Pumpkin picking has grown into a full autumn day out. Alongside rows of pumpkins in every shape and colour, many venues now offer tractor rides, seasonal food, photo displays, play areas, crafts and Halloween entertainment. That means the right patch can fill your day rather than being a quick stop for something to carve.
Each year, OutdoorToys analyses pumpkin patches across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to find the best places to visit. For our refreshed 2026 report, we looked at adult and child entry prices, Instagram posts and annual UK searches, bringing affordability and online interest together in one ranking.
At a glance: the UK’s best pumpkin patches
- Doddington Hall ranks first for the fourth year running with a score of 9.41 out of 10. Entry is free for adults and children.
- Kenyon Hall Farm takes second place with 8.09, followed by Darts Farm with 8.02.
- Five patches in the study offer free entry to both adults and children, with options stretching from Angus to Devon.
- Tulleys Farm has the most Instagram posts and the highest annual UK search total.
The UK’s 10 best pumpkin patches for 2026
1. Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire: Patch score 9.41 out of 10
Doddington Hall holds on to the top spot for a fourth year, scoring 9.41 out of 10. Entry to the Lincolnshire patch is free. It has 230,800 annual UK searches and is in 25,500 Instagram posts.
The fun begins before families reach the field, with a spooky walk through the Kitchen Garden. Once there, visitors can choose from 30 varieties of pumpkins, squashes and gourds, or hunt for golden-bottomed pumpkins hidden throughout October. Find one, and there’s a prize waiting. Wellies are essential, as the field can get muddy.
What you’ll find here:
30 varieties • Spooky garden walk • October prize hunt
2. Kenyon Hall Farm, Cheshire: Patch score 8.09 out of 10
With 414,300 annual UK searches, Kenyon Hall Farm is the most searched of the top three. The Cheshire venue ranks second with 8.09 out of 10. Entry costs £3.95 per paying adult or child, with under-18-month-olds going free.
There are 50 pumpkin varieties to explore, along with new 2026 photo displays and interactive features. Families can refuel at the café, browse the farm and pumpkin gift shops or let younger visitors enjoy the free playground. Advance booking is essential, and pumpkins are bought separately.
What you’ll find here:
Photo displays • Café and shops • Free playground
3. Darts Farm, Devon: Patch score 8.02 out of 10
A £5 ticket gives adults and children entry to Darts Farm, which places third with 8.02 out of 10. The Devon venue has 398,400 annual UK searches and is in 22,700 Instagram posts.
Pumpkin Fest fills the farm with tens of thousands of homegrown pumpkins, colourful displays, family photo spots, magic and game shows, live music and roaming performers. Under-ones and parking are free, dogs on leads are welcome, but just be aware that pumpkins and some activities cost extra.
What you’ll find here:
Pumpkin displays • Magic and game shows • Live music
Five UK pumpkin patches you can visit for free
A family pumpkin hunt doesn’t have to start with an entry fee. Five patches in our study let adults and children into the field for free, although you’ll usually pay for the pumpkins you take home.
Looking for a little extra entertainment? Sompting Pumpkins adds weekend tractor rides, Halloween crafts and face painting, while Charleton Farm has a café, farm shop and children’s play park.
Orway Porch Farm suits a more relaxed visit, with no booking required, free games, a picnic area and a fenced dog run. South Farm, Rodmell, also welcomes dogs on leads and grows pumpkins and squashes in a cheerful mix of shapes, sizes and colours.
Top tip:
Free entry usually covers access to the patch. Check pumpkin prices, parking, food and activity charges before you go, along with opening dates and the latest weather update.
Tulleys Farm is the UK’s most Instagrammed pumpkin patch
With 32,500 posts, Tulleys Farm is the UK’s most Instagrammed pumpkin patch. Doddington Hall follows with 25,500, while Farmer Copleys, Darts Farm and Garson’s Farm complete the top five.
Tulleys gives cameras plenty to work with. The 2026 festival pairs wide pumpkin fields and dedicated photo spots with an observation wheel, roaming musicians, street theatre and evening Pumpkin Nights. New for 2026, Pumpkin Valley adds another seasonal setting to explore, and there’s a generous choice of street food for hungry pumpkin hunters.
Tulleys Farm is also the UK’s most searched pumpkin patch
Tulleys is also the UK’s most searched patch, with 1,150,300 searches between August 2025 and July 2026. That’s around 38% more than Hobbledown Heath in second place.
Hobbledown Heath puts its patch in a meadow beside the River Crane, reached by a five-minute woodland walk. Once inside, families can play seasonal games, toast marshmallows, catch live entertainment and stop at themed photo points. Pumpkins and fairground rides cost extra.
Millets Farm Centre, Farmer Copleys and Kenyon Hall Farm complete the top five, with each attracting more than 400,000 searches over the year
How to plan a pumpkin-picking day with children
Alex McMullan, Product Designer at OutdoorToys, says:
“Before you book, check what the ticket includes and whether pumpkins, parking or activities cost extra. Look at the route from the car park, toilets, accessibility and dog policy too, especially if you’re taking a buggy. Popular October weekends can sell out, so secure your date early.
“Pumpkin fields can be muddy and uneven, so wellies or sturdy shoes are a must. Pack layers, waterproofs, spare clothes, water and snacks. A strong bag will help on the walk back, although many patches have wheelbarrows available.
“Plan around naps and meals, then let children make the final pumpkin choice. Agree on a sensible size before the hunt begins, as even a medium pumpkin can feel heavy halfway to the car. Check the venue’s social pages before setting off in case the weather changes the day’s arrangements.”
Pumpkin-picking kit list:
Wellies or sturdy shoes • Waterproofs • Spare clothes • Water and snacks • A strong bag
Methodology
OutdoorToys is a UK outdoor play equipment retailer with over 20 years of experience and more than 500,000 customers. To identify the UK’s best pumpkin patches for 2026, the study compared 35 notable sites across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland using four factors:
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Adult ticket price (£)
Weekend/peak time admission cost for adults. Where price varies by weekday/weekend, the higher peak price was used for consistency. For most of these patches, the entry fee only covers admission itself, and pumpkins have to be bought separately. However, some ticket prices were inclusive of a pumpkin, activities and/or booking fees.
Note: Sites charging per car/group rather than per person were excluded.
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Child ticket price (£)
Weekend/peak time admission cost for children. Note that for many patches, toddlers can enter for free, but these prices refer to paying children (unless all visitors can enter for free). Some patches also include 1 free pumpkin per paid child ticket.
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Instagram popularity
The total number of posts tagged with the location of the pumpkin patch as of 11th September 2026.
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Annual search volume
The number of UK searches between August 2025 and July 2026 for the location of the pumpkin patch, sourced from Google Keyword Planner.
Each factor was normalised on a 0-10 scale, and an overall average score was taken for each patch.