Hackney City Farm
pigs and goats, ten minutes from the City
A proper working farm tucked into the East End, free to walk round, with pigs, goats, chickens and a cafe, ten minutes from the towers of the City.
Free to visit · Hackney · Hoxton · E2 8QA
Opening: Tue–Sun 10am–4:30pm · closed Mondays
Hackney City Farm has been running since the 1980s on a scrap of land between Hackney Road and the canal, and walking in costs nothing. It is a genuine small farm, not a petting-zoo gimmick, with pigs, sheep, goats, donkeys, chickens, ducks and a vegetable garden, all squeezed into the inner city.
For kids it is magic and for adults it is a small daily miracle, animals snuffling and clucking with the East End towers behind them. You can wander the pens, watch the feeds and poke round the gardens for free, and a donation box by the gate keeps the place going.
There is a well-loved cafe in the old farm buildings if you want lunch, plus pottery and craft sessions, but you do not need to spend a thing to enjoy an hour here. It is one of the friendliest free mornings in east London.
Getting there: On Goldsmiths Row near Hackney Road, a short walk from Hoxton Overground or Cambridge Heath.
Best time to go: A weekday morning when it is calm and the animals are most active. Weekends are busy with families.
Insider tip: Go on a weekday morning rather than a weekend, when it is calmer and the staff have time to chat about the animals. The donation box at the entrance is what keeps it free, so drop a coin in if you can.
Official site: https://hackneycityfarm.co.uk
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide