Summer has been a bit of a bummer, but it’s time to move on and start thinking about autumn. Which basically means only one thing: Pumpkin season. From celebrating the end of the Harvest 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 and pick the very best. That’s why we’ve rounded up these perfect 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 pumpkins 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‘s Halloween Spooktacular will run weekends from October 14, then from October 28 to 31. Adding pumpkin picking to their already fun list of activities, guests will be able to grab a wheelbarrow 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 Stoneleigh Park is offering Pick Your Own where you can walk round and choose your own pumpkin from 25 different varieties. 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 pumpkins 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 homemade pumpkin soup. The patch is open every weekend from September 30 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
Returning on October 7, 14, 21 and 22, 26 to 29, and 31, PYO Pumpkins for £1 per person at Lower Clopton Farm. Pumpkins range in price from 50p to £10 depending on size.
Lower Clopton, Upper Quinton, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, CV37 8LQ
6. National Forest Adventure Farm
Join in on pumpkin picking on October 14, 15, 21 and 22, and then from October 28 to November 3. There are also plenty of spooky shows, mega slides, funfair rides, animals to meet and much more on your visit.
Postern Road, Tatenhill, Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire, DE13 9SJ
7. Canalside Farm
There are a number of Pick Your Own Pumpkin experiences at Canalside Farm this October. But the late-night Pumpkin Picking Experiences on October 14, 20 & 27 must be the scariest in the West Midlands.
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 near Birmingham only a short distance away.