This week I went pumpkin picking at The Balloon Tree. I’ve wanted to visit this farm for a while, as The Balloon Tree Farmshop & Cafe is a popular place in York. Not just for PYO pumpkins, but it also has a cafe and other pick-your-own activities throughout the year. I see this place come up time and time again in local Facebook groups.
Dates for pumpkin picking at The Balloon Tree are still to be confirmed.
My parents visited and it was a lovely day. The sun was shining and it was 20 degrees (not bad for late September!). So I suggested we get lunch at The Balloon Tree and visit the “pick your own” pumpkin patch with my two-year-old.
It was a Friday afternoon so I was expecting it to be quiet. But as we drove into the car park, we saw how busy it was! We had to park at the far end of the car park.
Pumpkin Picking At The Balloon Tree
We went to the pumpkin patch first. We walked through the Pick Your Own Pumpkin entrance and got our wheelbarrow from the wheelbarrow car park then walked down to the pumpkin patch. It was a bit further away than I had expected. I’ve never visited The Balloon Tree Farm before so wasn’t sure what to expect. It’s completely manageable but may be an issue for those with disabilities or who struggle to walk far.
When we got there, we were the only ones at the patch! This was great for getting some lovely photos.
Although it was dry, the ground was quite uneven and rough around the pumpkin patch. I would recommend wellies or boots for sure. Smaller children may need help walking around the patch. My toddler, who is almost three years old, struggled as some areas were unexpectedly soft so he kept losing his footing. There are also lots of plants and weeds, so the paths between the pumpkins are not flat and easy to walk on. Boots for sure!
We had a walk around and I picked a white pumpkin for Leo. Though later on I found some smaller ones and thought they would be more suitable for him.
The Balloon Tree Cafe
The Balloon Tree cafe menu covers breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Breakfast is served until 11:30 am and includes cooked options alongside lighter bites. The main lunch menu has toasties, sandwiches (served with crisps and a side salad), hot dishes, a kids’ menu, and homemade cakes. There’s also a separate vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free menu — worth noting as the dietary options are better than you might expect from a farm cafe. The cake counter looks brilliant, and someone has specifically recommended the toffee cheesecake to me.
After we visited the pumpkin patch, we headed over to the cafe. Now, this is when we realised why the car park was so busy. The cafe was full.
We had to wait to be seated. My parents stood in the queue and I took my toddler to the park that’s next to the cafe. There’s also a cafe garden so you can eat outside, but it was a bit windy so we didn’t fancy that. The park had a few things to play on, climbing frames with slides, a tractor with a slide and a playhouse, so that was nice to do while we waited for our seats. It didn’t seem like long until we were seated.
The menu is good – it’s more of a lunch menu so lots of things like toasties and sandwiches. They also do breakfast until 11:30 a.m. There is a separate vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menu. There’s also a kids menu which sells the typical children’s meals.
A lot of people in the cafe were having the sandwiches, which come with crisps and a side salad. My dad picked a sausage sandwich, my mum had a gluten-free ham sandwich, I had the plant burger (vegan) and my son had the kid’s scampi, chips and beans.
We all enjoyed our meals. The plant burger was really good! It had roasted peppers, beetroot houmous and black olives on it which was a great combination. The chips weren’t brilliant. They tasted very oily and greasy.
By the end of our meal, the cafe was getting empty after the midday rush. It may be a good idea to avoid going between 12 pm – 1 pm!
The Balloon Tree Farm Shop
After paying for our food, we visited the farm shop where we needed to pay for the two little pumpkins I picked for my son. In the end, I went for two small white ones that he could paint.
The farm shop sells a few home decor items – there were some Christmas and Halloween things out, a few bits of children’s clothes and lots of food and drinks. They have meats, dairy, a deli and a fruit and vegetable tent that sells seasonal fruits, soft fruit and vegetables.
I picked up a chorizo sausage roll for my husband and a Halloween gingerbread biscuit for my son.
Information
Address: The Balloon Tree Farmshop and Cafe
Stamford Bridge Road
Gate Helmsley
York
YO41 1NB
Telephone: 01759 373023
Website: https://www.theballoontree.co.uk/
Opening Times
Farm shop: Monday to Sunday 9 am – 17:00 pm
Cafe: Monday to Sunday 9 am – 16.30 pm (Kitchen closes at 16:00 pm)
Pumpkin Picking: Every day at 10am – 4pm
Prices
PYO Pumpkin Entry Fee: £1.50 per person
Non-walking babies & toddlers: free entry.
You pay at the Berry Barn after you’ve finished picking your pumpkins, this is the hut next to the Jeep Track. During the week, you pay inside the farm shop.
Final Thoughts on The Balloon Tree York
We had a good couple of hours at The Balloon Tree. There’s a decent range of pumpkins — different colours, shapes, and sizes — and the cafe made it a proper outing rather than just a pumpkin grab. The plant burger was genuinely good. The chips less so.
A few practical things to know: go before midday to avoid the lunchtime rush in the cafe, wear boots for the pumpkin patch (the ground is uneven and can be soft), and check the car park situation before you commit to a time — it fills up fast even on weekdays.
They also do Christmas trees and festive activities later in the season, so it’s worth a second visit once the pumpkins are gone.
FAQs About The Balloon Tree York
Where is The Balloon Tree?
The Balloon Tree Farmshop and Cafe is at Stamford Bridge Road, Gate Helmsley, York, YO41 1NB — about 20 minutes east of York city centre.
What is on The Balloon Tree cafe menu?
The Balloon Tree cafe serves breakfast until 11:30am, then switches to a lunch menu of sandwiches, toasties, hot dishes, and a kids’ menu. There’s a separate vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free menu. The cake counter has a selection of homemade cakes — the toffee cheesecake has been specifically mentioned by visitors as a highlight. Check their website for current seasonal specials.
Does The Balloon Tree do breakfast?
Yes — The Balloon Tree breakfast menu is served until 11:30am. If breakfast is your plan, arrive on the earlier side as the cafe gets busy from midday onwards.
When does pumpkin picking start at The Balloon Tree?
Pumpkin picking at The Balloon Tree typically opens in late September and runs through October, daily from 10am–4pm. Entry is £1.50 per person (non-walking babies free). Check theballoontree.co.uk for the exact start date each year as it varies.
Do you need to book The Balloon Tree pumpkin picking?
No booking is needed for pumpkin picking — it’s pay on arrival. The cafe can get very busy at peak times (particularly 12pm–1pm), so arriving earlier or later is worth considering if you want a seat without a wait.
What should I wear to The Balloon Tree pumpkin patch?
Wellies or boots are strongly recommended. The ground around the pumpkin patch is uneven and can be soft, especially after rain. Younger children may need help navigating some of the rougher areas.
Related posts:
Beautiful photos! What a wonderful way to spend the day. The food also looks delicious, I love how many options there are! Thank you for sharing, I hope to visit a pumpkin patch this year!
The Balloon Tree Farmshop sounds like a lovely place! I went to a pumpkin patch last year and had a lovely time. I love the things they add to the experience, and there looks like a great variety of pumpkins x
What a lovely time.. that shop looks beautiful.