The Maize Maze

The maze hides things like a skeleton on a bike, a giant spider’s web 

and a witch’s cottage. 

The Pumpkin Patch

Scattered around the field are information boards, scarecrows,

a house made of pumpkins 

and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. 

Halloween Arts and Crafts

There is also a refreshments tent with Halloween themed arts and crafts. We made a witch’s broom and a tin can bat. 

Wheelbarrows

There are wheelbarrows that are free to use but bring something to put your pumpkins in when you get to the car.

Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud

This is an outdoor venue and can be very, very muddy. Be sure to bring wellies just in case!

Nearest Town: Fordingbridge, New Forest
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SP6 1AN

Opens: Various dates in October. Please see their website for details. 
Cost: Free entry to the pumpkin picking field. The Halloween Maize Maze is £6.50 per person and free for those under 2 years.

Where to Eat: Refreshments tent
Facilities: Ice creams, refreshments, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: You could take a buggy but it can be very muddy.

Parking: There is a large car park that can become very muddy. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: October 2020
Information Checked: October 2023

Our visit to Fordingbridge Pumpkin Picking Patch in the New Forest is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Crockford Bridge Farm Pumpkin Festival

The 2022 Pumpkin Festival had a festival vibe.

Attractions included in the entry price are the Asparagoblin Assault Course 

a Pumpkin Shy 

pumpkin displays

circus skills displays, including a fire show, aerialists and roving performers

a small play area and tree swing.

At an additional cost there are various places to eat and drink, face painting and a Ferris wheel.

Set just outside the entry gate is a Pumpkin Market where you can buy pumpkins without needing to book or pay the entry fee. When we visited, the biggest pumpkins were only available inside the Pumpkin Festival.

Nearest Town: Addlestone
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: KT15 2BU

Opens: Various dates in October. Please see their website for details. 

Adult Cost Range: £12 (plus £2 booking fee)
Child Cost Range: £12 (plus £2 booking fee)
Free if: Under 1 year.

Where to Eat: Cafe stalls with drinks and snacks. You cannot bring in your own food and drinks.
Facilities: Cafe stalls, pop up food stalls, ice creams, snacks and toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: You can take a buggy with you but it can be muddy in places.

Parking: There is a large car park that can be muddy. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: October 2022
Information Checked: October 2023

Our visit to the Pumpkin Festival at Crockford Bridge Farm in Addlestone is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Nearest Town: Totton, near Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO40 9FX

Opens: Various dates in October. Please see their website for details. 

Adult Cost Range: £5.50
Child Cost Range: £5.50
Free if: Under 2 years.

Where to Eat: Cafe. 
Facilities: Cafe, shop, snacks, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 1 hour
Buggies: You can take a buggy with you but it can be muddy in places.

Parking: There is a large car park. 
Cost of Parking: Free

Information Written: October 2020
Information Checked: October 2023

Our visit to Pumpkin Time at Sunnyfields Farm near Southampton is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Aldenham Country Park Farm

On the farm, a route leads you past the farm animals, including cows and pigs

goats and donkeys

ducks and peacocks.  

It also has tractor rides

and an area where you can pay a little extra and meet some smaller animals, like rabbits, guinea pigs and giant snails. 

Winnie the Pooh

When we visited, Winnie the Pooh was there to meet, cuddle and wave at the guests.

100 Aker Wood

After our visit to the farm, we walked through the Country Park to 100 Aker Wood and explored the magical places where Winnie the Pooh and his friends have their adventures.  

We discovered places like Winnie the Pooh’s house

Wol’s tree 

and the bees.

Aldenham Country Park

Aldenham Country Park itself has an orienteering course and cycle trails 

mini golf and trampolines

a lake and nature trails. 

The Adventure Play Area

This exciting Aldenham Country Park Adventure Play Area has wooden play equipment, including a zip wire, sand play areas 

a water play area complete with a water pump 

and accessible equipment.

At the time of writing, you have to book to use the play area and there was a charge of £3. 

There are sessions exclusively for children with special needs. 

Nearest Town: Elstree, near Watford
County: Hertfordshire
Nearest Postcode: WD6 3BA

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: Various starting at £4.50. Please see their website for details. 
Child Cost Range: Various starting at £4.50. Please see their website for details. 
Free If: You are only visiting the Country Park (and not the farm or play area).

