There’s something about pumpkin fields that makes us feel all autumnal, although our decorating skills pale in comparison to autumn queen Zoe Sugg.
And there’s plenty of wheelbarrow fun to be had near Brighton – read on for our top picks. Happily, they’re almost all free entry with plentiful parking and you don’t need to book in advance for most of them either! Although there will (almost) always be enough pumpers to go round for everyone, we’d recommend turning up early if you want to beat the crowds.
Sompting Pumpkins
Sadly, the brilliant Slindon Pumpkins stopped trading in 2020 (remember their genius displays?) but we also love this pumpkin-picking patch in Sompting – near Lancing. There you can run wheelbarrow wild across 15 acres – avoiding The Pumpkin Slasher’s brilliant scarecrows – gathering up some of their 60,000 pumpkins featuring 32 varieties in every shape and size. They’re operating as a family-run experience again this year with plenty of activities to get stuck into, including some Halloween-y crafts, plus plenty of local food and drink offerings (pumpkin-spiced lattes forever), including pizzas, burgers and sweet treats.
10am – 4pm weekends from 7th October and daily from 21st – 29th October; free entry, pumpkin prices start at £1; no dogs allowed in the pumpkin field, but they can be exercised in the large field by the car park
Halewick Lane, Sompting, Lancing BN15 0NE (next to the A27)
Somptingpumpkins.co.uk
Poynings Pumpkin Patch
We are big fans of newer kid on the block, the Poynings Pumpkin Patch, which has a whopping great selection of 19 different varieties of squashes and pumpkins for cooking and carving to choose from. You won’t go hungry either with plenty of local food and drink treats on offer: as well as snacks made from their pumpkins (you need to try the fritters), other sellers include Fratello Pizza with wood-fired pizza and Crepcetera with crepes and gallettes.
Weekends from 30th September, 13th – 15th October, and daily from 20th – 31st October; 10am – 4pm; free entry; pumpkin prices vary; no dogs allowed
Poynings Road, Poynings, Brighton BN45 7AP
Poynings Pumpkin Patch
South Farm
Just outside Lewes in the small village of Rodmell, you’ll find South Farm, a family-run working farm where all the pumpkins are grown on site. Weather-permitting, they’re open every day for picking from 14th October and until Halloween or until they sell out. They often do sell out before the end of their run, so we’d recommend not leaving it to the last minute. There’s plenty of parking, but if you don’t drive, they’re also on the 123 bus route from Lewes. Need some (pumpk)inspiration? They’ve got some great recipes on their website, too.
Daily from 14th – 31st October; 10am – 4pm (weather-permitting); pumpkin prices vary; dogs on leads welcome
Cricketing Bottom (on the South Downs Way), South Farm Rodmell, BN7 3FE
southfarmrodmell.co.uk
Goddenwick Farm
You might know Goddenwick as the farm just outside Haywards Heath that runs Sussex Christmas Trees, but they’ve added a pumpkin patch for the first time this year. And because of those trees, it’s a bit of a different experience: you’ll find thousands of pumpkins in at least seven varieties, from monsters and carvers to gem squashes, all nestled in between some beautiful festive firs. If you want to get your Halloween on, they’ve got spooky props to get you sorted for the perfect pic and they’ll be serving up chai lattes, other hot drinks and sweet treats from a converted horsebox to fuel your picking experience. Book a free ticket online if you can (it helps them with planning as it’s their first year), but you can also just turn up.
Friday 13th – Sunday 15th October and Friday 20th – Sunday 29th October; free; pumpkins from £2 – £12; dogs on leads welcome}
Goddenwick Farm, Ardingly Road, Lindfield, West Sussex, RH16 2QX
goddenwickfarm.co.uk
Tulleys Farm
Ok, it’s a more commercial experience, but for a fun-filled day out, photo opps a-plenty and more squashes of all shapes and sizes than you can shake a pumpkin pie at, Tulleys Farm (of Shocktober fame) is always a good shout. This year, they’ve grown over 60 varieties across over 90 acres of farmland, producing a mammoth one million pumpkins. And, in typical Tulleys fashion, there are live roaming characters, offering a more immersive experience, if that’s your bag. Prefer to pick under the light of the moon? Then you need Pumpkin Nights – pick your own with food, drinks and live music!
Weekends from 23rd September, 13th – 15th October, then daily from 18th October until 29th October; 10am – 5.30pm (or until 10pm for Pumpkin Nights); from £6 for daytime picking and from £10 for the nights; pumpkin prices vary from £1 – £25; free parking; dogs on a lead welcome
Unit 5, Turners Hill, Crawley, RH10 4PD
pumpkinfarm.co.uk
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