City farms in London

Last updated: 17 July 2023

Nestled amongst the urban sprawl of London you can still find a few patches of farmland.

Oddly, these aren’t remnants of a bygone era of farming out of need, but merely introduced in the 1960s as a way to get city dwellers more acquainted with livestock and produce.

I found myself in East London with little to do, so I made my way to Mudchute Park and Farm, one of the largest city farms in London.  Set out across  32 acres and featuring a range of animals including goats, pigs, lamas, alpacas and a plethora of birds there is plenty to keep little and big kids alike entertained for an afternoon.

These days city farms are often frequented by small families and most are run volunteers with little to no government support. 

Some of the animals look a little long in the tooth and a bit sad but overall the attention and regular feeds from small children with carrots seems to keep most of them content and placid.

Sound like a fun way to spend an afternoon but the Docklands just too far for you? Well never fear. There are plenty of other City farms across London.  Spitalfields in East London near Whitechapel, Vauxhall City Farm in SE11 or if North is more your flavour then head to Gospel Oak to visit the Kentish Town City Farm.

The Essentials

Cost: It’s free.  Bags of animal food are £1 or BYO carrots.

Location: Mudchute, Pier St, E14 3HP.

Getting there: Parking is limited so your best route will be via public transport.  Take the Docklands light rail to Crossharbour or bus routes D3, D6, D8, 135.

Is it just for kids? Absolutely not! While there are plenty of families present, it’s not just for kids.

What should I wear? Wellies! It’s a farm so there’s no concrete paths and if it’s recently been raining then it can get rather slippery.