Autumn is officially here, and that means it's time to pull on your wellies, grab a wheelbarrow, and head out on the hunt for the perfect pumpkin! Pumpkin picking has become a beloved tradition, and the North West of England is bursting with amazing farms offering everything from simple patches to full-blown Halloween festivals.
Whether you're after a classic Jack-O'-Lantern, a giant carver, or a quirky white 'ghost' pumpkin, we've compiled the definitive list of the best pumpkin picking farms in the North West.
Essential Pumpkin Picking Tips
To make sure your family day out is as fun and as muddy as possible, here are a few things to keep in mind for your next pumpkin patch adventure:
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Book Ahead: For nearly all of the best pumpkin picking farms in the North West, tickets must be pre-booked online. Famous spots like Kenyon Hall Farm are known to sell out fast, especially for weekend and half-term slots.
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Check the Price: Entry to the farm or festival usually requires a ticket, but the pumpkin itself is often a separate cost, typically priced by size. Some places, like Reddish Vale, include one pumpkin per child's ticket. Always check before you go.
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Dress for the Mud: Many of these locations are working farms in the North West, so in October its likely that it will be muddy! Don your wellies, waterproof coats, and old clothes to ensure a comfortable and fun trip.
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Check Policies: If you're hoping to bring your four-legged friend, double-check the farm's rules. Some do allow dogs on a short lead but not all.
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Prep Your Pumpkin: If you want your Jack-O'-Lantern to last until Halloween, try to avoid carving it more than five days before. Keep it in a cool, dark, and dry place until you're ready to get carving!
Perfect Pumpkin Picking Locations
Ready to find your prize-winning pumpkin? Use this guide to find the perfect pumpkin picking North West destination near you. Remember to click on the farm's official website or social media to confirm opening times, specific event dates for 2025, and to secure those all-important pre-booked tickets! Happy picking!
Bates Farm
Bates Farm Pumpkin Patch is open every weekend in October, plus half-term and offers a huge seven-acre patch with over 40 varieties of pumpkins, making it an ideal destination for autumn days out near Manchester and Liverpool. There is a handy undercover pumpkin barn which offers a clean, pushchair-friendly alternative. Beyond just finding your perfect pumpkin, the farm experience includes meeting charming farm animals (pigs, sheep, calves, and donkeys!), face painting for the little ones, and exciting photo opportunities to capture those precious memories. Delicious refreshments are available in the new food court from 12-4pm and include artisan coffee & cakes, sweet-treat crepes and wood-fired pizzas. Remember to book your car ticket online in advance to secure your spot.
Cockfields Farm Park
Cockfields Farm Park is the go-to destination for spectacular Halloween fun and pumpkin picking in Greater Manchester! Every ticket to their huge outdoor pumpkin patch includes a free pumpkin to take home. Beyond the patch, kids can enjoy the thrills of a Haunted Tractor Hayride, a daily Halloween Show, and get hands-on with farmyard favourites during animal feeding, reptile encounters, and in the Cuddle Corner with rabbits and guinea pigs. There's a Mini Pumpkin Patch tailored for toddlers and non-scare events perfect for all ages. For a truly magical experience, check out the Pumpkin Patch After Dark events, featuring a festoon-lit patch, live music, a spooky disco, and meet-and-greets with Jack Skellington and the Witches from Wicked!
Dunham Massey Farm Ice Cream
If you're looking for a uniquely delicious family day out this Halloween season, the renowned Pumpkin Patch at Dunham Massey Farm Ice Cream is an absolute must-visit in Altrincham, Cheshire. Running throughout October this pumpkin patch offers a massive variety of shapes and colours and there's also fun-packed scavenger hunt for the kids to enjoy. There's an array of gourmet street food, including wood-fired pizzas, hearty burgers, and hot drinks, but the real star is the handcrafted, award-winning ice cream, with special Halloween-themed flavours like Pumpkin Spice! With a per-car booking system in place to manage footfall, securing your slot online is essential to guarantee a stress-free and picture-perfect autumn activity for the whole family. Find your pumpkin, grab your wheelbarrow, and treat yourself to the best seasonal dessert in Greater Manchester!
Grange Farm Lowton
Get your wellies ready for the spectacular Grange Farm Lowton Pumpkin Festival which runs across October weekends and daily during half-term week. Your entry ticket secures a 2-hour fun slot and includes access to a whole host of family entertainment, such as captivating live shows from top children's entertainers, seasonal photo backdrops, and the chance to meet the charming Highland cows and llamas. After exploring the sprawling pumpkin patch, treat the family to delicious Halloween-themed goodies and refreshments from the outdoor food huts, or grab a drink from the fully licensed bar. There's also a fun fair & face painting (additional cost applies).
Kenyon Hall Farm
One of the biggest PYO destinations in England. Runs a huge Pumpkin Festival with over 20,000 pumpkins. Includes a farm shop and cafe. Booking essential.
High Legh Pumpkin Patch
High Legh Pumpkin Patch near Knutsford kicks things off from October 4th, it's completely free and there's no need to book, just turn up for some spontaneous seasonal fun. They boast thousands of pumpkins in a fantastic range of varieties, with prices starting from just £2. Make the most of your October half term with their daily Golden Pumpkin Hunt, where the lucky finder wins a wheelbarrow full of pumpkins! For a truly enchanting trip, don't miss the Candle Lit Pick on Friday evenings, from October 10th, allowing you to search under the stars.
