Pumpkin Picking in Essex

It’s that time of year the leaves are on the ground, and it’s time to get festive with Autumn and Halloween. We love pumpkin carving, and now pumpkin picking is a big thing! So here are the best places to go Pumpkin Picking in Essex with the family and choose your pumpkin for carving this Halloween 2023. Updated for 2023!

Pumpking picking had become very popular in the UK, much like the USA. However, you can not generally walk up to a farm and go pick. Lots of them you now have to book. This is great if you want a family day out and to take photographs with the kids but not if you want to grab a few pumpkins for your recipes.

Whilst some places that do pumpkin picking in Essex are free, some charge up to £5 per person. Some are better for photos too. So here is everything you need to know, plus the best places to pick your pumpkins in Essex from a local herself.

See the best Christmas Markets in Essex here too

This is the Ultimate guide to Pumpkin Picking Essex, with all of the best spots to find the perfect pumpkin and have the best Autumn experience.

Where can I pick my own pumpkin in Essex?

You can pick your own pumpkin in Essex but bear in mind that at the end of the Pumpkin Festival, the choice of sizes and variety will become limited, so book early. Here are the best pumpkin-picking spots in Essex for 2023 and the best spots for pumpkin picking village photos.

• Marsh Farm Pumpkin picking village Saffron Walden ( best for photo ops)
• Foxes Farm Produce in Basildon ( Best for local farm produce grown directly in the field )
• Foxes Farm Produce in Colchester
• Hatter’s Farm Bishop Stortford ( best for a large variety of squash and pumpkin )
• Pumpkin Jims Saffron Walden ( best for dog-friendly and cheap entry )
• Hurley’s farm Battlesbridge ( best for groups as charged by the car )
• Lathcoats Farm Galleywood ( best for farm shop and apple picking as well )
• Cammas Hall Bishop Stortford ( best for displays and photos )
• Hastys Adventure Farm Clacton on Sea ( best for added young children’s farm experience )
• Scotts Pumpkin Barn Southend
• Land of the Dead Chelmsford

Marsh Farm Pumpkin picking

This has to be my favourite Pumpkin picking Essex place! So you must try Marsh Farm Pumpkin Picking Village in South Woodham Ferrers for Halloween 2023. It is totally the best for photo opportunities and has lots of choices of pumpkins too. The best thing at Marsh Farm pumpkin village is getting a pumpkin-spiced latte or cosy hot chocolate in the onsite cafe. They are even dog friendly and have slots to take your furry friends with dog-friendly sessions to book.

Entry DOES NOT include a pumpkin. The entry fee covers the cost of the set-up & site infrastructure. Pumpkins can be pricey here but it is totally worth it for the photos you will take.

Marsh Farm Pumpkin picking is Best for its fabulous displays for photographs. More details are below;

• When: 28th September- 31st October, Mon-Sun, 10am-5pm
• Cost: Tickets prices are Child £2.99- £5.99 Adult £2.99- £5.99 Infants under 6 months free, Carer £2.99
• Parking: free at the farm car park
• Dog Friendly: Yes, with a pre-purchased dog ticket
• Where:  Marsh Farm, Marsh Farm Rd, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford CM3 5WP

Foxes Farm Produce in Basildon

You can pick your own pumpkins at Foxes Farm Produce in Basildon right on the farm. This is a good choice for pumpkin-picking lovers and actually it is in walking distance to my house directly in the fields where I live. I love seeing the pumpkins grow and there is nothing better that picking your pumpkin straight out of the ground. The Pumpkin Patch is one of the original Pick your Own Patches in Essex and has been operating since 2015. They actually have two locations, one in Basildon and one in Colchester.

• When: Booking from the 30th of September 2023
• Cost: There is an online booking system and it costs £5 per person or £3.75 if over 4 people.
• Parking: Free in field
• Dog friendly: No dogs allowed
• Where: Basildon (Watch House Farm, Wash Road, SS15 4ER.

They also have The Sunflower Patch and Corn Maze where you can pick your own Sunflowers at COLCHESTER CO6 3PR

How much do pumpkins cost at Foxes Farm Produce

Pumpkins at Foxes farm Produce cost:

• £2 minature pumpkins
• £3 small pumpkins 
• £4 medium pumpkins 
• £6 large pumpkins 
• £9 extra large pumpkins
• £12 Monster Pumpkins 

Foxes Farm Produce in Colchester

For pumpkin picking near Colchester, similar to the Foxes Farm Produce in Basildon you can pop along to Colchester one instead.

• When: Booking from the 1st of October
• Cost: There is an online booking system and it costs £5 per person or £3.75 if over 4 people.
• Dog friendly: No
• Where: Colchester Green Lane, Aldham, CO6 3PR.

Hatter’s Farm Bishop Stortford

Hatter’s Farm is award-winning after receiving the London & South East England Prestige Award for Farm of the Year. They pride themselves in providing a fantastic pumpkin-picking experience for visitors of all ages, and aim to be the best Halloween attraction in the East of England! The farm has over 50 varieties of pumpkins, whether you like knobbly ones, giant ones, tiny ones or colourful ones, they have it all. 

They also do Hatter’s Farm Confetti Flower Fields!

