A Parent's Guide to London's Best City Farms

One of the best-kept secrets of parenting in London is that you are never more than a few miles from a farm. Actual farms, with actual animals — goats, pigs, donkeys, chickens, sometimes horses and alpacas — tucked away in the middle of the city. And nearly all of them are completely free.

City farms are the perfect outing for toddlers. They are small enough that nobody gets overwhelmed, there is always something to look at, and the combination of fresh air and animals tends to produce the kind of deep, satisfied tiredness that leads to a good afternoon nap. Here is a guide to the best ones, tested by a dad with two small children and strong opinions about cafe quality.

East London

1. Mudchute Park and Farm

Pier Street, Isle of Dogs E14 · Free entry · Open daily 9am-4pm (animals go in from 3pm) · Nearest station: Mudchute DLR · Map · Website

Mudchute is the big one. At 32 acres, it is one of the largest urban farms in Europe, and it genuinely feels like countryside in the city. There are horses, llamas, pigs, sheep, goats, and a fantastic range of poultry. The views of Canary Wharf towering behind a field of grazing horses is surreal and wonderful.

The farm is free to enter and open every day. There is a good on-site cafe (Mudchute Kitchen) that does proper food and decent coffee. The farm also runs an Equestrian Centre with riding lessons if your children are interested in horses.

2. Hackney City Farm

1A Goldsmiths Row, Hackney E2 · Free entry · Open Tue-Sun 10am-4.30pm · Nearest station: Hoxton Overground · Map · Website

Hackney City Farm punches well above its weight. It is smaller than Mudchute but has a wonderful community feel. You will find pigs, goats, donkeys, sheep, chickens, ducks, and rabbits. The pottery studio runs workshops for children, and the farm hosts regular family events including seasonal celebrations.

The real draw here, beyond the animals, is Frizzante — the Italian restaurant inside the farm grounds. It is genuinely one of the best Italian restaurants in the area, serving proper pasta and pizza in a farmyard setting. Having lunch surrounded by donkeys while your toddler watches chickens is a uniquely London experience.

3. Spitalfields City Farm

Buxton Street, Spitalfields E1 · Free entry · Open Tue-Sun 10am-4pm · Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street Overground · Map · Website

This tiny farm near Brick Lane is the most peaceful place in Shoreditch. It has donkeys, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and a lovely garden area. What makes Spitalfields special is the calm. It never feels crowded, the animals are gentle, and the whole atmosphere is perfect for babies and nervous toddlers who might be meeting a goat for the first time.

4. Stepney City Farm

Stepney Way, Tower Hamlets E1 · Free entry · Open Tue-Sun 10am-4pm · Nearest station: Stepney Green · Map · Website

A lovely working farm in Tower Hamlets with goats, pigs, ducks, chickens, and a community garden. They run a monthly Family Farm Club with free arts and crafts sessions, which are well worth timing your visit around. The on-site cafe is good for a coffee and a snack, and there are growing workshops in the warmer months where kids can learn about food and gardening.

South London

5. Vauxhall City Farm

165 Tyers Street, Vauxhall SE11 · Free entry · Open Tue-Sun 10am-4.30pm · Nearest station: Vauxhall · Map · Website

Vauxhall City Farm is small but charming, and its location near Vauxhall station makes it one of the most accessible farms in London. There are horses, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, and an ecology garden. It has a real community feel and regularly hosts events including an annual summer fair. The farm also runs a riding programme and animal care workshops.

6. Surrey Docks Farm

Rotherhithe Street, Rotherhithe SE16 · Free entry · Open daily 10am-4pm · Nearest station: Surrey Quays Overground · Map · Website

A beautiful 2.2-acre working farm right on the south bank of the Thames in Rotherhithe. There are donkeys, horses, goats, pigs, sheep, and chickens. The riverside location means you can combine a farm visit with a Thames walk, which is a lovely morning out. They run youth programmes and seasonal events throughout the year.

7. Deen City Farm

39 Windsor Avenue, Merton SW19 · Free entry · Open Tue-Sun 10am-4.30pm · Nearest station: Colliers Wood · Map · Website

One of London's oldest city farms, and one of the few that offers pony rides for children as young as two. There are goats, sheep, pigs, guinea pigs, chickens, and horses. The riding lessons are popular and well-run, but even without riding, the farm is worth a visit for the animals alone. It has a friendly, welcoming feel.

8. Crystal Palace Park Farm

Crystal Palace Park, SE19 · Free entry · Open daily 10am-4pm · Nearest station: Crystal Palace · Map · Website

Run by Capel Manor College, this farm has alpacas, Shetland ponies, kunekune pigs, goats, and a reptile room that kids absolutely love. It is inside Crystal Palace Park, which means you can combine a farm visit with the famous dinosaur trail — a genuinely perfect double bill for a morning out. The farm is free to enter and there is parking nearby.

North London

9. Kentish Town City Farm

1 Cressfield Close, Kentish Town NW5 · Free entry · Open daily 9am-5pm · Nearest station: Kentish Town · Map · Website

A friendly little farm in the heart of Kentish Town with horses, goats, cows, pigs, sheep, and a riding school. The farm has a wonderfully local feel and runs regular family days with activities like pony grooming, egg collecting, and seasonal crafts. The on-site cafe is small but decent. It is the kind of farm that feels like a village in the city.

10. Freightliners Farm

Sheringham Road, Islington N7 · Free entry · Open Mon & Wed-Sun 10.30am-4.30pm (closed Tuesdays) · Nearest station: Highbury and Islington · Map · Website

Built on the site of a former railway goods yard in Islington, Freightliners is a proper working farm with cows, pigs, chickens, bees, and a beautiful organic garden. The farm runs seasonal events including apple pressing in autumn and lambing in spring. The organic garden is particularly lovely, and the farm has a strong environmental education programme.

Tips for Visiting City Farms

• They are free. Almost all London city farms are free to enter, though donations are appreciated and they need the support.
• Most are closed on Mondays. Check opening times before you go, as most farms close one day a week.
• Bring hand sanitiser. Kids will touch everything. Farms have hand-washing stations but carrying your own gel is useful.
• Wear old clothes. Farms are muddy, especially in winter. Wellies are a good idea from October to March.
• Check for events. Many farms run family days, seasonal events, and craft workshops. These are often the best time to visit.
• Go in the morning. Animals are generally more active earlier in the day. By mid-afternoon, the goats have seen enough visitors.
• Combine trips. Most farms are near other good activities — parks, canals, markets. Make a morning of it.

All of these farms and more are listed in the Little London directory, where you can filter by area and see them on a map. You can also browse our free activities guide for more ideas that will not cost a penny. And if the weather turns, check our rainy day activities for indoor alternatives.