Mrs Dowson's Farm Park
Mrs Dowson's Farm Park Pumpkin Festival opens on October 4th and offers the ultimate family day out. Admission includes farm park entry and a free pumpkin token so every member of the family can pick their own standard-sized pumpkin from the huge three-acre patch. The festival features fun-filled extras like meeting friendly farm animals, exploring the indoor and outdoor play areas, meeting quirky characters, and enjoying carnival games (extra charge applies), all wrapped up with delicious seasonal treats and their famous farm-made ice cream. For a more enchanting experience for those aged 13+, don't miss the Enchanted Pumpkin Nights on selected October evenings, where twinkling lights, fire pits, and live music create a magical, cosy autumn atmosphere. It’s an ideal, picture-perfect family adventure to make lasting memories this autumn.
Pye Ash Farm
Pye Ash Farm is a traditional family-run beef and sheep farm that offers a pumpkin patch and pumpkin maze, open on weekends throughout October 2025. The pumpkin maze is set indoors, inside a barn, meaning you can dodge the mud and rain while you pick from over 40 varieties of homegrown pumpkins (priced from £1 to £15). You can also meet the friendly farm animals, take a ride on the toy tractors, enjoy hourly sheepdog demonstrations and follow a fun pumpkin nature trail. With a fantastic range of refreshments, from pumpkin spiced lattes to hot food stalls, and great photo opportunities, Pye Ash Farm is an all-weather Cheshire pumpkin patch that guarantees to be a memorable autumn activity for the whole family. Advance booking is recommended due to popularity!
Reddish Vale Farm
Reddish Vale Farm Halloween Festival in Stockport runs from October 4th to 31st. Admission includes one pumpkin per child, vist the pumpkin patch, grab a wheelbarrow and select your perfect pumpkin, then take it to the mess-free Carving Cavern to create a ghoulish masterpiece. Beyond the classic pumpkin picking experience, kids can enjoy themed games like Vampire Archery and Witches Hat Hoopla, be amazed by the Mad Science Show, and concoct their own magical brew at a Potion Making session. For an extra thrill, hop aboard the Spooky Express tractor ride for a journey through the haunted woods. Plus, all your farm favourites are still open, including the indoor play barn, zip wires, and animal encounters, making it the ideal family day out this Halloween season. There's also special Moonlit Pumpkin Evenings available on select dates for £12.50 per person. Remember to pre-book your tickets online to secure your spot.
Roby Mill Pumpkin Patch
Roby Mill Pumpkin Patch near Wigan and Skelmersdale is open for pick your own fun on set days from October 4th to 31st. The whole family can explore the sprawling patch, grab a wheelbarrow to haul your treasures, and capture plenty of adorable autumn family photos with the huge photo opportunities dotted around the field. On weekends and during the October half-term break, the atmosphere buzzes with extra activities like children's games, trampolines, face painting (additional cost), and special Character Visits and entertainment from Starkidz. You'll also find locally made sweet and savoury treats, artisan stalls, and hot drinks to keep you warm, so remember to wear your wellies for this muddy, must-visit Wigan attraction! You will need to pre-book although free, check their social media for ore info
Smithills Open Farm
Dive into Halloween and autumn family fun at Smithills Open Farm in Bolton, where three different events guarantee a memorable day out! The Pumpkin Picking Extravaganza, runs on weekends from October 11th, tickets for this are £6 per pumpkin (separate to farm admission). During October half-term, the farm's Halloween Special, features, a spooky sweet hunt, themed farm decorations, and a children's fancy dress competition, all included in the standard admission price. For those with older, braver kids (ages 6+), for one-night-only Halloween Fright Night on October 31st offers a terrifyingly fun guided tour, including haunted tractor rides, zombie barns, and a spooky woodland walk for £15 per person, including supper. Smithills ensures there's an appropriate level of spookiness for every age, making it a top Bolton attraction for family activities this autumn.
Tatton Park
On selected dates from October 11th to 31st, the farm at Tatton Park in Cheshire, invites you to explore its rustic pumpkin patch and pick your own pumpkin from the field. Standard farm and parkland entry fees apply to enter the pumpkin patch + £4 per pumpkin (pre-booking essential). During the half-term period (October 25th to November 2nd), your family day out can be extended to enjoy the "Skellies and Wellies" Halloween trail through the beautiful gardens, making Tatton Park a top destination for Halloween fun in Cheshire. Plan your visit to this spectacular National Trust site for a full day of fun!
Windmill Animal Farm
Burscough, Lancashire (L40 1UQ)
Tickets:
Adults - £18.95
Children - £19.95
Under 1 - free
Searching for a fun filled autumn family day out this year? Don't miss the famous Pumpkin Picking Adventure at Windmill Animal Farm in Lancashire! Running October 11th to 31st, this event offers a full day of fun for a single ticket price. Your admission includes access to the expansive home-grown pumpkin patch where you can choose your very own pumpkin (one per person is included in the ticket price!), access to the exciting Maize of Monsters, a ride on the unique Runaway Farm Train, and full-day access to all the farm attractions . Kids and adults alike will love meeting the farmyard friends and getting hands-on with the cuddly critters experience and the massive indoor soft play area. Pre-booking is essential for this hugely popular family activity to secure your spot!
We'll continue to update and add new locations to the list based on our own experiences and recommendations. Let us know your favourite pumpkin patch in comments below!
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