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London for Dogs - Mudchute Park & Farm
Photo: Ben Rowe

City farms in London

Get a little bit of rural life in London and meet tiny lambs at one of the capital’s city farms

Alex Sims
Written by
Alex Sims
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More often than not urban animal sightings are limited to bin-diving foxes and sour-looking cats. But it doesn’t have to be this way. You may not think it, but London is actually home to a surprising amount of city farms filled with a whole load of livestock to see up close – from lazing llamas in Canary Wharf to energetic goats in Kentish Town and rare breed sheep off the Holloway Road.

City farms aren’t just a great way to meet some new furry friends, lots of them also have fantastic farm shops that offer all sorts of locally made, fresh produce and put on a whole range of activities and workshops. Lots are also local charities and they also double as good picnic spots. So get yourself a lovely slice of country life, without having to go beyond the M25. 

RECOMMENDED: You, outside now with our guide to outdoor London                     

Our favourite city farms in London

Mudchute Park and Farm
  • Things to do
  • Isle of Dogs
Best for: Rare breeds and horse riding lessons
 
One of the largest farms in London, Mudchute Park and Farm covers 32 acres in the Isle of Dogs. The farm itself is surprisingly compact but full of animals, many out in the fields.
Plus there's a petting zoo and duck pond. The focus of the park, though, is the thriving Equestrian Centre, a riding school for all ages with an all-weather floodlit riding arena, show jumps and cross-country fences across the many acres. However, if this sounds too adventurous, just bring a picnic to enjoy in one of the many green fields, watch the horses trot by and pretend you’re in the countryside. 

Anything else I should know? 
There’s no visitor parking so travel by public transport if you can. Most areas of the farm are accessible by wheelchair but some paths can get muddy. 

Price: Free, donations welcome 
Hackney City Farm
  • Attractions
  • Zoos and aquariums
  • Haggerston

Best for: Weekend brunch and kooky classes

In what used to be a brewery, Hackney City Farm is nestled on the busy throughway between Broadway Market and Columbia Road. It's become a fashionable stop-off for ambling weekend marketgoers, thanks in a large part to its Italian café, Frizzante, which serves hungry Hackney folk fresh seasonal Mediterranean cooking and tasty farm breakfasts. The café may be a big draw but the rest of the farm is thriving with happy animals including a baby donkey, a pottery studio and garden. The farm is a vital community hub with a vegetable box collection scheme for locals, courses on low-impact living, beekeeping and practical courses for asylum seekers and refugees. 

Anything else I should know? Disabled parking can be arranged if you phone and book in advance. A member of staff will also assist anyone who would like more help to access the farm. You can also up your green credentials by cycling to and from the farm (there's a bike repair and service centre on site).

Price: Free

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Deen City Farm
  • Things to do
  • Wimbledon

Best for: Farmlife tasters for kids, like ‘Own A Pony Day’

Set on part of the National Trust’s Morden Hall Park Estate, Deen City Farm provides south Wimbledon with a healthy dose of the countryside. Meet the farmyard residents like Kimby the alpaca and Edna the barn owl, buy grass nuts to feed the animals or squeal over the newly born ducklings, chicks and lambs. 

Anything else I should know? The farm, fields and stable yard are largely wheelchair accessible, and there's a volunteering programme you can get involved in if you're left wanting more.

Price: Free

Hounslow Urban Farm
  • Attractions
  • Farms
  • Borough of Hounslow

Best for: Cool attractions, like the ‘pig meet and greet’

Spread over 29 acres, Hounslow Urban Farm is one of London’s largest community farms and is a fun day trip for families from Feltham and beyond. Take a stroll around the paddocks, feed the wide range of farm animals (including pigs, goats, cows, rabbits, ducks, geese, alpacas, chipmunks and rheas – flightless birds), or have a picnic and catch an owl display. 

Anything else I should know? There’s free parking onsite. 

Price: From £6-£7.50.

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  • Attractions
  • Farms
  • Vauxhall

Best for: A conveniently located, quick escape from the city bustle

You may be surprised to find this compact farm just off the busy main Vauxhall junction, but it has managed to pack in a range of animals, a duck pond and an ecology garden (complete with bog, wormery and stag beetle nursery).

There’s also a community allotment, which grows plants used as dyes for the wool spinning classes that take place on the farm. There is also a riding school with a paddock, which is probably the only place you can keep an eye on MI5 while out for a gallop. 

Anything else I should know? It’s fully wheelchair accessible and only a short distance from Vauxhall tube.

Price: Donation-based, suggested amount being around £3. 

Spitalfields City Farm
  • Attractions
  • Farms
  • Spitalfields

Best for: A country feel in otherwise edgy East London 

Built in a former railway goods depot, this farm is an urban oasis just minutes from the bustle and electricity of Brick Lane and Shoreditch. So when you tire of rummaging for vintage clothes and have picked up the obligatory bagel, stop by and visit characters such as Bayleaf the donkey and Bentley the goat, or pick your own veg.

Anything else I should know? It's easy to get to from all types of public transport, but there is also some patches of free parking to scout out. 

