The Best Places To Go Pumpkin Picking in Essex in 2022

Summer is drawing to a close and the beautiful purple lavender fields and vibrant sunflower fields are past their prime. The summer fruits have all been picked so that can only mean one thing. Autumn is on it’s way and it’s the season for pumpkin picking in Essex!

Visiting a pumpkin farm has become more and more popular in recent years as it’s a fun thing to do with kids. Some of the farms have lots of other Halloween events on for kids too, making for a really fun and relatively inexpensive day out during half term (unless you decide to pick ALL the heaviest pumpkins)!

Not all of the 2022 dates have been released yet so keep an eye open and check back as we will be updating them when they are released.

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Before we list the best places to go pumpkin picking in Essex, here are a few tips that may come in handy when visiting a pumpkin patch…

The pumpkins are grown (or are laid out) in fields. If you’re visiting these pumpkin fields on a wet day or it has previously been raining, the pumpkin patches will be muddy. It is usually always best to wear wellies or other suitable footwear for this family-friendly day out.
PYO pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes. Some are better for eating than others and the farm should be able to tell you which ones these are. See here for zero waste pumpkin ideas.
The majority of farms will sell pumpkins by weight or size. Check the price per kg before letting the kids choose the largest, heaviest pumpkin as the cost will soon add up!
Avoid pumpkins with soft spots or cuts as this signals a rotting pumpkin. It won’t last long at all when carved. Pumpkins should be firm.
Heavier pumpkins mean denser walls which are best for carving.
Many Essex pumpkin farms have wheelbarrows which you may or may not need to pay a deposit for. If they don’t have wheelbarrows, you should consider taking a sturdy bag. Don’t carry the pumpkin by the stalk as it may snap off and your pumpkin will get damaged.
Some of the Essex pumpkin patches will have pumpkin carving facilities onsite but if not, you might want to look at buying one of these pumpkin carving kits.
See here for more pumpkin picking tips!

Pumpkin picking in Essex

Hatter’s Farm

Hatter’s Farm PYO Pumpkin

Hatter’s Farm is a family run Pumpkin Patch in Essex with over 30 varieties of home-grown pumpkins which can be picked from the field. As well as pumpkins there is also a Pumpkin Cannon, Maize Maze and this year they will also be opening their spooky Pumpkin Nights event!

Where: Hatter’s Farm, Takeley, Bishop’s Stortford, Essex, CM22 6NP.

When: Daytime Pumpkin Picking open on the 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th and 23rd-31st October. Pumpkin Nights are open on the 23rd, 24th and 26th-31st of October.

Tickets: Tickets cost £4 per CAR, £4 will be credited against the purchase of your pumpkin.

Marsh Farm

Marsh Farm Pumpkin Village

Marsh Farm has loads going on. As well as the pumpkin fields where you can find all shapes and sized pumpkins, there is a pumpkin village with all kinds of pumpkin related activities going on including pumpkin carving.

There is also an on-site animal farm, farm shop and children’s play area so you can easily spend a full morning or afternoon here if you are looking for more than just pumpkin picking in Essex. It’s one of the best places to go pumpkin picking in East Anglia.

See also our post on Halloween events in Essex if you are looking for more ideas for days out during Half Term in Essex.

Where: Marsh Farm, Marsh Farm Road, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, Essex, CM3 5WP.

When: 6th to 31st October 2021.

Tickets: From £3.99 to £9.99 per person (Under 2 free).

Cammas Hall Farm

Cammas Hall

Cammas Hall offers a ready picked pumpkin patch with Halloween decorations. Extra Halloween activities are available such as 2 maize mazes which are always fun!

(It is also one of the best places to go fruit picking near London).

If you are close to the Hertfordshire border, you might want to also check out these places to go pumpkin picking in Hertfordshire.

Where: Cammas Hall Farm, Needham Green, Hatfield Broad Oak, Near Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 7JT.

When: Through October.

Tickets: £2.25 per person (Under 1 free). £2.00 will be credited against the purchase of your pumpkin.

Foxes Farm Produce

Foxes Farm Produce is the original PYO pumpkin patch in Essex. It actually offers pumpkin picking in 2 locations – see below.

There are ready cut pumpkins in the field with 15 different varieties of PYO pumpkins available. Wheelbarrows available. One of the closest pumpkin picking to London.

Where: The Pumpkin Patch, Watch House Farm, Wash Road, Basildon, SS15 4ER – and – The Pumpkin Patch, Green Lane, Aldham, Colchester, CO6 3PR.

When: 25th & 26th September, every weekend in October and then 18th to 31st October 2021.

Tickets: £5 for a family ticket for 4 people. Additional tickets are £1.50. You need to pre-book tickets here.

Cobbs Farm

Cobbs Farm Maldon

Large field where you can pick your own pumpkins from the vine. There is a large selection of pumpkin varieties and they start from 50p.

Where: Cobbs Farm, Goldhanger, Maldon, Essex, CM9 8BQ.

When: Half Term week.

Tickets: Free entry and no booking required.

Hurleys Pumpkin Forest

Hurleys have absolutely loads going on at Halloween with lots of fun activities to choose from. There is pumpkin bowling and welly wanging! They also have a maize maze. If you’re looking for somewhere to buy your Christmas tree, they have a Christmas tree farm too from 28th November.

Where: Christmas Tree Farm, Battlesbridge, Woodham Road,Wickford, Essex, SS11 7QL.

When: TBC – tickets for 2021 will be released closer to the time.

Tickets: TBC.

Lathcoats Farm

Pumpkin Fest at Lathcoats

PYO pumpkins in Essex with pumpkin carving and a Halloween Hunt.

Where: Lathcoats Farm, Beehive Lane, Galleywood, Essex, CM2 8LX.

When: 18th to 31st October 2021.

Tickets: TBC.

Hasty’s Adventure Farm

Hasty’s

Based in Clacton, Hasty’s is primarily an adventure farm with lots to entertain the kids. During half term they have a pumpkin trail and a huge variety of Halloween themed activities for kids.

Where: Hasty’s Adventure Farm, West Road, Clacton On Sea, Essex, CO15 1AG.

When: TBC.

Tickets: £6.95 per person.

There are some great places to go pumpkin picking in Essex but in case you are on the Suffolk border, you may find that some of the places to go pumpkin picking in Suffolk are closer. If you are closer to the Cambridgeshire border, you can try this one…

Pumpkin Jim’s

Just on the Essex border in Cambridgeshire, Pumpkin Jim’s offers a large variety of pumpkins and is one of the best places to pick pumpkins in Cambridgeshire.

Where: Pumpkin Jim’s, Grange Road, Ickleton, Saffron Walden, Cambridgeshire, CB10 1TA,

When: 23rd to 31st October 2021.

Tickets: Tickets for 2021 will be released on 1st September 2021.

So these are the best places to go pumpkin picking in Essex. Do you have any places you would like to recommend? Let us know! we’d love to hear from you.