Cheshire

Kenyon Hall Farm, located in Cheshire, ranked fifth overall with a score of 58.52 out of 100. 

Visitors have the choice from thousands of own-grown pumpkins across around 50 varieties. 

Aside from pumpkin picking, there’s plenty to do on the farm including photo spots, a farm shop and pumpkin gift shop, as well as a free playground.

Price? Tickets are £3.95 per person, advanced booking is essential as walk-ins are not permitted.

Open until October 31. 

6. Hitchin Lavender, Hertfordshire

Hitchin Lavender, in Hertfordshire, secured sixth place with a score of 57.84 out of 100.

The site will boast a selection of different types of pumpkins and squashes to choose from that are all homegrown. 

Aside from the pumpkins, guests can enjoy a spooky sunflower maze, Halloween decorations as well as street food and hot drinks.

Price? Prices vary depending on the ticket type and day, but morning entry can be purchased from £4.84 per person midweek.

Open October 10 to 31.

7. Millets Farm Centre, Oxfordshire

Millets Farm Centre in Oxfordshire offers all things spooky and fun on its pumpkin patch. 

Guests can visit the patch from morning until night and enjoy a range of thrilling experiences like its Halloween Circus and Spooktacular Discos. 

There are thousands of homegrown pumpkins to choose from so you’ll be sure to find the perfect fit for carving out.

Price? Off-peak entry is priced at £4 per person, peak entry is £5. Pumpkins range from £1 to £10.

Open weekends from October 3 and daily from October 22 to 31.

8. Over Farm, Gloucestershire

Over Farm, in Gloucestershire, hosts a pumpkin festival on its 17-acre patch adorned with a sea of orange.

It’s the perfect spot to get stuck into the Halloween spirit and the patch even offers the chance to pick pumpkins after dark. 

Price? From £2.99 to £7.99 per person. Pumpkins start at £1.50 and go all the way up to a whopping £100 for the farm’s ‘ginormous sumo pumpkins’.

Open from October 3 every weekend and all week from October 23 to 31. 

9. Cattows Farm, Leicestershire

Cattows Farm grows over 100,000 every year for its impressive patch in Leicestershire. 

Visitors can enjoy a range of attractions from the Great Halloween Harvest Ride to the Zombie World Trail. 

Price? Ticket prices vary, the Build Your Own option which includes entry to the Halloween Farm, patch and standard parking is priced from £4 per person.

Open from September 26 to November 1.

10. Clearwell Farm, Newport

Clearwell Farm in Newport rounded off the top ten with its spooky patch of over 50,000 pumpkins in all shapes, sizes and colours. 

Its Pumpkin Village is the perfect spot for some Halloween fun with street food vendors and entertainment adding to the experience.

For thrill seekers, Clearwell Farm is also home to the Harvest of Horror which is dubbed Cardiff’s scariest farm attraction and features a walk-through scare maze and terrifying actors. 

Price? Daytime picking from £5 per person, twilight picking with live music costs from £6. Under 2s go free. Harvest of Horror tickets are priced at £20.90 per person.

Open from October 2 to 31.

And the best pumpkin patches abroad…

Countries around the world celebrate pumpkin season, and La Huerta de Aranjuez, located near Madrid, is an impressive example.

Here, visitors can pick their own pumpkin and paint it on site. There’s also a tractor ride, straw maze and corn pool. 

Peter Bradley, horticultural garden expert and director at Mid Ulster Garden Centre says it’s ‘perfect for families in the late Spanish sunshine’.

Although it isn’t a pumpkin patch, Germany’s Ludwigsburg Pumpkin Festival is an impressive spectacle. Hosted from August to November, the largest pumpkin exhibition in the world takes place with 450,000 pumpkins and 600 varieties.

The expert tells the Daily Mail it ‘is worth a visit because it hosts hundreds of thousands of pumpkins used to create enormous displays and sculptures’.

America is known for being big and bold with its pumpkin patches, and Mr Bradley recommends The Great Pumpkin Farm in New York. 

Pumpkin picking is only a small part compared to the other attractions on the farm like pumpkin pedal kart rides, the pumpkin hill slide and the pumpkin barrel train. There’s also a boo barn, hay maze, live music and a petting zoo.  

It even hosted the Great Pumpkin Pie-Eating Championship on September 26 with the winner taking home a $250 prize. Every weekend, there is also a pie eating contest where contestants race to eat the most pies with no hands in five minutes.

Mr Bradley explains how it is ‘a brilliant example of the full US experience that combines pumpkins with hayrides, corn mazes and autumn activities with free weekday entry’.

Bishop’s Pumpkin Farm in California was previously named one of the best in America by TimeOut and with a deep-rooted history in the pumpkin business dating back to 1973, it is certainly impressive.

Home to the largest U-Pick pumpkin field in the world, after choosing the perfect pumpkin guests can tuck into homemade food like a pumpkin apple muffin and other baked treats.

Aside from the pumpkins, there is also a petting zoo with goats, a corn maze and hay rides across the pumpkin field.  

But are the crazy and spooktacular options seen in America better than British patches? Mr Bradley says: ‘America seems like it goes bigger when it comes to pumpkin patches and experiences but bigger doesn’t always mean better.’

He argues that UK and Irish patches usually boast character and ‘more of a traditional farm feel’ and adds: ‘There’s something really special about that’.  

The expert continues: ‘Visiting them often means you are supporting local farmers and growers, especially in the current economic climate where they are under immense strain. 

‘The UK is taking inspiration from the US, but we’re definitely creating our own version of the tradition for people to enjoy.’