Pick your own has quietly grown from a niche autumn hobby into a full-on family diary event, and the market has responded. Twenty years ago you turned up at a farm gate, grabbed a wheelbarrow and paid by weight at the till. Now most of the well-known farms have gate tickets, timed entry, character trails and cafes with hour-long queues. The editors visited eight PYO farms across England this September and early October to work out which ones still deliver for families with children under ten, and which have priced themselves out of a Saturday morning trip.
We paid particular attention to the reality of navigating a farm with a four-year-old: how far the walk from the car park is, whether wellies are provided or hired, what the wet-weather backup looks like when the pumpkin field turns to mud, and how expensive the cafe genuinely is once you have added a cake and two hot drinks. We have also flagged a solid gluten-free option at each site because roughly one in a hundred UK children has coeliac disease and the good farms are catching up.
How We Tested Eight Farms Fairly
We visited on both a weekday and a weekend where possible, once in mid-September for apple picking and once in early October for pumpkin picking, timing our arrivals within the first opening hour to see whether queues were manageable for early risers. At each farm we walked the full route with a pushchair and a walking four-year-old, timed how long a typical family visit took, and priced a standard lunch of two adult sandwiches, two children’s meals and four drinks.
Ticket prices we quote are the 2026 rates published on each farm’s website or confirmed with staff by phone. Weekend prices are typically £2 to £4 higher than weekday and often include a free small pumpkin or apple bag. Weekday visits with school-age children need to be after 3pm during term time, or held for October half term which in 2026 runs the week of 26 October.
Garsons, Esher: Big, Polished, Not Cheap
Garsons is the household name in Surrey and it has earned its reputation across three generations, though it now trades much more like a leisure destination than a working farm. Weekend entry in 2026 is £6 per person over age two, weekday £4, and this is on top of what you pay for the fruit and pumpkins by weight. Apples typically run around £1.80 per kilo, pumpkins from £2 to £15 depending on size.
The site is genuinely huge, which is a plus for spreading out crowds and a minus if your four-year-old runs out of steam halfway through the pumpkin field. The main pumpkin patch is a ten-minute walk from the car park, and the tractor-and-trailer ride from entrance to fields costs an extra £2.50 per person. Wet-weather backup is the vast garden centre, which is fine for browsing but not a genuine wet-weather activity.
Cafe prices sit at Surrey-market levels. Sandwiches run £7 to £9, kids’ lunchboxes £6, hot drinks £3.50 to £4.50 and a slice of cake £4. Gluten-free options are clearly labelled and include jacket potatoes and a rotating cake selection. Wellies are not hired on site; bring your own or buy at the garden centre. Buggy access is good on the main paths and challenging in the wet fields.
Cammas Hall, Essex: Best-Value Big Site in the South East
Cammas Hall near Bishop’s Stortford has quietly become one of the best-run family PYO farms in the country, and prices have stayed noticeably lower than the Surrey competition. 2026 weekend entry is £3.50 per person over age three, weekday £2.50, and children under three go free. Pumpkins are priced per size rather than weight, running £1.50 for small up to £12 for extra-large.
The farm layout is compact, which suits younger children. The pumpkin fields sit within a five-minute flat walk of the car park and the main barn. The playground is genuinely good and gives you 45 minutes of downtime while children exhaust themselves. Wet-weather backup is a large covered barn with hay bales and undercover pumpkin displays, which works.
The cafe is the surprise. Prices are 20 to 30 percent lower than Garsons: sandwiches £5 to £7, kids’ lunchboxes £4.50, hot drinks £2.80 to £3.50 and cake £3. Gluten-free options include a proper GF sandwich range and daily cake, which is more than several bigger farms manage. Wellies can be hired at £2 a pair, which is invaluable in wet October weekends. Buggy access is fine across the whole site.
Pippins Farm, Kent: Family Owned, Genuinely Working, Delightful
Pippins near Tunbridge Wells is the antidote to over-commercialised PYO. It is a small, family-run farm that has resisted turning every field into a photo backdrop, and the experience feels closer to what pick your own used to be. 2026 entry is £2 per person on weekends, free during weekdays, with fruit and pumpkins paid by weight.
Apples are the star here. Cox, Bramley, Egremont Russet and Discovery all grow in walk-through orchards where children can reach the low branches without adult help. Pumpkin picking is smaller scale but scenic. The whole site takes 90 minutes to two hours with children under ten, which is a proper morning out without becoming exhausting.
The cafe is a small farm shop tearoom rather than a full restaurant, and prices reflect that. Homemade cake £3, tea and coffee £2.50, and a soup-and-bread lunch £6. Gluten-free options are limited to a couple of cakes, so bring a lunch if coeliac needs are on the packing list. No wellies for hire; bring your own. Buggy access is good on the main tracks and difficult once you enter the apple rows.
