5 Petting Zoos in London Near You: Visit a Local Farm Today

Are you looking for a fun day out with the family? An escape from city life to somewhere with a quieter, more rural feel. Finding a piece of countryside is possible even in a vast urban area such as London.

City farms are becoming increasingly popular. Petting zoos provide an opportunity to learn about different animals and get close to them, allowing petting, feeding and grooming. A visit to a petting zoo, also known as a petting farm, can be a fantastic experience for all ages. 

Petting Zoos in London Near You: Map

There are many petting zoos in and around London, so one will likely be near you. Many have additional attractions, such as tractor rides, shops, and cafes. For a fun day with the family, put on your wellies and check out these five petting zoos near London.

1. Deen City Farm and Riding School – A Fun Time Learning

Deen City Farm is in the centre of the London Borough of Merton, three miles south of Wimbledon. Established in 1978, the farm is one of London’s oldest city farms. It is a registered charity and encourages visitors to enjoy the experience by getting to know the animals and learning where their food comes from by focusing on education.

Deen City Farm is charming, with roughly 120 – 150 animals on its five-acre site. Their website is incredibly informative, and when visiting the farm, there are plenty of opportunities to meet the animals.

Admission to the farm is free, although a small donation is encouraged, and there is a fee for some activities:

• Feeding: £1.00 per bag of food.
• Meeting the small animals: £2.50

Larger Animal Encounters – 30-minute sessions:

• £15.00 per person to meet the goats and sheep 
• £20.00 per person to meet the donkeys 

There are specific time slots for meeting the adorable animals.

Onsite is the small and friendly Brioche Farmhouse Cafe. They serve delicious homemade food, including cakes, breakfasts, brunch, and lunch.

If you are looking for a unique birthday party, for £350.00, you can hire a decorated party room for two hours. Up to 20 children can enjoy a selection of sandwiches, snacks and drinks. The children enjoy a special animal meet and greet. Each has a bag of animal feed.

The farm hosts several events and activities throughout the year, such as a Young Farmer Day for £38.00 and an Own a Pony Day for £48.00 per day. 

Deen City Farm also has a riding school with a riding simulator. The farm encourages volunteering for all ages, including corporate days, to help develop the farm. They also have a mobile farm, where they take the farm to you for special events or fayres.

Deen City Farm is an excellent opportunity to encourage children to enjoy the outdoors and animals for a few hours.

Address: 39 Windsor Avenue, Merton Abbey, Nr. Wimbledon, London, SW19 2RR

Telephone: 020 8543 5300

2. Hounslow Urban Farm – A Rural Oasis

Hounslow Urban Farm is a rural oasis set on 29 acres, yet it is only a 10-minute walk from Hatton Cross Tube Station. 

The farm has plenty of furry and scaly animals who love to be petted and fed. There are regular time slots throughout the day when enthusiastic staff share fun and interesting facts. You can feed pigs, goats, and alpacas and hold insects. You can see dragons, snakes, peacocks, and tortoises.

There is also an outdoor play area and an indoor bouncy castle. 

Prices are slightly cheaper if you book online, and they are:

• Family of four: £23.00 
• Adult: £6.50 
• Child: £5.00

Address: Faggs Road, Feltham, Middelsex, TW14 0LZ

Telephone: 020 8831 9658

3. Rare Breeds Centre – For the Unusual 

If you fancy a day out, the Rare Breeds Centre is near Ashford in Kent, about 15 minutes from Junction 10 of the M20. Approved by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, the centre is fascinating to visit and interact with many rare and native breeds. With 100 acres to explore, it is an excellent day for the young and old.

Admission prices are reasonable.

• Family of four: £40.48 
• Adult: £14.05 
• Children: £12.10 

Children under three go free. Prices include a gift donation. There are various options for an annual membership.

Once inside, head to the Children’s Barn to pet the animals. There you can find rabbits, hamsters, goats, a couple of cows, and Rhona, the Shire Horse. Depending on when you visit, you might be lucky to see a lamb being born, tiny chickens, or little piglets. In the summer you can watch the pigs racing.

