Best Pumpkin Patches in Norfolk to Visit as a Family in 2026

There is something wonderfully autumnal about pulling on your wellies, wrapping up in a cosy jumper and heading into a field to find the perfect pumpkin.

Pumpkin picking has become a much-loved October tradition for many families. It gets everyone outdoors, provides plenty of seasonal photo opportunities and—if you choose an edible variety—can lead to soup, cake or roasted pumpkin when you get home.

Whether you want a traditional pick-your-own experience or a full day of Halloween activities, there are some brilliant pumpkin patches to visit across Norfolk in 2026.

Here are some of the best Norfolk pumpkin patches to explore this autumn, including options for younger children, older families, rainy days and those looking for something a little different.

Please note: Dates, prices and activities can change. Always check the venue’s own website or social media before travelling, particularly if the weather has been poor.

Quick guide to Norfolk’s pumpkin patches

• Best for a full family day out: Pulham Patch
• Best for a traditional autumn experience: The Pumpkin House
• Best for farm animals and play: Wroxham Barns
• Best for a quieter, relaxed visit: Mrs G’s Pumpkin Patch
• Best for an evening experience: Pensthorpe Pumpkin Festival After Dark
• Best for wet weather: Rusty’s Great Pumpkin Patch, near Wisbech

Pulham Patch, Pulham Market

Pulham Patch is a lovely option for families who want more than simply choosing a pumpkin.

The patch grows a wide selection of pumpkins, squashes and gourds, with more than 25 varieties advertised for 2026. Alongside pumpkin picking, families can enjoy play areas, ride-on tractors, a barrel train, a bale mountain and other seasonal activities.

There is also food available from Katherine’s Kitchen, plus seating, toilets and free parking. This makes Pulham Patch an easy place to spend a few hours rather than rushing in and out with a pumpkin.

The combination of outdoor play and autumn activities makes this a particularly good choice for families with energetic younger children. Older children may enjoy choosing unusual pumpkin varieties or taking seasonal photographs around the patch.

Opening: From 3 October 2026
Location: Pulham Market, Norfolk
Best for: A complete autumn family outing
Booking: Check before visiting
Find out more: Pulham Patch

The Pumpkin House, Thursford

The Pumpkin House at Brookhill Farm offers one of Norfolk’s most distinctive autumn experiences.

Instead of walking through a traditional pumpkin field, visitors choose from pumpkins arranged on and around an impressive wooden house. During the Halloween season, the structure is decorated with hundreds of pumpkins in different shapes, colours and sizes.

It is a wonderful setting for autumn photographs and a good choice for families who would like a simple, relaxed pumpkin-picking experience without committing to an entire day at a large attraction.

The Pumpkin House is situated on a working farm between Fakenham and Holt. Seasonal activities can include hay play, traditional family games and refreshments such as coffee and hot chocolate.

A special Medieval Weekend is planned for 10 and 11 October 2026, with activities including archery, a medieval catapult and coin striking.

Opening: From 10 October 2026
Usual opening hours: 10am–4pm on advertised opening days
Location: Brookhill Farm, Fakenham Road, Thursford, NR21 0BD
Best for: A traditional and highly photogenic autumn visit
Booking: Check individual event details
Find out more: The Pumpkin House

Wroxham Barns Pumpkin Patch

Wroxham Barns is a strong choice if you would like to combine pumpkin picking with a larger family day out.

Its pumpkin patch returns on selected dates throughout October 2026. Families can explore the patch, choose a pumpkin and then enjoy the wider attractions at Wroxham Barns.

The Adventure Farm normally offers animal encounters, indoor and outdoor play and family activities. There are also independent shops, studios and places to eat, which may appeal if you are visiting with different ages or grandparents.

For adults looking for a creative autumn activity, Wroxham Barns is also running pumpkin flower-arranging workshops on selected October dates.

2026 pumpkin patch dates:

• 10–11 October
• 17–18 October
• 24–31 October

Location: Tunstead Road, Hoveton, Norfolk, NR12 8QU
Best for: Combining pumpkin picking with animals, play and shopping
Booking: Recommended; further event details are due to be released
Find out more: Wroxham Barns

Mrs G’s Pumpkin Patch, Garboldisham

Mrs G’s Pumpkin Patch offers a more traditional pick-your-own experience in the South Norfolk countryside.

Situated at Garboldisham Cricket Club, near Diss, it is a useful option for families living around the Norfolk and Suffolk border. Visitors can choose their pumpkins without needing to book a timed session in advance.

This may suit families who want a more spontaneous and relaxed outing rather than a heavily structured Halloween attraction.

Seasonal food and refreshments are usually available, but it is worth checking the patch’s social media shortly before your visit for the latest information.

2026 opening dates:

• 17–18 October
• 23–31 October

Location: Garboldisham Cricket Club, The Langley, Garboldisham, IP22 2SJ
Best for: Relaxed pumpkin picking without advance booking
Booking: Not required
Latest information: Mrs G’s Pumpkin Patch on Instagram

Pensthorpe Pumpkin Festival After Dark

For something a little different, Pensthorpe is holding an After Hours Pumpkin Festival during the October half-term.

