Hackney City Farm

The ever-popular Hackney City Farm was previously the site of a brewery. Some say it’s haunted. One volunteer claims to have seen an eerie shadow in the main building during a lambing-season sleepover, and was so spooked that he took refuge in the pigsty. No wonder the place is haunted; it’s been the scene of a tragedy of Sophoclean proportions. Gregory the goose killed his own father shortly after he was born. When his mother later died, Gregory sank into a depression. Other notable residents include Little Sheep, a survivor of the Foot and Mouth epidemic. The farm’s animals rule the local roost; new tenants in nearby flats sign a declaration that they won’t complain about the nocturnal racket.

The farm is a vital community hub with a vegetable box collection scheme for locals, there are even water plants growing in a steel tub which was used by surgeons to wash their hands at the now-closed Queen Elizabeth Hospital for Children next door.

Twice-weekly pottery classes are suitable for all ability levels, and mosaic classes could come in handy if you smash your creation. Have a bite at the yummy Italian café or drop by the farm shop for fresh eggs. Miriam Bouteba 

Find more urban farms in the capital with our guide to London city farms.