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe, hire a barbecue or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe offering snacks and ice cream, toilets and accessible toilets, picnic areas. 

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours at the farm and the rest of the day in the Country Park.
Buggies: Buggy friendly.

Parking: There is a large car park. 
Cost of Parking: From £4.50 per day.

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, insects and farm animals – cows, pigs, chickens, ducks, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs – maybe even Winnie the Pooh!

Information Written: July 2022

Our visit to Aldenham Country Park Farm in Elstree near Watford is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Playbarn

This is the indoor soft play area and it’s dominated by a three storey play frame with hidden areas, nooks and crannies, bridges, ropes and slides, as well as a ball pit with cannons and air jets. Hidden underneath is a football area and an interactive games mat. 

At the centre of the play frame is a huge three lane, wavy slide. It’s fast, fun and furious and adults can join in too – exhilarating stuff!

In the back corner is a small area for children under 4 years that has a slide, rocking animals and a sensory area with bubbling tubes. 

Around the outside of the play frame are tables for adults and a cafe where you can buy drinks, snacks and food.

The Mini Farm

The farm area is small but there are plenty of animals to see and feed, including alpacas, chickens and pigs.

If your children like collecting stamps then be sure to pick up an Animal Passport at the Information Desk before you go outside.

The Outdoor Play Areas

There are lots of activities to explore outside:

role play construction and digging

play with sand and water pumps

a farm-themed play area  

drive on sheep 

a fairy tale play area with swings and several slides

panning for gold

pedal bikes and cars.

There are also trampoline-style jumping pillows, a musical instrument area, remote controlled boats, coin operated rides, a wooden obstacle course, a very short safari train ride, a cow to pretend milk, a reptile house and a fairy door trail that leads around the lake. 

As you can probably imagine, Jake’s Playworld can be extremely busy during the holidays, especially on rainy days, but is much quieter during term time. The condition of the equipment varies from new to a little tired. 

Nearest Town: Sandhurst, near Crowthorne
County: Berkshire
Nearest Postcode: GU47 8JQ

Adult Cost Range: £1 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £1 to £14.99
Free if: Under 1 and just visiting the farm.

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Cafe and an outdoor picnic area. 
Facilities: Cafe, shop, ice creams, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 3.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Large car park
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Alpacas, sheep, ducks, geese, goats, pigs, ponies, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, chickens, peacocks and lizards. 

Information Written: March 2020

Our visit to Jake’s Playworld, Indoor Playbarn and Mini Farm in Sandhurst, near Crowthorne, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Staunton Country Park Farm

This is an ornamental farm with all the farm animals you would expect to find, including pigs 

goats 

and ducks.

The Glasshouse

It also has a large greenhouse full of tropical plants and an indoor pond, which from May to November is covered by giant Amazon water lilies. 

Staunton Country Park

The farm is built in Staunton Country Park, which is an open area with trails, orienteering and BBQ areas.

Everything on the farm is set close together so if you have some energy left after your visit then you can explore the trails criss-crossing Staunton Country Park.

The Play Areas

The Staunton Country Park Play Areas include George’s Play Barn, an indoor play area with slides, nets, bridges and tunnels and a small soft play area for children under 4. 

Outside there is a wooden play area with equipment like swings, slides, a ship and a tractor. 

Nearest Town: Havant, near Portsmouth
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: PO9 5HB

Adult Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free if: Under 3 years.

Opens: Daily

Where to Eat: Cafe and picnic area. 
Facilities: Cafe, shop, toilets and accessible toilets.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is good sized car park.
Cost of Parking: From £2 per hour.

Wildlife You Might See: Goats, cows, donkeys, ponies, chickens, rabbits, sheep, pigs and alpacas. 

Information Written: September 2018

Our visit to Staunton Country Park Farm and the Play Area in Havant is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Deen City Farm

Visit some of the animals, including cows, pigs, goats,

chickens, ducks, owls, alpacas, guinea pigs and rabbits.

Daily Activities

Enjoy activities like holding the small animals, feeding the pigs and watching Edna the Owl flying.

There are additional events on during the school holidays.

Morden Hall Park

After visiting the animals, stroll over the tramlines to the beautiful Morden Hall Park. 

