Surrey Docks Farm

A working 2.2 acre city farm in the heart of London with open animal yard, bee room, cafe, working blacksmith's forge and classrooms.

We hold special activities in school holidays such as baking and crafts as well as encouraging families to help out on the farm with some hands-on work experience!

School Visits to the Farm

The Farm has an excellent educational reputation.

School visits are tailored to support the National Curriculum and specific teacher requirements. Half day activities can be followed by lunch in the classroom and a self led activity. We welcome your visit to the farm before you book an activity or to prepare your risk assessment.

We have a fully equipped classroom able to sit 30, hand washing and toilet facilities, a blacksmiths forge and “café Piccalilli Caff” (open Tuesday to Sunday).

After lunch you can add to your visit by incorporating several self guided activities, including a scavenger hunt and photo and sensory trail cards to investigate the farm further. Pupils can also feed the animals.

Farm Tour

1.5 hour tour

Discover more about the animals that live on the farm including cows, pigs, goat, sheep and poultry. This is an excellent opportunity for children to learn more about where their food comes from. We will discuss the origins of different food including meat, eggs, bread and vegetables. Includes an animal feeding session.

Apple tasting and pressing

Half-day school visit, best in the autumn when you can use the farms own apples. Learn about the varieties of apple on the farm, carry out an apple taste and use specialist equipment to mash and press them for the juice. Children are involved in the process from start to finish and it will be the best glass of apple juice they have ever had!

Goat's milk and butter making

Children learn about dairy products and their importance as part of a balanced diet. Pupils get to meet the farm animals that produce milk and get to make their own butter.

Bee Trail
Half day activity.

Children explore the life of a bee, pollination and bee products. Includes honey tasting and candle making.

Animals and their babies
Late spring and summer.

Pupils meet our young animals, learn new vocabulary and carry out a stamp collecting activity in our classroom.

Vegetable Trail, planting and growing
Half day activity

Pupils discuss the plants grown on farms and their uses in food. We discuss plant care and growth and pupils sow seeds in a pot to take away with them to care for.

Composting & Recycling
Half day visit

Pupils learn about what goes into a compost heap, the minibeasts that live there and sieve their own compost. Includes a seed sowing activity.

History Trail

A Schools Pack is available to help visiting school groups to explore the history trail. Laminated copies of the Teachers’ Guide are available to borrow at the farm, but please print out and bring a set of the Activity Sheets for each of your pupils.
Teachers Guide: (open PDF)
Activity Sheets: (open PDF)

In Your Classroom – Incubator Project

Would you like to hatch chicks in your classroom? Incubators and brooders are available for hire and guidance will be provided by our trained staff. There is a cost for equipment hire and guidance (collection only). For more detail take a look at our Classroom Incubator Project page.