Come and enjoy a visit to some of the Farm-tastic farm parks, petting zoos, and animal farms across South East England. A great choice for a family day out with the chance to get up close to animals and take part in hands-on interactive experiences or animal encounters including feeding the animals to riding a pony.
Children's farms are both educational and fun - try tractor rides, and animal grooming, watch pig racing, feed the lambs, or explore the history and heritage of farming, as most attractions will have a museum to give visitors an insight into farming history and working practices. Farm Parks in the UK offer a great day out and are very popular, so booking ahead is a great idea, with many offering annual passes for local residents or families wanting to visit multiple times. Many of the farmhouses in the South East provide new experiences and different types of farming for people of all ages. Most farms will also have a cafe where after a long day you can just relax and sample some of the organic food and drink that is on offer.
Best farm parks in South East England
Take a look at our featured list or moo-ve to the bottom of the page to discover more. You'll find Baa-rilliant pettings zoo and farm parks in Kent, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Dorset, Buckinghamshire, Isle of Wight and Sussex.
- Rare Breeds Centre, Woodchurch, Kent
Set in 100 acres of stunning grounds, approved by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust pop along and say hello to some rare and native breed. Enjoy activities like pig racing, and the petting zoo in the children's barn, and let off steam in the two play parks.
- Tapnell Farm Park, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight
See the farmyard animals in the paddock, meet some of the farm's cutest residents in the pet corner, experience the Wallaby Walkabout, all mixed with jumping pillows, mini golf, Aqua Park, and more. With glamping on site, it's perfect for a family fun getaway.
- Farmer Gow's, Farringdon, South Oxfordshire
Every day you’ll be able to meet and pet the animals and get 'hands-on' with piglets, goats, and sheep. During the summer months have a go on a trailer ride across the farm.
- Fairytale Farm, Chipping Norton, West Oxfordshire
Meet the Shetland ponies, pigs, chickens, and donkeys in the animal zone, or head to one of six other zones that combine adventure play, interactive exhibits, and fairytales. The park was designed to put disabled visitors first.
- Farmer Palmer Farm Park, Poole, Dorset
A safe, fun, educational, and entertaining place where young adventurers can experience all the fun of the farm and more. A great farm park designed for toddlers and children aged from 0-8 years old.
- Odds Farm Park, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire
Every day there are animal-based activities for visitors to enjoy, from piggy snack time to tractor rides, rabbit petting, feeding the chickens, and more, with both indoor contact barn and outdoor play areas.
- Cogges Manor Farm Whitney, Oxfordshire
Located in beautiful Oxfordshire Cotswolds this heritage farmstead has a host of farm animals to meet, and runs regular 'meet the animal' sessions most weekends.
- Fishers Adventure Farm Park, Billingshurst, West Sussex
Offers fun activities including tractor rides, assault course, and barrel bug rides which complement the animal encounters barn. This petting farm lets visitors handle baby rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, and many more in a safe and friendly setting.
- Hogshaw Farm and Wildlife Park, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire
A fantastic farm park day out offering animal feeding, grooming, and petting as well as a host of animal hands-on experiences. Covering 44 acres you can visit UK rare breed farm animals and fascinating European wildlife.
- Tulleys Farm, Crawley, West Sussex
With a host of seasonal events including the famous Tulleys Shocktober Fest, visitors can enjoy the spring Tulip Fest, summer Sunflower Festival with its Insta-worthy' photo spots, autumn pumpkin picking, and Christmas Light Festival.
- Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, Ventnor, Isle of Wight
Free to visit and free to park, the Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary rescues unwanted and abandoned donkeys. Book to enjoy a free tour or one of the fundraising activities including donkey grooming, pamper a Shetland pony package, afternoon tea, and more.
- Longdown Activity Farm, Southampton, Hampshire
This animal farm park offers an array of hands-on activities that include bottle-feeding kid goats and calves, an Animal Encounter Barn, and duck feeding alongside zip wires, trampolines, and tractor rides. Don't forget to pay a visit to the farm shop for locally sourced produce.
- Manor Farm Country Park, Southampton, Hampshire
Take a stroll around the traditional farmyard with a fantastic indoor play barn, its great whatever the weather. If you're a TV buff you will recognise this from the BBC series ‘Wartime Farm’ so you can see for yourself where all eight episodes were filmed.
- Aldingbourne Country Centre, Chichester, West Sussex
Help support people with learning disabilities, enjoy meeting the animals, outdoor adventure play, indoor slides and mazes. Daily farm activities mean you can get involved, tickets are limited for these and offered on a first come first served basis.
- Kent Life Heritage Farm Park, Maidstone, Kent
Experience a real working farm and farmyard with an array of animals including goats, sheep, cattle, ferrets, ducks and geese and explore the vintage village, kentish garden or join in to one of the regular events.
- Combes Farm Tours, Lancing, West Sussex
Don't miss the chance to head to Combes Farm for lambing season (Feb - March) or to experience the 6-acre amazing maze (August & Oct half term). Fishing pond is open all year round.
Petting zoos near me
Whether you're lucky enough to live in South East England or visiting for a short break, find a farm park or local petting farm to you using the 'map view' button below.
.png){kind=icon}
