Cheap Halloween days out and pumpkin patches 2021

This is my personal guide to cheap October half term and Halloween days out in and around Milton Keynes for 2021. I’ve included a list of pumpkin patches local to Milton Keynes too. You may need to travel further afield; book in advance; and check to see if they’re still going ahead before travelling. If an activity is ticketed and you do want to go I’d suggest booking as soon as possible. You may find by the time you read this some have sold out. If somewhere isn’t ticketed but is on social media it’s also worth checking their pages before going in case of any changes – for example adverse weather conditions or car parks being full. I hope you find it useful. Milton Keynes Kids is run independently alongside my day job, I don’t get free tickets or payment, it’s purely to help others. If you do find it helpful and I’ve saved you a lot of time, and you enjoy my recommendations please do consider buying me a coffee to help with the running costs of the site and creation of content. Thank you so much.

Ghost trains 

30th October, 4.30pm – late – Ghost Train, Caldecotte Lake, Milton Keynes 

There’s a lovely miniature railway near Caldecotte Lake in Milton Keynes called Caldecotte Miniature Railway . It only costs a BARGAIN £1 per person which gets you two trips around the circular track. They are doing their GHOST TRAIN for HALLOWEEN. Saturday 30TH OCTOBER 4.30pm – late. Put it in your diary for and do check their page before travelling in case of problems. I took my youngest son when he was four years old in 2019. He had a great time. It can be popular so you might have to queue.  The address is Bletcham Way, Caldecotte, Milton Keynes MK7 8HP. If you’re not local to the area and want to make more of your visit then you may wish to have a walk around the lake. Do have a read of my Caldecotte Lake review before visiting. Can’t make this one? They often do a Christmas one too so keep an eye on their Facebook page for details. 

30th October, Spooky train ride at Fancotte Miniature Railway, Luton Road, Toddington, Dunstable, LU5 6HT

There’s a miniature railway at the Fancott Pub which runs during the summer and on selected other dates in the year. For one night only they do a spooky train ride. It’s scheduled to run 6pm-9pm on 30th October. It costs £3 per person. We haven’t been to this one on Halloween so I don’t know what they do to make it spooky. Like anywhere that could be affected by bad weather keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates before travelling. 

Selected dates – Ghost train, Corby and District Model Railway, Quarry Close (off), Kelvin Grove, Corby, NN17 1AZ 

Ghost train rides, 50p a go, runs on 26th, 28th, 30th October. Starts at 6pm. Keep an eye on their facebook page for more details and updates. We haven’t been on this one, but it’s looked fun in the past. 

Bookable activities 

Various dates – Garden games and activities, disco, crafts at Millennium Country Park, Bedfordshire, Station Road, Marston Moretaine MK43 0PS

A selection of events on selected dates in October half term which you need to book in advance. Garden games and activities (£5), Crafts (£3) and disco (£9). We’ve not done any of them before so I don’t know how good they’ll be. There’s a good cafe, loos and a play area there. You do pay to park. 

Selected dates, various events, Woburn Sands Emporium, Newport Rd, Woburn Sands, Milton Keynes MK17 8UF

There are several events taking place on different days at Woburn Sands Emporium in half term week. They include cookie decorating with a smoothie (£4.50 child, £1.50 adult which includes tea or coffee), pumpkin carving (£4.99 child), painting a spooky tea light holder (£4.99 child) and animal experience (£3 per person). You need to book all those events in advance. Woburn Sands Emporium also has a small chargeable soft play, cafe, charity mini golf, and their Christmas decorations are out. 

Various dates, Spooky Family Pumpkin Hunt, Welford Christmas Tree Farm, Northampton Road, Welford, NN6 6JF

We did this trail in 2020 and it was great fun. There are hidden spooky displays among the Christmas trees. We went on a day when the weather was awful. I’d highly recommend waterproofs and wellies if it rains. There’s also a tipi cafe and pumpkins to buy. It was much cheaper last year. They have put up the cost to £7 per child which includes a booking fee. You do need to book in advance. If you’re simply looking to buy pumpkins then it’s free to visit, you just turn up. Keep an eye on their facebook page for updates. 

Selected dates, Mursley Farm Shop Pumpkin Festival, Whaddon Rd, Mursley, Milton Keynes MK17 0PL

Pumpkin carving, photo booth, garden games and skills. Book in advance on their website. £9 for kids. £3 for spectators. Under 4s are free. 

Autumn Festival inc broomstick making and others, Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough, PE2 5UU

There’s an Autumn Festival taking place at Ferry Meadows Country Park in Peterborough during half term. We went last year and did broomstick making, it was great fun. It’s back for this year and costs £10 per family of 4. You do need to book in advance. I recommend getting there early. The country park is big so if you haven’t been before you’ll need to locate where the activity is. There’s also three play areas there and a fourth due to open as well as a miniature train and two cafes. 

