Pumpkin Picking at Lancaster Park & Animal Farm

Carving is the part most families dread bringing home, and this farm has dealt with it: there is a carving tent on site, so the pumpkin picked in the giant patch gets hollowed out here and the mess stays behind.

Around that sits a full farm day. Small animal petting runs in two blocks, morning and early afternoon, and there are miniature donkeys, horses, sheep, goats and alpacas to feed. Tortoise bathing happens at one o'clock, but only on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and the Caterpillar barrel ride runs on the hour through the middle of the day when the weather allows.

The Halloween programme is genuinely busy. Giant Halloween displays are set up around the site, and a Wizard School show, a Halloween disco and a fancy dress competition all run during the event. Away from the seasonal theme there is a Nature Walk, mini quads, digger corner, a pirate shootout, a dino trail, and play and picnic areas, with ice cream, hot dogs and autumnal drinks on sale.

Two practical points matter before you set off. All bookings must be made online and numbers are capped for the event, so turning up and hoping for a space is not an option. The farm is also not accepting cash at the door, so bring a card. One pumpkin is included with each child ticket, while adult tickets do not include one.

Allow most of a day. With last entry a good while before closing, and two animal petting windows to catch, families who arrive late tend to feel rushed.