Mudchute Farm – The 10 Coolest Animals

Mudchute Farm is a thriving admission-free community farm where you can meet a wide range of adorable animals and participate in activities like animal feeding and horse riding. 

Visiting Mudchute is a fantastic way for Londoners to experience a real piece of rural life in the middle of London juxtapositioned next to the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf. Actually, Mudchute is on top of the list of all the city farms in London we have reviewed. This is also the most popular community farm in London, with more than 1000 volunteers helping out running the estate and organising activities and events.

Having a picnic at the farm

Mudchute is also one of the largest city farms in London, covering a large green space on the Isle of Dogs in East London just next to Canary Wharf. However, the farm does not recommend having a picnic in open fields where the animals graze because of health and safety reasons. On the other side, visitors are welcome to bring their own food to the excellent courtyard, where you’ll find several picnic tables (just outside the main cafe building).

Mudchute Farm Animals

A great thing about Mudchute is all the space compared to the other city farms. The site is actually built on top of soil excavated in the 19th century when the surrounding docks were constructed. The large space means that Mudchute also has more animals than any other city farm in London, so everyone gets to meet their favourite animal. Here are some of the popular animals you can expect to see:

1. Dexter Cattle

2. Tamworth pigs

3. Oxford Down sheep

4. Pygmy Goats

5. Guinea Pigs

6. Llamas

7. Donkeys 

8. Chickens

9. Rabbits

10. Ducks

Is the farm good for children?

Absolutely! Our kids always had a great time visiting the farm from a very early age. The five senses are the primary way toddlers learn about their environment: taste, smells, hearing, sight, touch, and taste. Mudchute is a great place to stimulate all the senses and there is also enough space for kids to run around on their own.

Touching and listening to animal sounds

Children learn about the different textures by petting animals. What do they prefer? The soft texture of a rabbit or the rough texture of a sheep? The farm is a great place to learn the art of listening. Toddlers will identify animals’ sounds by listening to all the baas, moos, oinks, and neighs which is way cooler than watching YouTube for kids on repeat.

Our experience visiting Mudchute has always been great. And we usually end up spending a lot more time than we had planned for! The farm also hosts a variety of seasonal events throughout the year that we try to attend. We can recommend the Easter Parade, Summer Open Day, Christmas Fair as well as Spooky Halloween. Throughout school holiday periods, lookout for various children’s activities.

Horse Riding Lessons for Kids at Mudchute Farm

Horseriding is the most popular activity with a separate equestrian centre offering horse riding lessons for both local school children and the general public. Lessons are suited for beginners to advanced riders, organised by a team of qualified instructors.

Mudchute’s horse riding school

Mudchute’s excellent BHS and UKCC-qualified instructors offer individual and group tuition at set times throughout the week. Adult group lessons can accommodate up to six riders and are usually open to all levels of riding. However, due to the limited number of ponies, children’s classes can only accommodate five students.

Semi-private and private lessons are available for up to three people. They can be tailored to any level of rider. New riders must attend a 45-minute assessment lesson to determine their level, including a 10-minute lesson on grooming and tacking up.

Muddy Boots Nursery

The farm runs its own nursery which is also very popular with a long waiting list. The children that are lucky enough to get a place here will get to enjoy outside play as an essential part of their days with the animals right on their doorstep.

The Farm Cafe

Placed right next to the horse stables, Mudchute Kitchen is offering hearty warm food. It’s an excellent spot for brunch in the weekend, servicing delicious breakfasts as well as a good selection of cakes. There is even a small play area for kids, which is great news for parents looking for a little break.

How to get to Mudchute Farm:

Located on the Isle of Dogs peninsula, Mudchute is best reached by Docklands Light Railway (DLR), but another nice way to go there is to use the Thames Clippers to Masthouse Terrace which is a 10 minutes walk. Here are a few different options for how to get to the farm:

Visiting by car and parking 

There is no visitor parking available on-site, so the official recommendation is to find parking on neighbouring streets. We assume that many also take advantage of the free Asda carpark where you’ll also find a small gate and entrance to the park area.

Public transportation: DLR stations

Crossharbour, Island Gardens and Mudchute DLR station are all in more or less equal distance to the main entrance (around 10 minutes walk). Note that the farm entrance close to Mudchute station is not well suited for wheelchairs or pushchairs, so we would recommend using the main gate on the eastern side of the park.

Visiting Mudchte by foot from Greenwich 

If you are coming from Greenwich, merely walking through the Thames foot tunnel is the best way to reach Mudchute. Walking through a tunnel under the Thames is the type of experience young kids like, but keep in mind that the lifts are not always working (in case you need to use the stairs).

Taking the Thames Clippers to visit Mudchute

Arriving by boat to your destination is always nice, and you can use the Thames Clippers service between Central London and North Greenwich when visiting the farm. The nearest pier is called Masthouse Terrace and the walk takes around 15 minutes. Note that not all the Thames Clippers routes stop at Masthouse Terrace so make sure to check the timetable in advance.