25th – 28th October, forest school at Urb Farm, Wolverton, Milton Keynes 

Pumpkin carving, games, crafts, story-telling, toffee apples. Book in advance via the email below and ask for more info. Updates on The Learning Tree facebook page. £7.50 per child and £4 for siblings. 

25-30 October, Halloween crafts, Discover Bucks Museum, Church street, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP20 2QP

Various Halloween crafts which you need to book in advance at Discover Bucks Museum in Aylesbury. They cost around £3.75 for children and there are different crafts including make a mummy, witch bottles, highwayman moneyboxes. If you’re travelling further afield you may want to make more of your visit and also visit the Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery which you pay for separately. It’s a hands-on fun gallery. 

TRAILS 

October half term (dates TBC), Halloween Woollen Woods Trail, Rushmere Country Park, Linslade Rd, Heath and Reach, Leighton Buzzard LU7 0EB

Look for knitted woollen creatures along the sculpture trail at Rushmere Country Park in Bedfordshire. Expect to see more details on their Facebook page. There will be a Halloween fun sheet for £3.50 which you can buy. There a cafe, loos and play area at Rushmere. It’s a fantastic place for an Autumnal walk with fairy doors and lots of other sculptures. If you haven’t been recently do have a look at the change to parking costs. It’s well worth reading my previous review to see more pictures and details of what’s there. No booking required. 

25th – 31st October – bird trail at Dunstable Downs, Bedfordshire, Whipsnade Road, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 2GY

Bird migration trail, not Halloween themed. find eight points along the way. Cost £3. 10am – 4pm. Includes a small craft activity. Excellent cafe there. Take a kite, it’s one of the best places locally for flying one. No booking required for the trail. You do pay to park there unless you’re a National Trust member. 

25th – 31st October – Halloween trail at Stanwick Lakes, Northamptonshire, NN9 6GY

There’s a Halloween Trail at Stanwick Lakes in Northamptonshire. Earn your Witch or Wizard powers by helping The Stanwick Sorceress remember the spell for her magic potion. Use her ‘Book of Spells’ to follow the spooktacular trail and find all of the missing ingredients. There will be some demonstrations on some days. £2.75 for an activity leaflet. Includes a prize, no need to book. Stanwick Lakes has an excellent assault course and adventure trail as well as some play equipment. The huge climbing frame burnt down earlier this year but it’s still a great place to visit. You do pay to park. Take wellies and a change of clothes if you plan to get muddy. 

24th – 31st October – Halloween scarecrow trail, North Crawley

£2.50 for a trail map and a treat from the village shop. 

Pumpkin Patches in and around Milton Keynes 

Pumpkin patches aren’t the cheapest way to buy pumpkins. If you’re on a budget then I’d suggest you’re better off going to the nearest supermarket and buying one there. If however you’re looking for more of an ‘experience’ and to take some nice photos, then you may want to look at going to one. There are now quite a few in and around Milton Keynes. They can be popular though so if it’s on your must do list, then don’t leave it until the last minute and decide where you want to go. Some places are ticketed and get booked up. 

The Patch MK, Mount Mill Farm, Milton Keynes, MK19 6DG

Book in advance, a family ticket is £6.45 to enter plus extra for pumpkins. This is the closest one to Milton Keynes and now very popular. Photo opportunities and refreshments.

Secret PYO, Andersons Farm & Nursery, Blunham Road, Moggerhanger, MK44 3RA

New for 2021, various kids activities including pumpkin carving, mini tractors, space hoppers, straw fun. Pumpkins are from £1 dependent on size. Book in advance. It costs £2.50 per person to go. 

The Pop Up Farm, M1 Jct 9. Flamstead, Hertfordshire, AL3 8HT

Book in advance, tickets cost £3.20 per person. Tickets include parking, use of a wheelbarrow, and access to the pumpkin patch, The Pitstop Cafe, straw stack and insta-props.

Farmer Paul’s Pumpkins, Weedon Hill Farm, HP22 4DP

Free entry, large selection of pumpkins. This is choose from a barn rather than a field. They have a number of pretty displays for photo ops. Check their facebook page before travelling. 

Windy Willows Christmas Tree Yard, Houghton Regis 

There’s a small pumpkin patch and Halloween displays at Windy Willows in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire. At the time of writing it was free to enter, but all tickets had already been booked in advance and they weren’t accepting any walk-ins. I would suggest though that it may be worth keeping an eye on their Facebook page for updates in case people don’t show up and they release more tickets. We went there last year. It’s not that big, but is good if you want to get some good Halloween photos. If you are already going and are looking for something to do in the area, then Houghton Hall park is nearby.