Autumn has arrived, which means only one thing: Pumpkin season. From celebrating the end of Harvest season to carving jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween, the distinct winter squash will be everywhere this season. Be it for Instagram or perfecting a pumpkin pie recipe, you’ll want to get down to your local pumpkin patch. That’s why we’ve rounded up the best pumpkin patches near Birmingham you can visit this autumn.
1. Essington Farm
Essington Farm in Wolverhampton has a 50-acre pick-your-own site growing about 30 different crops. Open from October 1, Essington Farm is ready to welcome back guests for their PYO Pumpkin season, with an unbelievable amount of pumpkins of different varieties planted (including pink, yellow, white and grey pumpkins) so there should be plenty available to pick this year. The patch is pretty spectacular, too, with a variety of sizes (starting from the size of a grapefruit) and not forgetting their gruesome knobbly variety called “goose bumps”. Guests will be able to pick their perfect pumpkin which are priced from £2 to around £12 for the largest. Tickets are strictly limited, and cost £2.50 with three years and under entering for free. The farm shop also offers other fruit and veg, eggs, preserves and bread and there’s also a butchery and deli, plus Country Kitchen Restaurant.
Bognop Road, Essington, Wolverhampton, WV11 2AZ
2. Hatton Adventure World
Hatton Adventure World, near Warwick, is holding a Pumpkin Spooktacular from October 22 – 30. Hatton’s event kicks off over October half term, adding pumpkin picking to their already fun list of activities. Guests will be able to grab a wheel barrow and pick their perfect pumpkin, before creating a cool carving from it. The event will also have a haunted house, roaming spooky actors and performers in the ‘Zombie Marsh’ and much more! Plus older children and adults will love shooting zombies in their Laser Combat arena. There are also a range of food and drink outlets available and you can warm up with a mug of hot chocolate at one of these. Hatton will once again be awash with ghosts, ghouls, cobwebs and pumpkins this Halloween.
Hatton Adventure World, Dark Lane, Hatton, Warwick, Warwickshire, CV35 8XA
3. Pumpkins R Us
Pumpkins R Us in Coventry is offering Pick Your Own where you can walk round and choose your own pumpkin from 25 different varieties, between October 8 to 31. Choose from a range of pumpkins in their pumpkin patches ranging in every size, colour, pattern and shape you can imagine. Once you’ve picked you pumpkin, you can enter their spooky shop which includes Halloween gifts, hats, jewellery, make-up kits, costumes, decorations and lights. Pumpkins R Us also have carved pumpkins for sale and if you’re feeling famished after wading through the pumpkin patches, you can tuck into a tasty treat in their on-site café. A menu of ‘Fright Bites’ featuring plenty of pumpkin will be on offer including warming soups, rolls and curries made by Wilda’s Jacket Potatoes.
Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, CV8 2LG
4. Lower Drayton Farm
Lower Drayton Farm is one of Stafford’s best pumpkin patches for families. It’s possibly one of the biggest too, with over 80,000 pumpkin seeds of various varieties over 12 acres. Not only do you get to hunt around for a pumpkin you can visit the animals there too! Throughout October, guests can trundle on down to the pumpkin patch with a wheelbarrow. Before choosing one and heading to the carving tent to carve a perfect pumpkin creation. There will also be a pumpkin photo booth where you can take a selfie of your creations and win a prize! There will be hot food including hot dogs and home made pumpkin soup. The patch is open every weekend from October 1 and every day from October 14 until 31.
Lower Drayton Lane, Penkridge, Stafford, ST19 5RE
More pumpkin patches to explore this autumn:
5. Lower Clopton Farm
Lower Clopton, Upper Quinton, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 8LQ
6. National Forest Adventure Farm
Postern Road, Tatenhill, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 9SJ
7. Canalside Farm
Mill Lane, Great Haywood, Staffordshire, ST18 0RQ
With Halloween creeping our way, before the huge countdown to Christmas, there are plenty of spectacular pumpkin patches around Birmingham. So whether you’re doing it for the ‘gram or just absolutely love getting your carve on, there’s no excuse not to get picking at one of these pumpkin patches only a short distance away.