Pumpkin Picking at Pumpkin Village, Marsh Farm

The season here is unusually long. Pumpkin Village opens in late September and runs to the start of November, which means you can pick before the half term rush rather than in the middle of it. It is a separately branded patch sitting next door to Marsh Farm at South Woodham Ferrers.

Variety is the selling point. The venue grows white pumpkins and white spotted pumpkins alongside the traditional orange ones, and says it has more kinds of pumpkin, gourd and squash than you ever knew existed. Pumpkins are sold separately from admission, so what you spend depends on what you carry out. There is a Halloween shop on site, and food and drink including a spiced pumpkin latte.

Dogs are welcome, but only on set dates. Dog-friendly daytime sessions are confirmed for 26 and 27 September all day, 10 October all day, 17 October between 3pm and 5pm, and 27 and 29 October between 10am and 12pm. If you are bringing a dog, those are the windows to aim for.

Evening Pumpkin Village Nights run as a separate ticket, and open-dated early bird tickets let you buy now and choose your date later, which suits a family waiting on the weather. The site is cashless, so leave the coins at home and bring a card. Marsh Farm itself also runs a separate Halloween Festival on October weekends and through half term, which is a different ticket again.