17 places on the list
Top 10: our best of the bunch
Ranked by our own favourites first, then by how families rate them on Google.
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Hackney City FarmWildlife & farms · East · Under 13Free★ 4.5 - 2
Kentish Town City FarmWildlife & farms · North · Under 13Free★ 4.3 - 3
Belmont FarmWildlife & farms · North · Under 9£5-£15 - 4
St James's Park Pelican FeedingWildlife & farms · Central · Under 13Free - 5
Mudchute Park and FarmWildlife & farms · East · Under 13Free - 6
Deen City Farm & Riding SchoolWildlife & farms · 3 · Under 13Free - 7
Hounslow Urban FarmWildlife & farms · West · Under 13£5-£15 - 8
Hobbledown EpsomWildlife & farms · Outer · All ages£15-£30 - 9
Hobbledown HeathWildlife & farms · West · Under 13£30+ - 10
Vauxhall City FarmWildlife & farms · South · All ages£5-£15
Everything on this list
Belmont Farm
A working farm tucked inside the M25 where kids can get up close to over thirty kinds of animals, including alpacas, sheep, goats, and wallabies. Jump on a tractor trailer ride to tour the fields, buy small bags of animal feed at the entrance to provide your own snack time, and stop at the farm café for a decent lunch. It is far less manic than the mega farm parks, making it ideal for a relaxed morning out with younger children.
See detailsSt James's Park Pelican Feeding
Gorgeous royal park next to Buckingham Palace, famous for the resident flock of pelicans living on the lake. The walkable, scootable loop takes in lovely flower beds and plenty of royal sights.
See detailsMudchute Park and Farm
One of Europe's largest urban farms, set across 32 acres and home to over 100 animals including cows, pigs, llamas and ducks, with the Canary Wharf skyscrapers rising behind them.
See detailsDeen City Farm & Riding School
This 5-acre urban farm is nestled next to Morden Hall Park; it's sweet and free - though a donation to the charity running it is appreciated. Animals include alpacas, pigs, donkeys, ducks, geese, and owls alongside rare British farm breeds, and there's a riding school too. You can buy small bags of feed pellets to give to the friendly goats, sheep, and cows.
See detailsHounslow Urban Farm
One of London's largest community farms, with pigs, sheep, owls, alpacas and indoor cuddle sessions with reptiles and rabbits.
See detailsHobbledown Epsom
The original Hobbledown location set in the Surrey countryside features character towers, high ropes, giant pillows, and an extensive farm park. Kids can meet camels, meerkats, llamas, and birds of prey before running wild through the outdoor adventure play villages. Rain isn’t a major problem thanks to the indoor play barn and the Imaginarium, an interactive space combining crawling tunnels with reptiles and bugs - although try to book for a day with some clear weather as the outside playgrounds are the most-exciting part. Hobbledown feels like a rural escape, making it ideal for a full day out with toddlers and primary-aged children.
See detailsHobbledown Heath
No child can fail to fall in love Hobbledown - one of the biggest indoor and outdoor adventure parks in London, it's built around a whimsical world of mystical creatures and outdoor play villages. Outside, kids can climb high wooden towers, balance across sky bridges, jump on inflatable pillows, participate in massive marble runs, dig in sand pits, and visit capybaras, goats, and meerkats in the animal enclosures. Inside, the huge Great Barn features multi-level soft play, climbing structures, and indoor dining. There are animal and bird shows and talks, but you'll have to haul the kids away from the playgrounds first. It is a big, open site with plenty of walking - we like bringing a buggy to schlep the lunch / snacks/ waters around.
See detailsVauxhall City Farm
This charming, free community farm tucked in the shadow of London skyscrapers, home to alpacas, pigs, horses, and small pets. Gives kids a chance to get up close to farm animals in central London, meet famous alpacas, and hold guinea pigs.
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Battersea Park Children's Zoo
A small, cute zoo tucked inside Battersea Park, built just for younger children. Meet meerkats, otters, squirrel monkeys, ring-tailed lemurs, farm animals and more, with plenty of feeding talks and keeper chats through the day. It is compact enough to see properly in a morning, has a play area and café, and pairs perfectly with the park's big adventure playground or a pedal boat on the lake.
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Bushy Park & Deer Park
The second-largest Royal Park, famous for roaming deer herds, waterways and the grand Woodland Gardens.
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Clissold Park & Animal Enclosures
A lovely community park with deer enclosures, goats, aviaries, a splash pad, a wheels park for scooters and a skate park.
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Willows Activity Farm
Breathe the country air and release the energetic toddlers and kids - this huge farm park is themed around Peter Rabbit and his friends. It's a pricey entrance fee but then everything's included - from bounce on giant inflatable pillows to the chance to drive miniature tractors, hop on the Tristan the Runaway Tractor ride, meet real farm animals in the undercover barn - plus the real winner on rainy days: the huge indoor soft play area, complete with slides and obstacle courses. Pre-booking online is a good idea as peak dates regularly sell out. Breathe the country air and release the energetic toddlers and kids - this huge farm park is themed around Peter Rabbit and his friends. It's a pricey entrance fee but then everything's included - from bounce on giant inflatable pillows to the chance to drive miniature tractors, hop on the Tristan the Runaway Tractor ride, meet real farm animals in the undercover barn - plus the real winner on rainy days: the huge indoor soft play area, complete with slides and obstacle courses. Pre-booking online is a good idea as peak dates regularly sell out.
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London Wetland Centre (WWT Barnes)
105 acres of urban nature reserve filled with otters, rare birds, adventure play areas and wetland zip-lines.
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London Zoo
The world's oldest scientific zoo is in the heart of London, hugging Regents’ Park and featuring Land of the Lions, Penguin Beach, and an immersive Rainforest Life walk-through. It’s pricey but a thorough day out and your money all goes towards animal conservation. Don’t buy tickets at the gate - book online at least 48 hours ahead for the best rate. Save little legs by skipping the walk from Camden Town and catching the 274 bus straight to the main gate, or walk in scenic style along the Regent's Canal towpath from Camden Market. Under 7s will love a visit to the new(ish) ZooTown - an vast, immersive make-believe play area which is particularly brilliant if it rains!
See detailsKentish Town City Farm
On the edge of trainlines is this lovely local gem - a free-entry city farm with horses, pigs, chickens and other animals and frequent low-cost activities, including horse-riding, a chance for young people to learn about the vegetables and fruit grown on the farm, and animal encounters.
See details★ 4.3Hackney City Farm
A community farm offering kids a chance to meet pigs, sheep, goats, and ducks in the middle of East London. Visit the on-site Italian cafe for great fresh bread and coffee, and bring small change if you want to buy feed for the animals.
See details★ 4.5
SEA Life London Aquarium
Sharks, rays, penguins and turtles right beside the Thames at County Hall. A walk-through tunnel and plenty of tanks at child height make it an easy win when the weather turns - and it's right next to the London Eye so a huge amount to do within walking distance. Always book online for a discount!
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