Halloween and Pumpkin Picking at Hogshaw Farm

The pumpkin patch here comes with a story attached. For half term the farm becomes the Hogshaw School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, children are sorted into wizard houses as part of the day, and it is the herbology tutor who leads them into the patch to collect a pumpkin for decorating. That pumpkin is included with every child ticket, so there is nothing further to pay for it in the field.

The rest of the magic runs to a timetable, with Halloween activities at regular intervals through the day. There is a magical classroom for potion making, Teeny Trinket's Magical Masterclass, and birds of prey displays and owl encounters running alongside.

None of that replaces the animals, which are the everyday reason to come. Standard admission already includes the daily animal encounters, where you can watch the birds take flight, get close to the deer or groom a donkey, and there are 44 acres of Buckinghamshire countryside with a farm trail, climbing and play areas to work through.

There is a farm shop and a cafe on site, open to visitors during farm opening hours. Tickets are booked online through the farm's own ticket shop and you choose your arrival time when you book. One registered carer goes free with a disabled visitor. Dogs are not permitted anywhere at Hogshaw, and the farm is clear that they must not be left in a car either, so leave them at home.