This blog post is part of a series about London’s City Farms
As it is the founder of London’s city’ farms, I was looking forward to visiting the Kentish Town City Farm, although I expected a slight difficulty in finding the farm as Google Maps seemed to put the farm in someone’s back garden.
Fortunately, the farm is rather easier to locate in real life thanks to the huge sign by the main entrance. Entry is through a small closed door – just push to go in – and the main yard greets you with a large office/school room to one side and horse stables to the other.
Some ducks and geese wander around the place, and a cow shed contains the obvious.
Heading further in, it becomes apparent that this farm occupies a thin strip of land next to a railway cutting – and although barred to humans, I expect that the steep slopes down to the railway appeal to the goats.
The back of the farm is given over to allotments and some pasture space at the back was unoccupied, although a sign suggested goats would normally be found there. A nice seated area is here as well, if you penetrate that deep into the farm.
A bridge over the railway carries you to a much larger space on the other side of the railway tracks – which is home mainly to a horse riding school and some sheep, plus the mandatory city farm pig.
Overall Impression
Actually, I was quite disappointed with the “granddaddy” of city farms as there really isn’t a great deal here. It is more a space for allotments and a horse riding school, with a few token animals.
Lots of warning signs about not eating, not touching and not stealing the manure or plants are scattered all around the place which give it a rather forbidding atmosphere. Not being allowed to stroke the goats or horses seems a bit restrictive.
No chance (that I saw) to buy any animal feed.
If you have young children and live in the area, then it is worth a visit to please the kids, but otherwise, there are other city farms nearby that will amply reward the effort in getting to them.
Opening Hours
Seven days a week 9am to 5pm.
Entry is free of charge.
Links
A | Belmont Children’s Farm |
B | Brooks Farm |
C | Kentish Town City Farm |
D | Freightliners City Farm |
E | Hackney City Farm |
F | Spitalfields City Farm |
G | Stepney City Farm |
H | Newham City Farm |
I | Surrey Docks Farm |
J | Mudchute Park and Farm |
K | Vauxhall City Farm |
L | Maryon Petting Zoo |
M | Hounslow Urban Farm |
N | Woodlands Farm Trust |
O | Crystal Palace Park Farm |
P | Deen City Farm and Riding School |
Hello. By the way, KTCITYFARM is not responsible for the warning signs, they were forced upon them by the HSE at risk of closure. HSE required that no members of public could stroke or touch the animals, that visitors could not feed the animals, and all the usual old toot.
Then someone is telling fibs to them – as all the other city farms in London and quite a lot of real farms outside London allow visitors to touch the animals – indeed, it is positively encouraged.
As to feeding the animals, quite a few farms sell animal feed specifically so that people can feed the animals.
The animals are so unhappy. You only have to be human to see that when you visit. I’m surprised the animals haven’t been rehomed to a suitable site with space to be happy animals. The farm fence is next to a busy railway line. I understand why we love to have animals close to home but this should not be at their expense. The animals deserve to be freer space to be animals.
I’ve been visiting KT City Farm for the past 25 years and I think if you went round with someone who knows the place better you would be able to write a great deal more. You’ve missed out so much.