For families seeking the perfect spring weekend or holiday day out, there's nothing quite like pulling on your wellies and immersing yourself in nature. If you have animal lovers in your family, a farm offers an ideal opportunity for them to interact with their favorite barnyard friends firsthand while learning about them too. And you don't even have to leave London to find plenty of options.
While Mudchute Farm and Hackney City Farm may spring to mind when you think of a London city farm, there are lesser-known gems well worth a visit. Belmont Farm in Mill Hill, North London, might not be on your radar yet, but it offers enough to make it a brilliant family day out.
Animals and Activities
The farm is home to a wide variety of animals, from Angus cows to pygmy goats, pigs, alpacas, Shetland ponies, and even guinea pigs and chinchillas. Visitors can interact directly with many of the animals by purchasing special animal feed from the farm, giving children the chance to feed them themselves.
In addition to its many species, the farm boasts a newly opened café serving coffees, cakes, pastries, toasties, pizza, ice creams, and soft drinks. The farm also has a soft play area for children aged six months to ten years. Note that kids can only play before visiting the animals, not after, due to contamination risk.
Founded by owner Andrew Reid, Belmont Farm was established to educate visitors about farming and food origins through hands-on experiences. The working farm is home to over 20 different animal varieties and is supported by three other farms where they grow wheat, barley, hay, and produce sheep breeding stock, lambs for the market, and wild venison.
Getting There
The farm is easily reachable from central London. Travel to Mill Hill East on the Northern Line, then catch the 240 bus to Mill Hill Village. Alternatively, take a national rail service to Mill Hill Broadway and walk for 30 minutes or catch the 240 bus from there.
Address: Belmont Farm, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1QT
Prices
- Children aged 1-3: £5
- Children up to 16: £7.50
- Babies under 1: Free
- Adult tickets: £8.50
- Bag of animal feed: £2
Soft play area tickets are charged separately, bookable online or in person. Children can play for £8.50 on weekdays or £10.50 on weekends. For more ticket information and to book, visit the Belmont Farm website.
Nearby Attractions
For an extended family adventure, combine your Belmont Farm visit with nearby Darlands Nature Reserve. Located between Totteridge and Mill Hill in Barnet, this 32-hectare reserve offers diverse landscapes including woodlands, wetlands, grasslands, and the picturesque Darlands Lake. Originally part of the 16th-century Copped Hall estate, it became a nature reserve in 1982 and provides stunning countryside walks with valley views while serving as a wildlife sanctuary.
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