Fancy dress

With autumn well under way, we’ve put together a list of some of the top pumpkin patches in the UK for a seasonal, Halloween-inspired day out for all the family

With autumn well under way and Halloween fast-approaching, many of us will be looking for some spooky fun. Pumpkin patches are a great way to enjoy autumnal vibes while also getting out in the fresh air – and you get to take your own pumpkin home with you to carve, turn into a delicious meal, or simply decorate your home with.

Pumpkin patches have become more and more popular in recent years, and many now offer a full day out including activities and photo opportunities. We’ve put together a list of the top patches in the UK for you to enjoy this October …

Tulleys Pumpkin Farm, West Sussex

Tulleys Pumpkin Farm is one of the best known in the UK. Located in the West Sussex countryside, the farm will this year be offering more than 1 million pumpkins and gourds for visitors to pick. The site offers a range of photo opportunities with vibrant backdrops and set-ups, and there are even characters from the “Pumpkin Village” wandering around the site.

There is also food and drink on offer including smash burgers, loaded hot dogs, loaded fries, hot donuts, toffee apples, and pumpkin spice lattes. Other attractions include roaming musicians, an observation wheel, the Pumpkin Bar and the Boozy Cauldron Bar.

The farm will be running the pumpkin picking experiences from 9.30am to 5.30pm and visitors can get tickets online here .

Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire

Doddington Hall in Lincolnshire is offering 30 different varieties of pumpkins, squashes and gourds for visitors to pick from. To get to the patch, guests can follow the spooky walk through the Kitchen Garden and they are encouraged to wear Halloween fancy dress.

The patch is open until October 31st and visitors can come from 10am to 4pm daily, while stocks last. The entry is free, and you will simply need to pay for what you pick. Some of the pumpkins in the patch will have golden bottoms – and guests who find one will win the pumpkin, a family ticket to Christmas in the Hall, and a Doddington homegrown Christmas tree. No tickets are required.

Millets Farm Centre, Oxfordshire

Millets Farm Centre promises a pumpkin-picking experience with “loads of Halloween themed props and photo opportunities”. Visitors will pay for an entry ticket, and then for the pumpkin or squash they pick when they leave the field.

A SEND session will be held on October 27 which offers exclusive early access to the patch, reduced noise levels, with lower capacity. On October 31, a dog day will take place, which allows guests to bring along their furry friends.

You can buy tickets here . Additionals can be bought too, like goodie bags and a pumpkin carving experience – and guests can also enjoy hot chocolates and marshmallow toasting.

Farmer Copleys, West Yorkshire

Farmer Copleys has promised a “bigger and better than ever” pumpkin festival. Visitors can wander through more than 300,000 homegrown pumpkins in more than 40 varieties and snap photographs along the way.

Alongside pumpkin picking, guests can enjoy tractor fields, live shows and entertainment, archery and vintage fairground rides, fancy dress contests, and a dog parade. There will also be the chance to enjoy some street food and drinks from the festival bars. You can get tickets here .

Bell’s Pumpkin Patch, Lincolnshire

Bell’s Pumpkin Patch is one of the largest in the country and offers visitors the chance to pick pumpkins and enjoy the range of entertainment and attractions on offer. Guests can visit the pumpkin carving tent, take a look at the Pumpkin Cannon which can fire a pumpkin over a quarter of a mile, and have a go on the funfair rides.

There are bounce and climb areas for kids to enjoy, a tiny tots play area, face painting, and ride-on pedal tractors. Other attractions include tractor rides, a Maize Maze, a makers’ market, garden games, an assault course, singing pumpkins, and food and drink. You can get tickets here .

Lathcoats Farm, Essex

Lathcoats Farm in Essex will be offering “lots of sizes and varieties” to choose from, as well as an undercover pumpkin patch, outdoor games, and “plenty of photo opportunities”.

Visitors can also book onto the Halloween Hunt which will include access to the trail, an activity sheet, and a delicious prize. Guests are encouraged to visit the orchards at the farm and pick their own apples too. Tickets to the event must be booked in advance, and you can get them here .

Vale Pick Your Own, Vale of Glamorgan

The Pick Your Own farm in the heart of the Vale of Glamorgan offers fruit picking all year round – including strawberry and raspberry picking over the summer. In October, the farm’s pumpkin patch will be back for more “spooky season fun”.

Visitors can also get tickets for the Twilight Pumpkin Picking experience, which will include live band entertainment and a fully licensed bar. There will be a fire pit to roast marshmallows and a face painter during the day and night sessions. You can get tickets here.

One mistake has been highlighted by many cruise passengers, and it could see you turned away from the restaurant when you attempt to dress for dinner

Countless British holidaymakers will be eagerly anticipating embarking on a cruise adventure this winter season.

These floating holidays provide endless opportunities to savour delectable cuisine from around the globe whilst experiencing incredible cultural adventures at destinations worldwide.

Yet P&O Cruises has emphasised a crucial regulation that travellers must heed to avoid the embarrassment of being refused entry at their dining booking. The majority of their voyages maintain a laid-back attire policy, with occasional evenings designated as “Black Tie” affairs.

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These special evenings celebrate “glitz and glamour”, as P&O’s website describes: “a chance to dress to impress with your favourite cocktail dress, tuxedo, ball gown, suit or smart jacket and tie.”

There are also “Evening Casual” occasions, where guests are encouraged to don their finest shirts, dark denim and smart separates, “as long as the tracksuits are left on the hanger”.

One particular garment, however, stays strictly forbidden across all dining venues except the buffet during Black Tie evenings – tailored shorts. Even during Evening Casual nights, only a select few restaurants permit guests wearing them to enter, reports the Express.

