My Kids Dragged Me to Open Farm Sunday (And I Actually Loved It)

By HOAR Team 6 June, 2025 6 mins read 112 Views

Last year my 8-year-old came home from school demanding we visit a "real farm" after some assembly about where food comes from.

I'll be honest - the idea of trudging through mud while kids shriek at chickens didn't exactly thrill me. But then I discovered Open Farm Sunday, and it turned into one of those rare days where everyone actually had fun without me spending a fortune.

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Tomorrow's the Big Day (But Don't Panic if You Miss It)

Open Farm Sunday happens tomorrow, and it's basically Christmas for kids who've only seen cows in picture books. Since 2006, over 3.25 million people have invaded farms across the country - and most farmers seem genuinely happy about it, which is saying something.

The best part? Most farms don't charge a penny. Some might ask for a few quid for tractor rides or specific activities, but we're talking proper bargain territory here.

Head to openfarm.org to find your nearest participating farm. Pro tip: some farms open on other June dates if you can't make tomorrow, so don't write it off completely.

Not All Farms Are Created Equal

Here's what I wish someone had told me before our first visit - every farm does this differently.

Some offer proper tractor rides that had my kids buzzing for weeks. Others focus on gentle walks through fields (perfect if you've got a toddler who melts down easily). Dairy farms often time visits around milking, which is oddly mesmerizing to watch. Arable farms get into the nitty-gritty of how things actually grow.

Check the listings first. Trust me on this one.

My mate Sarah took her kids to what she thought was a petting farm and ended up at a serious agricultural demonstration about soil composition. Her 5-year-old was... less than impressed.

City Farms Are Actually a Thing

Don't live in the middle of nowhere? Neither do most of us.

Loads of Open Farm Sunday participants are right in towns and cities. London's got several, plus Bath, Nottingham, Sheffield - basically anywhere with enough space for a few animals and some vegetables.

These city farms operate year-round too, so if you miss the official event, you can still get your farm fix. Most are free but appreciate donations (translation: chuck a couple of pounds in the box and feel good about yourself).

When One Day Isn't Enough

Fair warning - this might turn into a proper obsession.

If your kids get bitten by the farming bug (mine certainly did), farm holidays are surprisingly brilliant. Farm Stays UK has everything from B&Bs to self-catering places where kids can help with actual farm work.

Camping on farms is ridiculously cheap too. Use Pitch Up's filters for "farm" and "price" - you'll find some gems. Last summer we paid £15 a night to camp next to a field of sheep. The kids thought they'd won the lottery.

Deal of the Day

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Nighttime Miracle Moisturiser is £20 at Poundland instead of the usual £37. That's a proper saving of £17 on something that actually works.

Cheap Treat

Palmer's cocoa butter body oil is down from £5.79 to £3.86 at Superdrug. Perfect timing for summer skin that's about to get a lot more sun exposure.

Why Pay More?

JBL Go 4 speaker costs £39.99 at Argos, but Aldi's doing a mini speaker for £9.99. Both play music. Both are portable. You do the math.

Shop & Save

Morrisons has knocked Magnum 3-packs down from £3.50 to £2. Summer just got more affordable.

Hot Right Now

Hobbycraft's offering 20% off workshops plus £5 off when you spend £20 (or £10 off £40). Perfect for rainy days after all this outdoor farm enthusiasm.

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How To

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