Rather than a daytime pick-your-own trip, this is an evening event with an atmospheric autumn and Halloween feel. The advertised activities include indoor pumpkin carving, a floodlit maze, fire entertainment, outdoor and indoor play, seasonal food and marshmallow toasting.

A pumpkin is included with each pre-booked ticket, ready to carve indoors—particularly welcome if the October weather is not cooperating.

The reserve and gardens will not be open during the evening event, as activities are focused around the WildRootz and pumpkin areas.

Date: 29 October 2026
Location: Pensthorpe, Fakenham, Norfolk, NR21 0LN
Price: Advertised at £12.95 per person and £5 for members
Best for: An atmospheric evening experience during half-term
Booking: Essential; walk-ins will not be available
Find out more: Pensthorpe Pumpkin Festival After Dark

Rusty’s Great Pumpkin Patch, near Wisbech

Although Worzals sits just outside Norfolk near Wisbech, Rusty’s Great Pumpkin Patch is close enough to be a useful option for West Norfolk families—and it has one significant advantage: the attraction is completely undercover.

That means you can enjoy pumpkin picking without worrying too much about October rain or navigating an exceptionally muddy field.

The 2026 event features more than 80,000 pumpkins alongside themed areas, family games, an electric tractor track, seasonal displays and photo opportunities. Selected tickets also include access to an indoor play area.

Every admission ticket includes a pumpkin to take home. As everyone entering requires a ticket, including babies and small children, it is worth checking the total price carefully before booking.

Location: Worzals, Lynn Road, Walton Highway, near Wisbech, PE14 7DA
Best for: A weatherproof pumpkin experience
Booking: Required
Find out more: Rusty’s Great Pumpkin Patch

What should you take pumpkin picking?

Norfolk’s autumn weather can be unpredictable, and pumpkin fields can become muddy very quickly. A little preparation will make the visit far more comfortable.

Consider taking:

• Wellington boots or waterproof shoes
• Warm, layered clothing
• Waterproof coats
• Gardening gloves for handling prickly stalks
• A strong reusable bag
• Baby wipes or a damp cloth
• A change of shoes for the journey home
• A boot liner, old blanket or large bag for muddy pumpkins
• A camera or fully charged phone

Some venues provide wheelbarrows, but availability cannot always be guaranteed during busy sessions.

How to choose the perfect pumpkin

Before choosing the biggest pumpkin in the field, think about what you plan to do with it.

A medium, evenly shaped pumpkin is usually easiest for younger children to carve. Smaller pumpkins and colourful gourds make lovely autumn decorations, while edible varieties can be used for soups, curries, cakes and roasting.

Look for a pumpkin that feels firm and has no obvious soft patches. Try to carry it from underneath rather than using the stalk as a handle, as the stalk can snap.

If you want to cook with your pumpkin, ask the farm which varieties they recommend. Not every decorative pumpkin has the same flavour or texture.

When is the best time to visit a Norfolk pumpkin patch?

Most Norfolk pumpkin patches open during the first half of October, with additional dates during the school half-term.

Visiting earlier in the season usually gives you the widest choice of pumpkins. Later visits can feel more atmospheric as Halloween approaches, although popular varieties may be limited.

Weekend and half-term sessions can become busy, so booking an early time slot may create a calmer experience. A weekday visit, where available, could also be a good option for families with younger children.

Making pumpkin picking work with older children

Pumpkin patches are often marketed towards families with small children, but they can still be enjoyable with tweens and teenagers.

Giving older children control over the photographs, asking them to choose an unusual pumpkin or turning the visit into an autumn photography challenge can make the experience feel less childish.

You could also let everyone choose their own pumpkin and hold a family carving competition at home—with prizes for the funniest, most creative or most disastrous creation.

It doesn’t need to become a perfectly styled family occasion. Sometimes a muddy walk, a hot chocolate and a slightly wonky pumpkin are enough to create a lovely autumn memory.

Enjoy a Norfolk autumn day out

From traditional farm patches to larger Halloween festivals, Norfolk has pumpkin-picking experiences to suit a wide range of families.

For a full day of activities, Pulham Patch or Wroxham Barns could be a good choice. The Pumpkin House offers something distinctive and beautifully seasonal, while Mrs G’s provides a more relaxed pick-your-own experience. Pensthorpe’s evening event brings a little extra Halloween atmosphere, and Rusty’s undercover attraction provides a useful backup when rain is forecast.

Whichever one you choose, check the latest information before setting out, pack the wellies and leave enough room in the car for the pumpkins you inevitably weren’t planning to buy.

Which Norfolk pumpkin patch is your family’s favourite? Let me know in the comments—I would love to add more local recommendations to this guide.

K Elizabeth xoxox