Pumpkin Picking at Stanhill Farm

Stanhill Farm sits just off the A2 at Wilmington, close enough to Dartford and the south east London suburbs that it fills up fast on October weekends, and its pumpkin patch has become one of the better organised ones in Kent. Entry is priced per vehicle rather than per head, so £7.50 covers a car of up to eight people, and that includes parking and a wheelbarrow.

The patch is laid out on straw, which makes a real difference with a pushchair, and the pumpkins run from £1.50 minis through to £15 extra larges, with a £39 wheelbarrow deal if you are carving for a crowd. The main growing field is also open but gets muddy, so the straw area is the sensible route with small children.

Alongside the picking there is face painting and glitter art, marshmallow toasting, and on selected dates fairground rides, all charged separately. The Berries and Beans Cafe handles the rest of the day with hot drinks, baked goods, savoury food and vegan options, which is more than most patches manage.

Two things to plan around. Pre-booking is not a suggestion here: the farm will not let you in without a ticket, and arrival slots are one hour wide. And dogs are not allowed anywhere on the farm, which catches people out.

Facilities are honest rather than luxurious, with a portaloo and baby changing on site. Bring wellies for the main field, wear something you do not mind getting muddy, and aim for a weekday slot in the 20 to 30 October stretch if you would rather not share the patch with half of Kent.