Price: Free

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Surrey Docks Farm
  • Attractions
  • Farms
  • Surrey Quays

Best for: Extracurricular activities such as farm yoga and the monthly market

Nestled on the Thames Path in what used to be a smallpox and fever receiving station, Surrey Docks Farm is a rural delight only a few moments from the mayhem of Surrey Quays shopping centre. You’ll find cute animals, flourishing gardens and well-kept grounds. There is also the rather sweet Piccalilli Caff on site, which serves up some yummy grub. The farm is bustling and busy with regular donkey rides, allotment activities, a mobile farm and more.

Anything else I should know? These guys are committed to their green mantra: they make compost from their green waste and generate their electricity from roof solar panels.  

Price: Free

Kentish Town City Farm
  • Things to do
  • Kentish Town

Best for: Getting your hands dirty 

If you have ever been on the Overground and noticed horses near Gospel Oak station, you will have had a sneak peek at Kentish Town City Farm. Tucked in and around the railway, a treasure trove of wildlife unfolds as you explore: goats romp under brick arches, sheep bleat over the whirring of nearby trains and frogs croak in a lively pond.

Children are at the heart of the farm, with a range of weekend workshops, an under-fives activity room and a dedicated team of local young volunteers. 

Anything else I should know? There’s free parking and easy access from Kentish Town and Gospel Oak stations. Oh, and it is London's first ever city farm. Cool, right?

Price: Free

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  • Attractions
  • Farms
  • Stepney

Best for: Supporting their locals.

This farm has existed for 40 years, and now offers a green creative space for Stepney. Not only is there The Rural Arts Centre, but there's also a gallery that hosts classes. Really, education is one of the key pillars of this farm, which is reflected in all the activities: from community growing workshops to teaching pottery, woodworking and more. With land newly-reinstated by Crossrail, the farm's also planning to increase room for growing food, encourage biodiversity, and improve facilities for people and animals. 

Anything else I should know? They've definitely got their eye on the green agenda - there's even a children’s garden constructed from recycled materials such as an old car and bathroom suite, as well as a greenhouse made from plastic bottles.

Price: Free

Lee Valley Park Farms
  • Attractions
  • Parks and gardens
  • Essex

Best for: Awesome themed areas. Think Dino-chicken World, the Meerkat Lookout and Rainforest Retreat.

Comprising of two farms, Hayes Hill and Holyfield Hall, Lee Valley Park Farms features vegetable plots and plenty of opportunities to see animals large and small – including cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs. For utmost excitement, there's soft play on offer in the Bundle Barn, while the Hilltop Adventure Zone includes a spider climbing tower and a giant jumping pillow.

Anything else I need to know? Be sure to check their website for special events on that day, and if you have the time do also hit up the nearby River Lee Country Park for walking trails and more wildlife watching.

Price: From £5.99

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  • Attractions
  • Farms
  • Borough of Greenwich

Best for: Lambing Day – don't miss it or the newborn balls of fluff

Across 89 acres, this working city farm gives visitors the chance to see the inner workings of a farmyard and an opportunity to get up close to native bird species, butterflies, wild flowers and woodland. Awesome events at the farm include themed walks, activities such as shelter building and sparrow spotting, and their annual barn dance, which takes place in an actual hay barn.

Anything else I should know? It's best to call ahead if you're visiting in a group larger than 10 people, as there is likely to be a fee. Parking is also limited, so travel by public transport if you can.

Price: Free

Freightliners City Farm
  • Things to do
  • Holloway

Best for: Locally-produced farm produce. Yum.

Islington’s small community-run farm is battling against large government cuts but is determined to keep afloat. Hidden behind Holloway Road, Freightliners is a vibrant hub of wildlife with a wide range of animals. Strawbale Café, a great vegetarian café with tasty daily specials is a must-try, housed in a volunteer-built eco-building.

There is also a small petting zoo, bee hives, vegetable gardens and even animal boarding for local pets. Make sure to stop by the shop to pick up some homegrown honey, eggs or veg too.

Anything else I should know? Their super sustainable vegetable gardens supply the Strawbale Café, these guys are all about minimal waste.

Price: Free

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Crystal Palace Park Farm
  • Attractions
  • Farms
  • Crystal Palace

Best for: School trips for the biggest animal lovers

Crystal Palace Park Farm is very much a community-focused centre and well-used by local schools, who get guided tours with an education officer. In the small yard and paddock, there are kunekune pigs, alpacas, goats and Shetland ponies, while the smaller animals are up a steep ramp. Children are always fascinated by the reptile room, too. In the afternoons, casual visitors can often handle the smaller animals, if there's a free member of staff handy.

Anything else I should know? Thanks to the London Overground line, it's really easy to visit this farm. It's a stone's throw from Crystal Palace station.

Price: Free

Belmont Children's Farm
  • Attractions
  • Farms
  • Borough of Barnet

Best for: Meeting cows and eating waffles

Belmont Children's Farm's is home to the usual range of animals but also boasts lambs, deer, goats, rabbits and guinea pigs, as well as the more exotic alpacas, storks, wallabies and snowy owls. You can take a tractor ride around the farm, feed the animals and, at 10am every day, you can meet their lovely herd of jersey cows and their calves.

The attached café specialises in waffles, but you'll also find other food and drinks on offer. 

Anything else I should know? It's easy to get to, whatever your preferred method of travel – there's a decent-sized car park and a bus stop right outside the entrance. 

Price: From £8. Children £4.50-£6, under 1’s go free. 

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