Name: Stepney City Farm
Rating: 5.0

Stepney City Farm

Stepney City Farm, Stepney Way, London E1 3DG, UK

1-90 Years

Description

Welcome to Stepney City Farm, Stepney City Farm is a 4.5-acre working farm and rural oasis in the heart of Tower Hamlets. It offers a unique and fun experience in London, with many free activities for all ages. Visitors can meet farm animals, learn how to grow food, and try hands-on arts and crafts. Every Saturday, a popular Farmer’s Market is hosted on site. The farm supports an extensive education programme, with over 5,000 school children and young people benefiting each year from funded classes, tours, and projects.

Visitors can see and interact with sheep, pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, geese, donkeys, ferrets, guinea pigs, and rabbits. Alongside animal encounters, visitors can enjoy healthy home-cooked and locally sourced produce at the café and watch craftspeople at work in the Rural Arts Centre. Special events, such as talks on food and farming and seasonal celebrations, are regularly hosted for all the family. Stepney City Farm is free to visit and open to everyone.

If you are looking for Best Farm in Tower Hamlets, Greater London then you can visit Stepney City Farm. Stepney City Farm is one of the places in Tower Hamlets, Greater London for day out with kids and families. More details can be found on the website for this place.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Visit and Explore: Visitors can feed the animals, enjoy healthy home-cooked and locally sourced produce at the café, and watch craftspersons at work at the Rural Arts Centre. Special events such as talks on food and farming issues and seasonal celebrations for the whole family are regularly hosted.
Animals: Stepney City Farm offers the chance to interact with a variety of animals in a beautiful rural environment in the heart of East London. A wander around visiting the animals is one of the many fantastic free activities for children at the Farm.The farm is committed to educating visitors and promoting high-welfare, non-industrial farming practices. As a working farm, some animals are bred for meat or eggs. Ethical farming standards are maintained and shared openly.
- Sheep: Three different breeds of sheep are housed at the Farm. The rare Soay sheep, originally from the Outer Hebrides, includes a sheep humorously named Beyonsoay. Ryeland sheep with shaggy white coats require annual shearing. The Manx Loaghtan breed includes Jasper, a friendly ram with four horns, although this breed can have anywhere between two and six horns.
- Goats: Three nanny goats – Pop, Mimosa, and Mya – belong to the Boer x Anglo-Nubian breed. They are playful and inquisitive, often seen climbing on perches. Goat meat, the most widely consumed meat globally, is produced by selective breeding.
- Donkeys: George and Dunstan, the Farm’s oldest residents, are named after two nearby churches. Their care involves hoof picking twice daily and providing coats during cold and wet weather. These donkeys are local celebrities, having participated in nativity plays, processions, and even a proposal ceremony.
- Pigs: The Farm is home to two black Berkshire pigs: boar Mars and sow Plum. Known for their intelligence, pigs recognize faces, keep their habitats clean, and solve puzzles. To ensure safety, visitors are advised not to reach into the pens due to their sharp teeth. Plum frequently has litters of 8–12 piglets, used for meat or passed to other farms. Pigs have a pregnancy period of three months, three weeks, and three days.
- Chickens: The mixed flock includes rare breeds such as White-faced Black Spanish chickens with glossy black feathers and pure genetics, and Derbyshire Redcaps, recognizable by their tall red combs. Chickens are only used for eggs, with local schools assisting in incubation and hatching each spring. A new ‘Poultry Paradise’ is being developed to give chickens more space and natural foraging opportunities.
- Ducks: The Farm houses Buff Orpington ducks, known for their light brown coat and graceful nature. Unlike farms that raise ducks primarily for meat, efforts are focused on protecting this rare pedigree breed. Occasionally, rich and flavorful duck eggs are available for sale.
- Geese: Brecon Buff geese with brown coats and pink beaks are friendly and rare, mainly found in mid-Wales. The Farm also keeps noisy Chinese geese, adding to the lively atmosphere.
Smaller Animals – Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Ferrets, and Cats: Rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, and four cats roam freely. These smaller animals serve as excellent companions for visitors and volunteers new to handling animals. Ferrets, which are crepuscular and sleep up to 22 hours daily, are walked on leads and their favorite food is raw eggs.
The Farm Yard: The Farm Yard spans 10m x 20m and is available for hire on Mondays. Pricing depends on the scale and requirements of each event. For more details, contact clare@stepneycityfarm.org.
The Garden Deck: The Garden Deck is available at £200 for a half day or £400 for a full day. It accommodates up to 30 people standing or 26 dining, with dimensions of 8m x 5m. More information about the Garden Deck can be found through the provided contact link.

Facilities

Online shop
Farm Cafe
Farmers Market

What to see

Growing: A community food growing site supports sustainable agriculture, funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food Scheme and Power to Change. Spring vegetables include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and radishes. Summer features aubergine, beans, and tomatoes, while autumn harvests pumpkins, squashes, and kale. Winter produces cabbage, parsnips, and turnips. A plant shop near the entrance offers seasonal herbs and plants, with expert advice available. Fresh produce is also supplied to top London restaurants via bicycle courier services.
The Forest Garden: Designed using permaculture principles, the forest garden mimics a natural ecosystem. Canopy trees like figs and mulberries, understory medlars, and ground plants like alpine strawberries create a resilient and low-maintenance environment.
Wildflowers: Wild areas encourage biodiversity and a healthy growing environment. Alternatives to pesticides are used, and natural areas are maintained to support bees and insects. Recent workshops have helped build a wildflower meadow, promoting ecological awareness.
The Farm Stall: Open every Saturday, the Farm Stall offers freshly grown vegetables, fruit, herbs, and occasionally eggs, compost, honey, and greeting cards. Teas made from wild and cultivated plants are also available, crafted by volunteers dedicated to sustainable living.
Events: https://stepneycityfarm.org/whats-on/events/

Website

Contact

Video

Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

Children’s Parties: £200 – £350
- Children’s parties are held in the Classroom and/or Garden Deck. All parties must be booked as part of dedicated children’s party packages, as extra support and supervision are provided to ensure health and safety. [More information about Children’s Parties]
To check availability and make a booking, please email: clare@stepneycityfarm.org & thuy@stepneycityfarm.org

The Farm and Cafe are open 10am-4pm, Tuesday-Sunday, and on bank holiday Mondays
The Farmer’s Market is on Saturdays, 10am-3pm

Address: Stepney City Farm, Stepney Way, London E1 3DG, UK

Post Code: E1 3DG

Council: Tower Hamlets

County: Greater London

The main entrance to the Farm is on Stepney Way, near a zebra crossing opposite St Dunstans and All Saints church.
On Saturdays the gate on Stepney Green is also open for easy access to Farmers Market
By Public Transport: Nearest stations are:
- Stepney Green Underground (District and Hammersmith & City lines) – around a 10-minute walk.
- Limehouse DLR (Docklands Light Railway) – around a 10-minute walk.
Bus routes:
- Bus 339 stops outside the Farm entrance on Stepney Way (St. Dunstan’s stop).
- Bus 309 stops behind the Farm at Stepney Green School stop.
By Car: Please note that there is no parking available on or near the Farm. Limited Blue Badge parking is available by prior arrangement – please call 020 7790 8204.