Here you can have a picnic, test your skills on the pond dipping platform or orienteering course, and try the play area, wetland boardwalk and cafes.

Deen City Farm Play Area

The small play area is for children aged from 2 to 8 years and has the following equipment:

• a wooden climbing frame with a slide, bridge and climbing wall
• two bug shaped springers
• puzzle boards
• a picnic table.

Nearest Town: Morden, near Wimbledon in London
County: London
Nearest Postcode: SW19 2RR

Opens: Daily except Mondays that are not bank holidays. 
Cost: Free (donations welcome).

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or try the cafe. 
Facilities: Cafe, ice creams, snacks, picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 2.5 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: There is a small car park at the farm. We parked at Morden Hall Park (SM4 5JD) and then walked to Deen City Farm over the wetlands boardwalk and the tramlines. This was an easy, signposted walk and took about twenty minutes at an adult pace.
Cost of Parking: Free

Animals You Might See: Farm animals, including cows, pigs, ducks, chickens, turkeys, goats, guinea pigs, rabbits and owls.

Information Written: June 2017

Our visit to Deen City Farm in Morden, near Wimbledon in London, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Miller’s Ark Farm

The farm is divided into two sections – the feeding area and the handling areas. At the entrance you can buy cups of food to give the animals in the feeding area.

The Feeding Area

When we visited the feeding area was full of goats and sheep who would eat directly from your hands or from the feed cup.

The Handling Areas

In the handling areas, we brushed donkeys, cuddled lambs, stroked pigs and held rabbits.

The children were so excited they did not who to snuggle next.

Looby Loo

As well as the animals, there is a ride on train called Looby Loo.

Hay Barn Play Area

There is also a play area with bales to climb on and cars to play in. Bramble the cat was having a snooze in amongst the hay when we visited, much to the delight of my children.

Tea Barn

The Tea Barn serves refreshments and hot food or you can bring your own and use the picnic area.

Open Days Only!

You can only visit the Miller’s Ark on Open Days – for details please see the Miller’s Ark website.

Nearest Town: Hook
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: RG27 9PH

Opens: On open days only. Please see their website for details.

Adult Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free if: Under 2

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or eat in the cafe.
Facilities: Cafe, ice cream, toilets, accessible toilets, picnic area.

How Long We Spent There: 2 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Good sized car park. There were lots of spaces but it was busy and already fairly full when we arrived (as the farm opened).
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Cows, sheep, goats, chickens, ducks, pigs, donkeys, turkeys, rabbits, guinea pigs, a cat and a dog.

Information Written: April 2017

Our visit to Millers Ark Farm in Hook is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

Natural Play Area

This natural play area has:

• a zip wire
• balance course
• basket swing
• tyre swings
• platforms
• willow tunnels.

The Storyboat

The other is the Storyboat – a wooden boat surrounded by wooden sculptures of an eel, a beetle, a vole, a trout and a dragonfly. 

It can be used for free play or a chasing game suggested on one of the boards called ‘Eels Out’.

Morden Hall Park

There is plenty of nature to see too – a pinetum, a meadow, an arboretum, and the wetlands, which you can see from a boardwalk.

The Boardwalk

The children loved the boardwalk as we were within inches of two groups of ducks and their tiny ducklings as well as tadpoles and swimming insects. 

There is also a pond dipping platform halfway along the boardwalk.

The Cafes

Morden Hall Park has two cafes – one in the Potting Shed and another in the Stableyard.

Orienteering

There is also a permanent orienteering course. You can download the map before you go from the Mole Valley Orienteering Club’s website.

Deen City Farm

At the end of the wetland boardwalk is a path that leads out of the park, over the tramlines, and on to Deen City Farm, a free entry, urban farm.

Nearest Town: Morden, near Epsom and Wimbledon
County: London
Nearest Postcode: SM4 5JD

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or buy food from the cafe.
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, accessible toilets, picnic area, snacks, ice creams.

How Long We Spent There: 4 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Car park that has lots of spaces but was very busy when we visited at the start of the Easter holidays.
Cost of Parking: Free

Wildlife You Might See: Birds, kingfishers, ducks and Canada geese.

