Hounslow Urban Farm

• Get outside the city (inside the city) with a trip to Hounslow Urban Farm, home to a brilliant collection of farmyard animals.
• Meet some of the amazing animals that call the farm home, from sheep and ducks to snakes and bearded dragons.
• Enjoy the animal talks and displays that take place at the farm, such as the owl flying display.
• There’s also a large play area and bouncy castle where kids can run and leap about.

Hounslow Urban Farm is a fantastic place for city kids to discover what life on the farm is all about and interact with their favourite farmyard animals. Spread out over 29 acres, the city farm is one of the largest in London and offers plenty of fun activities for kids to get involved with.

The farm is home to many of the animals that kids will have sung about in “Old McDonald”, including goats, pigs, rabbits, and sheep. It’s a great opportunity for kids to see these animals, especially for city kids who may not have seen any of these sorts of animals before. You can buy bags of animal feed when you get to the farm to throw for the different animals, which can be a really new and exciting experience for kids to get involved with. 

However, typical farmyard animals are not the community farm’s only residents. There are also many sorts of exotic creatures you don’t normally find in the UK. These animals include boa constrictors, royal pythons, bearded dragons, and African leopard tortoises. With these animals, Hounslow Urban Farm begins to feel like a safari zoo as well as a city farm!

The meet-and-greet sessions at the petting farm are some of Hounslow Urban Farm’s biggest attractions. You can meet some of the animals that call the farm home; especially popular are the young pigs and the chicks. The animals at the farm are friendly, and well looked after, and love to interact with visitors.

During the “Animal Encounter” sessions, you can interact with some of the animals at the farm. It’s a fantastic chance to see some animals in the flesh that kids may have only seen on television before, especially with some of the petting zoo’s more exotic residents. The farm’s staff give informative and interesting talks that help everyone to learn more about these brilliant animals.

With the wide range of animals that live on the farm, there are different opportunities to interact with each type of animal. The farm’s barn owl, named Willow, is the star of the show during the daily animal talk and flying experience. The owl display is always a hit at this children’s farm. You can also groom and pet the adorable Shetland ponies that call the farm home.

The farm also has facilities for kids to have fun and play. There’s an outdoor play area at the farm, with equipment for kids to enjoy including plenty of swings and climbing frames. There’s also an indoor bouncy castle, which is a favourite with many of the farm’s visitors.

After you’ve had fun interacting with the animals on the farm, you could grab a bite to eat at the farm’s café. There’s also a small souvenir shop at the farm where you can buy a memento of your day. The farm is one of the best outdoor experiences you can find in London. Other great experiences include trips to urban parks such as Kew Gardens. If you feel like you’ve got green fingers, why not check out one of the great garden centres in the London area?

What to know before you go

• Hounslow Urban Farm is open every day of the year, except major holidays. The farm is open from 10am to 5pm every day, with the last entry at 4pm.
• There is a café at the farm, which is open whilst the farm is open. The café serves sandwiches, snacks, drinks, and other light bites.
• The farm has toilets for visitor use, and there are also baby changing facilities available.
• The farm is wheelchair and buggy accessible. However, after heavy rains, the ground can get very muddy and difficult for wheels to get through.

Getting there

• There is a large car park at Hounslow Urban Farm, and parking is available for free. The farm is located on the A312.
• The farm is also accessible by public transport. For the London Tube, Hatton Cross Underground Station is on the Piccadilly line and is a 10-minute walk from the farm.
• You can also reach the farm by rail and bus. Feltham Train Station is a 20-minute walk from the farm. Alternatively, you can get the 285 or 490 buses, which have stops directly outside the station and by the farm. It’s just a five-minute bus ride to the farm from Feltham Station