The 2023 pumpkin patch this year will also be open again to include Pumpkin Nights events. As well as pumpkin picking they have plenty of other activities from the Pumpkin Cannons and a Maize Maze.

• When: 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, and 21st to 29th of October
• Cost: £1 per person
• Dog friendly: Dogs on leads
• Parking: Yes free parking in field
• Where: Hatter’s Farm Takeley, Bishop Stortford CM22 6MP

How much are pumpkin’s at Hatter farm?

Pumpkins and squash vary in price from £1 for the smallest up to £12 for giant whoppers.

Pumpkin Jims Saffron Walden

Visit Pumpkin Jim at his patch in Ickleton, Saffron Walden, for a fun day out picking pumpkins with the family. You can also dig for spuds, picking wild flowers and sampling delicious food from local food trucks. 

• When: From half term in October, book from 1st September 2023
• Cost: £1 plus booking fees
• Dog friendly: Welcome on leads
• Parking: Free
• Where: Ickleton, Saffron Walden CB10 1TA

Hurley’s farm Battlesbridge Wickford

Hurley’s Pumpkin Forest pumpkin patch and fun family area is open this october. Greta place for the best picking of pumpkins and lots of family fun. Choose from thousands of lovely pumpkins, squashes and take some great family for pumpkins photos.

• When: From the throughout October 2022
• Cost: £5 to £10 per car
• Dog friendly: No dogs
• Parking: Included in ticket
• Where: Woodham Road, Battlesbridge, Wickford SS11 7QL

Lathcoats Farm Galleywood

Lathcoats Farm in Galleywood is a good choice for finding a pumpkin in Essex. The pumpkin patch has lots of sizes and varieties of pimpkins for you to choose from. There are lots of outdoor games and photo opportunities to be had by the whole family. You can even carve your pumpkin on site! They also have an onsite farm shop and cafe too!

There is also a  Halloween Hunt for small kiddies recommended age is 8 and under.

During your visit pop you can also go and apple pick in the orchards and PYO apples with no additional booking needed.

• When: From the 15th of October
• Cost: £1 per person
• Dog friendly: Dogs are welcome in the car parking area and around the animal area on a lead but are not allowed in the pick your own fields.
• Parking: on site
• Where: Beehive Lane, Galleywood Chelmsford Essex CM2 8LX

Cammas Hall Bishop Stortford

Cammas Hall in Bishop Stortford is amazing for pumpkin picking. It has lots of great photo opportunities with backdrops and scenes sets. Pumpking picking at Cammas Hall gets booked up quickly. They have on select days during the first two weeks of October Tractor & Trailer rides as well as a Maize maze. The trailer rides need to be booked separately. They are also well known for their strawberry picking in the summer too.

• When: From the 1st of October waiting for 2023 booking and dates
• Cost: £4 to £6
• Dog friendly: Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted in the patch. Well behaved dogs on leads are welcome to join you in the maze and play area.
• Parking: Free onsite
• Where: Needham Green, Hatfield Broad Oak, Hertfordshire, CM22 7JT

Hastys Adventure Farm Clacton on Sea

Hasty’s adventure farm has a harvest trail which is great for all ages of kids. You can enjoy entrance to the farm, see all the animals and play on the equipment as well as the spooky themed mini- games. There are also lots of various selfie areas for photos too.

• When: Monday, August 14, 2023 – Tuesday, September 5, 2023
• Cost: 3 choices of entry from £8.95 ( toddlers £4.95 ) up to a premium pumpkin experience at £18.45 ( toddlers £14.45 )
• Dog friendly: no dogs
• Parking: Free
• Where: West Rd, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1AG

Scotts Pumpkin Picking Barn Southend Essex

For a pumpkin patch southend on sea, go and enjoy the indoor pumpkin barn at Scotts of Southend which will be open every day in October in Southend. You can pick your own pumpkins, take photos at the Insta-worthy photo stations and enjoy the bat trail around the garden centre. They serve seasonal hot drinks and treats, you can also buy Halloween gifts and toys.

• When: Every day in October
• Cost: Free No booking required
• Parking: Free
• Where: Scotts of Southend, Sutton Road, Rochford, SS4 1LQ Essex.

New for 2022 Land of The Dead at Kings Farm Chelmsford

New for 2022 Land of The Dead at Kings Farm Chelmsford is a festival of all things Halloween and Pumpkin picking. With a choice of 3 different types of tickets, from pumpkin picking to fairground rides. Step into the mystical Land of the Dead, celebrating all things Halloween. They have all sorts, including Pick A Pumpkin patch to an array of fun-packed areas such as Koko’s Big Top Circus, Fantastic Fun Fair Fiesta and a Mexican-themed bar with food vendors. It’s the perfect way to spend Halloween. They even have a late night where you can stroll around the enchanted Land of the Dead as day turns to night, and calming turns to creepy.

• When: 21st-29th of October 2023 ( tickets coming soon )
• Cost: £6.99 – £24.99 depending on the ticket ( extra tokens available on the day for fairground rides )
• Dog Friendly: No dogs allowed
• Parking: Onsite and free
• Where: Kings Farm, Margaretting Rd, Writtle, Chelmsford CM1 3PJ

For more ideas on Halloween days out in Essex, take a look at Halloween days out in Essex

Take a look at Halloween days out in Cornwall and Devon here