The Bird of Prey Display is spectacular. Observe several species of birds, like falcons, owls, and hawks. The falconry team exercise the birds daily and share their knowledge about training, feeding, and flying.

Or, experience a fun tractor ride. If you fancy yourself as an explorer, you can jump aboard the Big Red Trailer Ride to the Mysterious Marsh Adventure Trail. Here you can swing through the air on ropes, climb trees, and cross rope walkways. The challenge is to keep your feet dry.

If you are feeling hungry after the adventures, there are three eateries to choose from, although The Patio Takeaway is undergoing renovation at the time of writing. Choose from hot soup, paninis, sausage rolls, and other tasty snacks and drinks.

From start to finish, the Rare Breeds Centre provides an enjoyable day for all the family and is pushchair and wheelchair friendly, including the woodland walks. This one offers excellent value if you want to visit petting farms in Kent.

It is worth checking opening times, as they are different in the winter and summer seasons.

Address: Highlands Farm, Woodchurch, Ashford, Kent, TN26 3RJ

Telephone: 01233 861 493

4. Barleylands Farm Park – A Farmtastic Day Out

Barleylands in Billericay, Essex, offers a fantastic family experience. It is open year-round except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day. Opening hours are:

• March to October: 10 am – 5 pm
• November to February: 10 am – 4 pm

There is the occasional early closing, so check their website for details.

Weekday and weekend timetables help plan your visit. Many activities are available all day. However, there are times for bottle-feeding calves, pony grooming, and Bird of Prey talks. These can be subject to change. The farm likes activities to be animal-based and focused on fun and education.

Prices are:

• Family of four: £55.00
• Adult: £15.50
• Children aged 2 to 15: £15.50

Barleylands prefer online booking, where you can select your day and time of arrival.

Meet traditional farm animals such as cows, pigs, and sheep on the petting farm. There are also a few exotic ones, like llamas, guinea pigs, and birds of prey. Some of the animals love to be petted and fed by visitors.

There are two adventure play areas, and for the more competitive, how about a race around the speedway or the Farm-ula 1 tracks? More sedate options are tractor rides, walks through an aviary, barrel rides, and wildlife walks, where you have the chance to get your hands dirty discovering a world of insect life.

If it is raining, there is plenty to do inside, with the indoor play barn and a Nocturnals and Exotics House, where you can see bats, snakes, hedgehogs, and tree frogs. There is a Showdown Shed for shooting foam balls at each other and a massive sandpit. For those interested in learning more about farming, there is a Discovery Centre with plenty of interactive displays to engage children.

The farm has a small village with art and craft studios, luxury treatment rooms, and several eateries.

Barleylands is a great hit for all ages and a fabulous petting farm in Essex.

Address: Barleylands Farm Office, Barleylands Road, Billericay, Essex, CM11 2UD

Telephone: 01268 290229

5. Daisy May’s Farm – Rural and Rustic

For petting farms in Essex, Daisy May’s Farm is a working farm in the village of Elsenham. Volunteers run the farm as a not-for-profit organisation. They raise their money by inviting visitors to come and meet the animals.

Daisy May’s is more of a traditional petting zoo with a rustic feel and plenty of animal interactions. Visitors are encouraged to collect eggs, milk goats, and feed and pet the animals. If you visit during the lambing season, you can have the chance to milk newborn lambs.

Entry: £5.00 per person.

Address: Hall Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM22 6DN

Telephone: 07830 534129

Tips for Visiting a Petting Zoo in London

• Check the opening hours. Some petting zoos close for the winter or reduce their opening hours.
• Check timetable hours. Farms might have a timetable for petting, feeding, grooming, or milking. It would be disappointing to turn up and discover you have missed the time for petting.
• Check the weather: Many larger petting zoos have indoor and outdoor activities. However, if it is raining, and you want to enjoy the outdoors, remember to take appropriate clothing. Take a raincoat, umbrella, or wellies if it is wet. During the summer, you are likely to need a sunhat and sunscreen.
• Check if dogs are allowed. Most petting farms do not allow dogs as they can frighten the animals.