Priory Farm, Redhill: Best for Under-Fives
Priory Farm near Redhill has invested in the under-five experience more than most of its competitors and it shows. 2026 weekend entry is £5.50 per adult, £4 per child over age three, and includes the play barn plus the pumpkin trail. Under-threes go free. The site is small enough to feel manageable and large enough to fill three hours.
The pumpkin patch is compact, well-signposted and set up for young children to walk between rows without getting lost. The tractor-and-trailer ride around the farm is included in the entry price, which is unusual and welcome. Wet-weather backup is one of the best on this list: a genuine indoor play barn with soft play, a mini-farm and a covered pumpkin display area.
Cafe prices are mid-range for Surrey. Sandwiches £6 to £8, kids’ lunchboxes £5.50, hot drinks £3.30 to £4 and cake £3.80. Gluten-free options are proper and include a GF children’s menu. Wellies for hire at £2. Buggy access is excellent, including on the tractor ride. This is our top pick for families with a mix of a toddler and a slightly older sibling.
Undley Pumpkin Patch, Suffolk: Instagram-Ready, Very Popular, Book Ahead
Undley near Lakenheath has become the East Anglian answer to the polished American-style pumpkin patch, complete with themed photo areas, a giant pumpkin castle and character trails. It is not to everyone’s taste but it works brilliantly for families who want a clear-cut day out with lots to photograph. 2026 weekend entry is £8 per adult, £6 per child over three, and booking a timed slot is essential.
The site is medium-sized with a 15-minute loop through pumpkin fields and photo installations. Pumpkins are extra, priced per size from £1.50 to £15. The queues for the most photographed installations reach 20 minutes on weekend afternoons, so booking a 10am or 3pm slot is the sensible move.
Cafe options are a food-truck line rather than a sit-down restaurant. Prices sit at £6 to £9 for hot food, £3 for children’s boxes, and hot drinks £3 to £3.50. Gluten-free options depend on which trucks are trading that day, which is a weakness. No wellies for hire. Buggy access is good on the main circuit and difficult inside some of the photo installations.
Foxes Farm Produce, Essex: The Purest Pumpkin Pick in the South East
Foxes Farm at Basildon and West Mersea has retained the classic PYO ethos: you drive to a huge pumpkin field, walk in, pick your pumpkin, pay at the exit. 2026 entry is free at both sites, pumpkins run £1 to £15 by size, and there is no bookable ticket. This is the antithesis of Undley and it is refreshing.
The Basildon site is enormous and the West Mersea site slightly smaller with better views over the estuary. Neither has a full farm shop or cafe, so bring your own picnic and warm drinks. Toilets are basic portable units. Wet-weather backup is limited to the car; if it is pouring, this is not the day.
There is no cafe to price. No wellies for hire, so proper waterproof footwear is essential in October. Buggy access is workable on the field tracks but hard on the muddy rows. This is a two-hour visit at most, and it costs a family of four less than £15 in total including pumpkins, which cannot be beaten for value.
Farmer Copleys, Wakefield: The Best in the North
Farmer Copleys at Pontefract is the flagship family PYO in the North of England and it operates at a scale close to Garsons but with noticeably better value. 2026 weekend entry is £6.50 per adult, £5 per child over three, and includes the pumpkin trail, playground and tractor-and-trailer rides.
The pumpkin trail is a themed walk through the farm rather than a single field, which works particularly well for children age four to eight who like a bit of narrative structure. Pumpkins are extra, £1.50 to £14 by size. Wet-weather backup is a large covered barn with additional soft play, which functions properly on a wet October Saturday.
The cafe is a full sit-down restaurant with proper mains. Prices sit at £8 to £12 for adult mains, £5.50 for kids, hot drinks £3, cake £3.50. Gluten-free options include a full GF adult menu and children’s meals. Wellies can be hired at £2. Buggy access is very good across the whole site, and the North West train links from Leeds and Manchester make this workable as a day out.
Cannon Hall Farm, South Yorkshire: The One With the Animals
Cannon Hall near Barnsley has built a reputation partly on the back of its Channel 5 series, and it draws a wide catchment from across Yorkshire. 2026 weekend entry is £11.95 per person over age two, weekday £9.95, and includes the full farm animal experience plus the pumpkin trail.
The pumpkin experience here is one element of a bigger animal-park visit rather than the main event, which is worth understanding before you drive in. Pumpkins are extra, £2 to £16 by size. Wet-weather backup is exceptional: multiple indoor animal barns, a large covered play area and undercover dining.
Cafe prices are the highest on this list. Sandwiches £8 to £10, kids’ lunchboxes £6.50, hot drinks £3.50 to £4.50, cake £4.20. Gluten-free options are clearly labelled and comprehensive. Wellies for hire at £3. Buggy access is excellent throughout. This is our top pick for families combining a farm day with pumpkin picking rather than a pure PYO visit.
