A trip to one of our local East London City Farms is the perfect day out for kids of all ages. But which one is your family favourite?
We’ve put together this round-up of all the local city farms near you offering a taste of the countryside right on your doorstep. For city kids, with little experience of field to fork, our farms offer a fun and educational way to spend the day. With animals to see, farmers markets, great food, arts and crafts and in some cases even donkey rides, our local city farms offer so much!
Spitalfields City Farm
Tucked away near Bricklane, in one of the most densely populated areas of East London, Spitalfields City Farm is a “rural” oasis. To make more of your day, you can head to their website to catch up with how the animals have been doing. East End kids will love looking out for donkeys “Gilbert and George” when they visit. The Tea Hut, which serves locally and ethically sourced food and drinks is a great place to grab a picnic. There’s also a fab treehouse for the kids to play in. Don’t forget to say hello to the great crested newts in the Wildlife Garden while you’re there.
Shoreditch – Buxton St, London E1 5AR
Free but donations are encouraged
Opening times: Tuesday- Saturday 12-4pm
Mudchute City Farm
With 32 acres, Mudchute is the largest of the city farms. The farm is close to Canary Wharf with over 100 animals to visit including cows, pigs, sheep, donkeys, lamas, chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese and more! A great excuse to jump on the DLR. If you’ve not been on it yet with your little one, try to nab the front seat and let them pretend to drive the train. If you need to feed your little animals Mudchute Kitchen is perfect for a refuel. On Saturdays, children love Mudchute Play a loose parts frenzie that lets little imaginations run wild. During the school holidays they also frequently put on donkey rides.
Cubitt Town – Pier St, London E14 3HP
Free but please donate if you can.
Hackney City Farm
Surprisingly, you really wouldn’t think upon entering from the hustle and bustle of Hackney Rd that it would have such a great expanse of wildflowers and fields. It’s almost like an urban Narnia! After a visit with the animals, you can grab a take away picnic from the Frizzante Café to eat among the wildflowers and lush green fields. On Sundays, they host drop in family pottery sessions.
Off Hackney rd – 1a Goldsmiths Row, London E2 8QA
Free but donations are encouraged
Stepney City Farm
Come and enjoy a day at Stepney City Farm. The animals will love it if you do. You can visit their Farmer’s Market on Saturdays or enjoy a delicious brunch on a Sunday. Their cafe offers delicious food often sourced from the farm or local producers. Mums with little ones really shouldn’t miss the return of The Frog Prince Baby Music sessions.
Stepney Way, Stepney Green, London E1 3DG
While visiting the farm is free, donations are always welcome.
Surrey Docks Farm
Surrey Docks Farm provides a hands-on experience, allowing kids to interact with friendly farm animals, feed them, and learn about their habits and care. There are family volunteering sessions, Little Piglets early years programs and Farm Club where children ages 8-13 can have fun while developing a sense of responsibility and a deeper appreciation for the food we eat and where it comes from.
While visiting the farm is free, donations are always welcome.
On the Thames Path, Rotherhithe St, South Wharf, London SE16 5ET