Information Written: April 2017

Our visit to the National Trust’s Morden Hall Park in Morden, near Epsom and Wimbledon is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Park

Birdworld is the largest area of the park and houses the bird enclosures, including aviaries, cages, open areas, and paddocks. The condition of these enclosures ranges from tired and dated to well-equipped and modern. 

Penguin Island

There are two penguin areas and both have penguin feeding sessions. Penguin Island is a traditional penguin tank enclosure where you can see penguins above and below the water.

Penguin Beach by contrast, is an attempt to recreate Robben Island in South Africa, the natural habitat of the penguins and other birds in the enclosure.

You enter Robben Island as if stepping off a ferry. It was pretty grotty when we visited.  The enclosure itself was better – pretty to look at and fairly spacious with the birds a little freer than in some of the other enclosures. 

Terry Pratchet Owl Parliament

At the time of writing, Terry Pratchet Owl Parliament was the newest enclosure.

From the outside this is a large wooden structure with a magical feel – it incorporates elements of the Discworld books, with little doors and windows. 

From the inside, this feels like a normal bird enclosure (although better landscaped than many) and like the owls could do with some more space. While we were there a snowy owl tried to fly around, bashing into the cage walls. It was uncomfortable to watch.

The Lost Trail

Along the Lost Trail dinosaurs hide along pathways and peer out from the bamboo. The children found it atmospheric and fun. We found a tyrannosaurus head snarling from the bamboo, a massive spider climbing down a tree, and a large diplodocus hiding in a clearing.

Other Things To Do

There is also a willow maze, a safari train, an insect garden, a bug palace, and the chance to buy a bag of food to feed birds around the park. The children loved this as many of the ducks are braver than birds in the wild and will come close. 

Jenny Wren Farm

We all agreed that Jenny Wren Farm was the best part of Birdworld. There are tractors to play on, a multi-play unit for younger children as well as farm animals like sheep, pigs and ducks. 

The encounter enclosures are lovely and offer the chance to cuddle rabbits and guinea pigs, and pet goats and their kids.

Underwater World

This is a small aquarium with a row of fish tanks and one large tank with two dwarf crocodiles and some turtles. It’s not very exciting and a bit run down.

Overall

My children left Birdworld feeling excited about the animals, Jenny Wren Farm in particular, and were keen to go back. I left Birdworld feeling amazed that in 2017 we are still keeping animals in this way and sad that I had just supported it.

With the exception of the farm, I found the visit a pretty miserable experience. I struggled with the atmosphere from the start. 

I would love to see Birdworld retire the birds and other zoo-type animals and concentrate on building up the farm, which could be terrific.

The Play Areas

There are two play areas around Birdworld, both said to be designed for children of 5 to 12 years old.

The first one has:

• a large and modern multiplay with a slide, bridges, ropes and balancing beams. 

The second is near Jenny Wren farm and has:

• a multiplay with a slide, tunnel and bridge
• swings
• a tyre swing
• a wobbly bridge
• hanging logs. 

Nearest Town: Farnham
County: Surrey
Nearest Postcode: RG24 8BQ

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: Various depending on the season. 
Child Cost Range: Various depending on the season. 
Free if: Under 3

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or buy food from the cafe.
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, accessible toilets, picnic area, snacks, ice creams.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Large car park.
Cost of Parking: Free

Animals You Might See: Owls, penguins, flamingos, love birds, ducks, swans, pelicans, parrots, herons, storks, rheas, emus and various other birds, sheep, pigs, goats, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, fish, starfish, turtles, piranhas, dwarf crocodiles and various types of fish.

Information Written: March 2017

Our visit to Birdworld and Underwater World in Farnham is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Dinosaurs

We found the rest of the statues on the other side of the lake. They were fascinating – huge, charismatic, and exciting.

Iguanodons ate ferns, deer towered above us, ichthyosaurs hauled themselves out of the water, and one particular plesiosaur stared menacingly at us across the lake as if sizing up a potential meal. 

Research Before You Visit

The condition of the statues varies – some have been restored, others are crumbling or in the middle of being restored. 

There wasn’t much information available so do some online research before you go if you are interested in dinosaurs or the history of the statues.

Guess Work

Don’t expect to see statues that show scientifically accurate dinosaurs. The statues were finished in 1854 and were the Victorians’ best guess of how dinosaurs would have looked. 