Reddit users have recounted tales of themselves or their companions being denied access to these more upmarket evenings for sporting shorts – despite pairing them with crisp button-down shirts and pricey footwear. One disgruntled passenger recounted how her husband was turned away from the main dining room on Celebrity Equinox for his attire, stating: “My husband got turned away from the main dining room on Celebrity Equinox (about four years ago) for wearing nice shorts with a collared polo shirt,”.

While you might be tempted to dispute with staff over dress code issues, it’s generally seen as bad form. Dressing inappropriately is a frequent faux pas among cruise passengers.

READ MORE: UK travellers face new rule from October 12 – full list

Grant Harrold, an etiquette expert collaborating with Spincasino.com, highlighted that dressing appropriately is crucial and often overlooked by first-time cruisers. Grant emphasised: “This is really important,” adding, “It’s making sure you’re dressed in the right outfit in the right area.”

He further explained that guests are usually informed about the dress requirements for formal and casual evenings aboard large vessels. “On a lot of the big ships you will be given notice of formal evenings or casual evenings, so casual evenings can be anything from jeans and t-shirts to smart shirts, jackets and chinos to the formal evenings where it’s going to be black tie or national dress and officers wear their uniforms.”

However, holidaymakers need not jettison their smart shorts just yet. Daytime attire on cruises is typically relaxed, with t-shirts, shorts, and sundresses being the norm, although they might not be the best choice for a Northern European trip this winter.

OPINION

Grant also advised: “Away from the pool, we ask for shoes to be worn and no pool wear in the ship’s lounges, inside bars, restaurants or reception.”

P&O also suggests comfortable flat footwear for wandering the decks and lightweight layers for cool and windy evenings whilst on deck. For passengers venturing ashore, the cruise line also highlights air-conditioned galleries or cooler places of worship.

“Please remember that some cultures may require you to cover up too,” particularly many sacred sites. Smart shorts aren’t the sole garment with restrictions: “Fancy dress, novelty clothing or outfits that feature any inappropriate or offensive language or images are not permitted on board.”

“We reserve the right to deny embarkation to guests who are inappropriately dressed. The only exception to this is official P&O Cruises theme nights, where guests are invited to dress up in line with the theme.”

We’ve got a prize package that will transport you back to the 80s, 90s or Y2K with a stay at Butlin’s for one of its legendary Big Weekenders

You can enjoy the ultimate throwback weekend with our competition to win a VIP break for four adults to a Butlin’s Big Weekender!

The lucky winner will get a three night stay from Friday to Monday, on selected dates in October, to Butlin’s ‘Halloweekender’ breaks, which include 80s, 90s and Y2K-themed vibes! Running from October 3 to 31, the Halloweekenders see Butlin’s decade-themed parties given a spooky makeover.

Options include Ultimate 80s Thriller, 90s Reloaded Fright Nights, Back To The 2000s Y2K Scares, and a mash-up Replay Time Warp Terror. Acts confirmed so far include Chesney Hawkes, Claire Richards and A1.

The prize includes VIP passes, premium dining and one Bottomless Brunch session for the duration of your stay – subject to availability. The winner will stay in a gold apartment, or a hotel if staying at Bognor Regis resort – subject to availability. Additional guests can be added to the booking, subject to availability at the time of booking. The costs for any additional guests must be fully covered by the winner.

The break will be for a 3-night (Fri-Mon) Halloweekender break only including:

• Back To The 2000s Y2K Scares – 3 October (Bognor Regis)

• Back To The 2000s Y2K Scares – 3 October (Minehead)

• Replay Time Warp Terror – 10 October (Bognor Regis)

• Ultimate 80s Thriller – 17 October (Minehead)

• Ultimate 80s Thriller – 31 October (Bognor Regis)

• 90s Reloaded Fright Nights – 31 October (Minehead)

• Back To The 2000s Y2K Scares – 31 October (Skegness)

The prize must be taken by 31 October, 2025. Enter the competition by filling out the form below and if you can’t see it, click HERE:

What to expect at the Butlin’s Big Weekender:

Ultimate 80s Thriller

Love the 80s? Then get ready for a Thriller night throwback this Halloween! Butlins will be digging up the decade of big hair, and even bigger tunes. Expect hauntingly good headline acts, DJ sets and live bands with an 80s Halloween twist (Ghostbusters anyone?) plus endless daytime activities. There’s so much to do, you can’t fail to have frighteningly good fun!

This break is fancy dress-friendly (in fact, it’s almost compulsory) so get your ghoul on – quite literally– and start planning your perfect 80s ‘Thriller’ look.

90s Reloaded Fright Nights

Gather your F.R.I.E.N.D.S, your glow sticks, and get ready to take the plunge with the grunge, because it’s time to bring the 90s back from the dead, with Butlin’s 90s Reloaded weekender! This Halloween, relive the decade of BritPop, house music and indie bands, with live performances from music legends of the era and endless entertainment. Fancy dress? You bet. From Scream to Freddie Kruger, which 90s nightmare look will you and your mates unearth?

Back To The 2000s Y2K Scares

It’ll be murder on the dancefloor at Butlin’s 2000s Halloween bash. The noughties are being resurrected with the best pop, dance and garage music given a frightful twist! For three days, expect high-energy party vibes, plenty of hands-in-the-air moments and a ghoulishly good dose of noughties nostalgia with the best live performances and music from the decade. Fancy-dress is actively encouraged, so get ready to rock those terrifying noughties outfits!

Replay Time Warp Terror

There’s no need to compromise on your music taste this Halloween when you hit Butlin’s REPLAY Weekender. A monster mash-up of decades, REPLAY celebrates the best music of the 80s, 90s and beyond, with different stages dedicated to each. You’ll be partying to nostalgic throwbacks one minute, and chart-topping floor fillers the next. Start planning your horrifying Halloween outfit now! So many decades to choose from!