PLACES TO VISIT

City Farms

  london-footprints.co.uk

You don't have to go out into the country to see farm animals
as London has a number of City Farms.

Other than Hounslow Urban Farm the farms listed are free to visit but donations towards upkeep are always welcome. Many sites rely on volunteers - contact the farm if you would like to become involved. A limited number are open on Mondays. You are advised to check opening days/times before making a special journey.
The farmgarden website covers the UK but features a map 'London City Farms and Community Gardens' to download. There is also a listing of city farms on the London government website with a guide to download.

BY DISTRICT: [E1] [E2] [E10] [E14] [E16] [N3] [N7] [NW5] [SW19] [SE11] [SE16] [SE20] [DA16] [TW14] [RM5]

BROOKS FARM - Skeltons Lane Park E10 5BS. Tel 020 8539 4278.
Open Tue - Sun 10:30-5:30 April - October and 9:30-4:30 November - March but closed 12:30-1:30. A community based project with cafe (Sunday only) and picnic area. Includes an aviary and rabbit warren.

COLLEGE FARM FINCHLEY - 45 Fitzalan Road N3 3PG. Tel 020 8349 0690. [website]
Currently closed.

CRYSTAL PALACE PARK FARM - Ledrington Road SE20. Tel 020 8778 5572.[website]
Open 10:30-12 & 2:30-4 Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri and 12-4 Sat, Sun & Bank Hols. Closed Wednesdays. A Capel Manor College site. Crystal Palace Park walk

DEEN CITY FARM - 39 Windsor Avenue, Merton Abbey SW19 2RR. Tel 020 8543 5300. [website]
Open 10-4:30 Tue - Sun + BH Mons. A 5 acre site which includes a garden project and riding school. Cafe & shop. Wandle Heritage walk

FREIGHTLINERS CITY FARM - Sheringham Road N7 8PF. Tel 020 7609 0467. [website]
Open 10-4 (Autumn /Winter) 10-4:45 (Spring/Summer) Tue - Sun + BH Mons. Rare breed animals and poultry. Refreshments and produce on sale.

HACKNEY CITY FARM - 1a Goldsmith's Row E2 8QA. Tel 020 7729 6381. [website]
Open 10-4:30 Tue - Sun. This was established in 1984 and offers a programme of classes and events for families. The cafe serving organic food is open daily except Mondays.

HOUNSLOW URBAN FARM - Faggs Road, Feltham Middx TW14 OLZ. Tel 020 8831 9658. [website]
Open 10-4 or 11-3 on selected days. Formed in 1990 on the site of the borough park nursery. It houses rare breeds and has a cafe (weekends) and interpretive centre. Admission charge.

KENTISH TOWN CITY FARM - 1 Cressfield Close NW5 4BN. Tel 020 7916 5421. [website]
Open 9-5 daily. This 4 acre farm was the first to be set up in 1972. It utilises old railway buildings. Picnic area.

MUDCHUTE PARK & FARM - Pier Street, Isle of Dogs E14 9HP. Tel 020 7515 5901. [website]
Open Tues - Sun 9-5. The Mudchute has steep grassy banks, wooded glades, grazing fields, hills & hollows. The area was originally created when spoil from the construction of Millwall Dock was dumped along with accumulated silt. The wild habitat that developed became a magnet for local youngsters even though public access was not officially allowed. It housed gun emplacements during WWII. In 1974 the site was earmarked by the GLC for construction of a high-rise estate but the local campaign mounted secured it as the people's park. The Mudchute Association was formed in 1977 to preserve and develop the area. The park constitutes 55% of the public open space on the Isle of Dogs. The farm houses a wide variety of animals, a riding school, nature trail, allotments, shop, education centre and Mudchute Kitchen.
Isle of Dogs walk

NEWHAM CITY FARM - Stansfeld Road E16 5LT. Tel 020 7474 4960 [website]
Open 10-4 (winter) 10-5 (summer) Tue - Sun & Bank Hols. This farm has some exotic birds and a variety of animals, including rare breeds of cattle & shire horses. Honey and eggs for sale. Cafe and picnic area. Beckton walk

SPITALFIELDS CITY FARM - Buxton Street E1 5AR. Tel 020 7247 8762. [website]
Open 10-4:30 Tue - Sun. This 1.3 acre farm was set up in 1978 on a former railway goods yard. Shop with farm produce. Picnic area.

STEPNEY CITY FARM - Stepney Way E1 3DG. Tel 020 7790 8204 [website]
Open 10-4 Sat & Sun. The farm is a community based (and entirely volunteer run) City Farm and Rural Crafts Centre in set up in 1979. Open to the public at weekends and Bank Holidays and to school groups from Monday to Friday by prior appointment.
Stepney & Limehouse walk

SURREY DOCKS FARM - Rotherhithe Street SE16 5ET. Tel 020 7231 1010 [website]
Open daily 10-5 (summer) 10-4 (winter). Laid out on the site of an 18th century shipyard. The Herb, Physic, Vegetable & Fruit gardens were landscaped for the LDDC by Lingard & Styles in 1986-90. There is a sculptured group of bronze farmyard animals by various artists on the riverfront. Produce for sale. Cafe 10-4:30 (closed Mondays).

VAUXHALL CITY FARM - 165 Tyers Street SE11 5HS. Tel 020 7582 4204. [website]
Open 10:30-4 Wed - Sun. Closed over Christmas. This 1.5 acre farm with over 80 animals is situated just off the main road and is run by volunteers. Picnic facilities. Guided tours available by arrangement.
Kennington walk

WELLGATE COMMUMITY FARM - Collier Row Road, Romford Essex RM5 2BH. Tel 01708 747 850. [website]
Open 9-3:30 daily but 9-12 Bank Hols. Picnic area and Shop

WOODLANDS FARM TRUST - 331 Shooters Hill, Welling DA16 3RP. Tel 020 8319 8900. [website]
Open 9:30-4:30 daily (dusk in winter). This 90 acre former Co-op farm is now run by a charitable trust.

 

london-footprints.co.uk 2013