Farm Comparison at a Glance
| Farm | Ticket 2026 Weekend | PYO Product | Wet Backup | Tea/Cafe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garsons, Esher | £6 adult, £4 child | Apples, pumpkins | Garden centre | Full restaurant £7 to £9 |
| Cammas Hall, Essex | £3.50 over age three | Pumpkins | Covered barn | Cafe £5 to £7 |
| Pippins, Kent | £2 weekend, free weekday | Apples, pumpkins | Farm shop only | Tearoom £3 to £6 |
| Priory, Redhill | £5.50 adult, £4 child | Pumpkins | Play barn | Full cafe £6 to £8 |
| Undley, Suffolk | £8 adult, £6 child | Pumpkins | Food trucks only | Food trucks £6 to £9 |
| Foxes Farm, Essex | Free | Pumpkins | None | None |
| Farmer Copleys, Wakefield | £6.50 adult, £5 child | Pumpkins | Covered barn | Restaurant £8 to £12 |
| Cannon Hall, S. Yorks | £11.95 over two | Pumpkins, animals | Multiple barns | Restaurant £8 to £10 |
When to Go and How to Time the Weather
October in Britain is a lottery. In the past five seasons we have seen glorious sunshine on the third weekend of October and torrential rain on the first, and the weather does not care about your school half-term calendar. The most reliable pattern is weekday morning visits between 10am and 12 noon, which gives you the best light for photographs, the lowest queues at cafes, and a comfortable walk back to the car before the afternoon crowds arrive.
The 2026 half-term week runs from Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October for most English schools. Every one of the farms in this guide runs full extended opening across that week, and every single one will be at peak capacity between 11am and 2pm on the Wednesday and Thursday. If you can visit on the Monday or Friday of half-term you will find noticeably shorter queues.
Pumpkin picking runs from around the last weekend of September through to 31 October, with the best selection typically between 10 October and 25 October. Apple picking is earlier, running from late August through to late September for most varieties, with Bramley cooking apples available into mid-October. Combining both in a single trip is only really possible at Pippins and Garsons in early October.
Do’s and Don’ts
| Do's | Don'ts |
|---|---|
| Do book a timed slot at Undley and Priory in advance | Don't turn up at Garsons on the Saturday of half-term without a plan |
| Do bring proper wellies for October pumpkin fields | Don't rely on flat trainers after 10 October |
| Do pack a picnic if visiting Foxes Farm or Pippins | Don't expect a cafe at every farm on this list |
| Do use weekday mornings during half-term | Don't queue for the cafe at 12:30pm; go at 11:15am or 2pm |
| Do bring a pushchair only if the farm is buggy-friendly | Don't push a buggy through a wet pumpkin row |
| Do check gluten-free options before travelling | Don't assume food trucks have allergen-free choices |
| Do carry a small wagon or trolley for larger pumpkins | Don't try to carry three pumpkins and a toddler simultaneously |
| Do dress children in layers with waterproofs | Don't send children into the fields in white trainers |
| Do keep receipts if buying by weight at the till | Don't assume all pumpkins are priced the same size to size |
| Do factor in a 30-minute drive home with sleepy children | Don't leave the visit until the last weekend of October |
FAQs
When does pumpkin picking season actually start in the UK?
Most farms open their pumpkin picking from the last weekend of September, though the best selection sits between 10 and 25 October. By 31 October most fields have been picked through and only large or misshapen pumpkins remain.
Are these farms worth visiting for children under three?
Priory Farm and Cammas Hall are our top picks for under-threes because both have short walks, buggy-friendly paths and proper wet-weather backups. Foxes Farm and Ottery-style working farms are too basic for very young children.
How much should a family of four budget for a PYO visit?
Budget between £45 and £90 depending on farm and cafe use. Foxes Farm at the low end is under £20 including two pumpkins and a picnic. Cannon Hall Farm at the high end is £70 to £90 including entry, cafe lunch and pumpkins.
Which farms are best for children with allergies or coeliac disease?
Priory Farm and Cammas Hall both have clearly labelled gluten-free menus and separate preparation for coeliac families. Farmer Copleys and Cannon Hall have full GF adult and children’s menus. Undley and Foxes Farm are less reliable.
Can we combine apple and pumpkin picking on one visit?
Only at Pippins Farm in Kent and Garsons in Surrey during the early October crossover window. Most other farms specialise in one or the other, with pumpkins dominant from mid-October.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
Undley, Priory and Cannon Hall use timed-entry booking on weekends and it is essential during half-term. Garsons, Farmer Copleys and Cammas Hall accept walk-ups but book faster online. Foxes Farm and Pippins do not require booking.
What is the best way to transport pumpkins home?
Bring a wheelbarrow, wagon or large boot liner. A single large pumpkin can weigh eight to twelve kilos and children will not carry it back to the car. Most farms provide wheelbarrows for the field but do not lend them for the car park.
Are dogs allowed at these farms?
On-lead dogs are welcome at Cammas Hall, Pippins and Foxes Farm. Garsons, Priory, Undley, Farmer Copleys and Cannon Hall restrict dogs to assistance animals only. Check individual farm policies before travelling.
