7 brilliant farms to visit with kids

Young children love nothing more than a visit to the farm where they can get up close to cute and fluffy animals and farm trips are often great value for money too! We have picked 7 brilliant UK farms to visit for a fun and educational day out.

1. Hall Hill Farm

Hall Hill Farm is located in the stunning hills of County Durham and is an award winning attraction for families with young children. The 290 hectare site has plenty of animals to see including fluffy chicks, curious goats, cuddly rabbits, sweet donkeys, cute guinea pigs and adorable lambs. Children can bottle feed the lambs and cuddle and stroke the cute bunnies and chicks. They can also have a donkey ride or a fun tractor ride while adults relax in the cosy tearoom with a cuppa. The site has a new indoor play area ideal for a rainy day with an extra improved area for toddlers too. A family ticket is around £19.95 - it’s a great place to spend the day.

2. Cotswold Farm Park

This farm is owned and run by Adam Henson, who makes regular appearances on TV, and his business partner Duncan Andrews. Cotswold Farm Park is part of the 650 hectare Bemborough Farm located high in the Cotswold hills. Adults and kids can take part in a 2 mile Wildlife Walk and visit the Touch Barn, where you can meet the friendly animals including lambs, goats, piglets, guinea pigs, rabbits and chicks. Kids can also have a go on battery operated tractors. In the Demo Barn, families can see eggs hatching in to little chicks and see how cows are milked. This is a great experience for everyone and a family ticket is around £23-£29 depending on the season you visit. This farm is one of the best for educational visits.

3. Farmer Palmers Farm Park

Farmer Palmers Farm Park is located in Poole, Dorset and makes for a great family day out. Here you’ll find pigs, ponies, sheep, cows, donkeys, chickens and even red deer. Don’t miss the Deer Safari where you hop on a tractor trailer and get an interesting and interactive trip around the deer enclosure - you can even hand feed the deer too! There’s a great indoor soft play area and outdoors there’s a water splash zone, pedal tractors, a bouncy castle, a maize maze to explore in the summer months and a Wendy house village for the kids to enjoy. A family ticket is around £30 and there are good places to eat and other facilities on site. Don’t forget to see Alan the Owl and his flying demonstration!

4. Greenmeadow Community Farm

Greenmeadow Community Farm in Cwmbran, Wales has been a working farm for over 250 years and was saved from being turned into a development site. The farm is over 120 acres and is home to wonderful animals including a number of rare breeds. You can see cows, goats, sheep , pigs and more. Visitors can learn all about farming from traditional to modern day methods and get up close to the animals. In December the farm becomes all festive: kids can visit Santa’s Grotto to receive a gift and there are special music workshops. You can also pick up a batch of freshly laid eggs to take home with you. A family ticket costs around £16-£18 depending on when you visit.

5. Old MacDonald’s Farm Park

Old MacDonald’s Farm Park in Brentwood, Essex is the ideal place to keep kids entertained for a few hours. There are horses, owls, rabbits, meerkats, parrots, llama, ponies and many more animals to see here. The farm park has some excellent rides and amusements suitable for small children, indoor and outdoor activity play areas, and a steam train. There are also some fun and educational animated animal shows that the kids will find entertaining. The site has great facilities including picnic areas, a gift shop and places to eat. Family tickets cost £39 if you book 7 days in advance. This farm is one of the best farm parks in the UK - don’t miss out!

6. Cannon Hall Farm

Cannon Hall Farm is situated next to Cannon Hall Museum about 5 miles from Barnsley in South Yorkshire. Open daily, families can enjoy seeing the sheep, pigs, llama, cattle and Shetland ponies. There is a whole host of other fun attractions including an adventure playground complete with slides, towers, rope bridges and the largest tube maze in Europe - ideal for a game of hide and seek. There’s a great tearoom on site, a gift shop and a fantastic farm shop and deli where you can pick up some wonderful fresh produce. Tickets are £3.95 each for both adults and children.

7. Spring Barn Farm

Spring Barn Farm located in Lewes, Sussex is not to be missed! Kids will love seeing the ponies, rabbits, pigs, chicks and other farm animals. There are plenty of other activities to enjoy including tractor rides, educational talks, animal encounters and indoor and outdoor soft play areas. Adults will love browsing the farm shop selling quality, seasonal produce such as delicious cheeses and chutneys as well as the good restaurant where you can all enjoy a hearty meal. A family ticket is around £26 and the farm is open daily.

To keep the little ones safe during your visit do make sure they wear suitable clothing - wellie boots are ideal and long-sleeved tops and bottoms are also good to help prevent any allergies that may arise from being in contact with animals. Make sure your children wash their hands after touching animals and before eating or drinking to reduce the spread of infection. Wet wipes and anti-bacterial gels are great items to take along with you.

Farms are an excellent way to spend a family day out and provide a wonderful opportunity for children to interact with and learn about animals.