Some are very inaccurate – the Iguanadon’s nose horn should actually be its thumb! We found the inaccuracy added to the fun – this is not a place that takes itself too seriously.

Crystal Palace Park

As well as crawling with dinosaurs, Crystal Palace Park also has a maze, a gorilla statue, a small wooded area, a large sports centre, terraced gardens with statues of sphinxes, boat hire, a cafe, and a small farm with free entry. 

The boat hire and farm are not open every day so please check the website for details.

The Wildlife

We were amazed by how much there is to do in the park. We saw plenty of wildlife – ducks, geese, a grey heron, lots of parakeets as well as some of the boldest squirrels we have ever encountered.

Crystal Palace Dinosaur Play Area

The play equipment includes:

• a sand pit with a dinosaur egg to climb in and dinosaur bones to climb on
• two dinosaurs to climb on
• a dinosaur multiplay unit
• toddler swings
• swings
• a roundabout
• two slides
• a balance beam. 

Nearest Town: Crystal Palace, London
County: Greater London
Nearest Postcode: SE20 8DT

Opens: Daily
Cost: Free

Where to Eat: Eat at the cafe or bring a picnic.
Facilities: Cafe, snacks, ice cream, picnic area, toilets, accessible toilets. 

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy-friendly.

Parking: There are several different car parks to choose from. We parked easily and for free on Thicket Road (SE20 8DT). You can also try the Crystal Palace Park car park, which is located just off Thicket Road near the junction with the A234.  There were some spaces but not many. There is another larger car park at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre (SE19 2BB).  All of these car parks are free.
Cost of Parking: Free and there is free parking on nearby roads too.

Wildlife You Might See: Ducks, swans, geese, Indian runner ducks, parakeets and squirrels.

Information Written: January 2017

Our visit to Crystal Palace Park in Bromley, London, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.

The Manor Farm Play Areas

We found two play areas inside the farm grounds. The first is a farm themed play area with:

• two wooden tractors
• a combine harvester
• drivable mini tractors
• logs to walk along
• bouncy hopper toys
• a sand play table. 

The second play area was next to the entrance barn and had a play house and small balance course.

The Animals

We saw plenty of farm animals including cows and calves, pigs and piglets and hens and chicks.  There were also donkeys, geese and ducks as well as a very cool wooly pig (see the main picture – that is not a sheep!).

Close Encounters

The farm is set up to allow close encounters with the animals. You can feed the chickens, hold the chicks and help the farmer to milk a cow. 

The Cafe

There is a small cafe next to the car park (before you pay the farm’s entry charge) that serves drinks and food. 

River Hamble Country Park

The farm is located in the River Hamble Country Park, which has open areas, river walks, crabbing, ship wrecks and adventure play areas!

There is also an adventure play area with two huge ships.

Manor Farm Fairy Folk Story Trail

You can also try one of Hampshire County Council’s Story Trails, which is called “Manor Farm Fairy Folk“. These are walks with interactive stories to read along the way, which are told by a cute character called the Story Snail.

Each Story Trail is about one mile long and divided into numbered sections. Numbered markers prompt you to read the sections of the story along the trail.

Find a Story Pack

To follow the Story Trail you need a free pack that you can either borrow from a specified place (with a Hampshire Library card and a £20 returnable deposit) or download a copy of a story trail from the internet in written or audio form. 

Each pack has a map to follow and the trail itself is marked with arrows and/or pictures of the Story Snail.

Nearest Town: Bursledon, near Southampton
County: Hampshire
Nearest Postcode: SO31 1BH

Opens: Daily

Adult Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Child Cost Range: £5 to £9.99
Free if: Under 3 years

Where to Eat: Bring a picnic or buy food from the cafe.
Facilities: Cafe, toilets, accessible toilets, picnic area, snacks, ice creams.

How Long We Spent There: 3 hours
Buggies: Buggy friendly

Parking: Car park by the farm.
Cost of Parking: From £1.80 per hour. 

Wildlife You Might See: Pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, donkeys, cows, goats, and rabbits.

Information Written: December 2016

Our visit to Manor Farm in Burseldon, near Southampton, is summarised below and you can add your own rating under ‘User Rating’ or in the ‘Add Comment’ section below.