Top 5 Farms in Kent to Visit this Summer

The summer holidays will soon be upon us and we’re going to need plenty of activities to keep us occupied over the coming months. If you’re looking to explore the countryside, soak up nature and even better – spend time with adorable animals, then you’ll want to visit these five fantastic farms! Just don’t forget to bring sun cream, sun hats, rain macs and wellies because well, we are still in England after all!

1) Kent Life Heritage Farm Park – Maidstone

Kent Life’s 28-acre farm is open 7 days a week, 10am to 5pm during the summer holidays and is home to lovely farm animals big and small, indoor and outdoor play areas, live entertainment, beautiful gardens and an on-site vintage village full of history. Kids of all ages won’t run out of things to do amongst the sheep, pigs, horses, donkeys, goats, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, ducks, geese, and alpacas that they can visit and feed. You can also discover The Kent Owl Academy down on the farm; housing 12 owls and a meerkat family. There are plenty of exhilarating activities for little ones, including a bouncy castle, paddle boats and farm-wide scavenger hunts with prizes up for grabs!

Families and individuals that want to take it easy can enjoy performances in the Big Top arena with anything from animal shows to circus magic, get comfortable on the land train or tractor trailer ride, show off their creative side in the indoor paint-a-pot studio, stroll through the calming herb, fruit, and vegetable gardens, have a picnic, or relax in Dotty’s Tea Room. Pre-book on their website for family tickets under £50, or less than £15 per person.

2) Rare Breeds Centre – Ashford

With a whopping 100 acres, the Rare Breeds Centre has a ton of outdoor activities and animals for everyone to enjoy, including Lady Rhona the Shire Horse, guinea pigs, owls, pigs, goats, donkeys, rabbits, geese, ducks, birds of prey, chickens, sheep and lambs. Approved by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST), they’re working to secure the future of our rare and native breeds of farm livestock.

When taking a little break from petting the animals, families can head inside to the new indoor soft play area or visit the outdoor play parks with zip wires, adventure playgrounds, swings and tyre snakes. Catch a falconry training display or even some pig racing! Enjoy a peaceful woodland walk to experience seasonal wildflowers, fruits, and vegetables, while catching sight of rabbits, chickens and even tortoises pottering about! Open between 10am and 4.30pm, 7 days a week, you can pre-book your tickets for under £15 a person or £45 for the family here.

3) The Hop Farm Family Park – Paddock Wood

Well-known for their variety of exciting events and concerts, The Hop Farm has heaps to offer all year round. Open all week between 10am and 4.30pm, families can get up close to mini-cows, horses, ponies, donkeys, llamas, goats, guinea pigs, rabbits, alpacas, reptiles, birds and more! Along with giant ‘jumping pillows’ for children of all ages to bounce on, a driving school circuit in mini cars and trucks (ages 4-9), and an adventure play area with rope ladders, slides, wobbly bridges, and balance beams. Plus, summer-exclusive bumper boats and dinosaur days where real action Dino’s roam around the park!

If you’re looking for some indoor entertainment, there’s fun for the whole family in The Magic Castle, where you can try magic tricks, solve conundrums and explore the mirror maze! You can also enjoy lunch at Hopper’s Diner next to the soft play area for ages 3-9, or the new soft play area for babies and toddlers. Or why not visit the on-site museums, featuring exhibitions and artefacts from the past. Book all-day entry tickets online for just £4 per person and get access to the main attractions, with other attractions costing between £1 and £5 extra.

4) Huckleberry Woods – Faversham

A farm that specialises in micro animal adventures, Huckleberry Woods provides “a smaller, more relaxed, and personal experience for the young and young at heart.” Located in a charming private orchard, you can visit in 2-hour time slots on Thursdays – Sundays & Tuesdays every week for special pre-booked experiences of your choice! You’ll find micro-pigs, miniature donkeys, teddy bear sheep and alpacas that are all available for varying private walking, feeding, or grooming experiences. During your time at Huckleberry Woods, you can take plenty of photos, ask questions, and if on a walking experience you can stop to greet and feed the other farm animals as you go, including free-ranging ducks and miniature chickens.

Children can enjoy the outdoor play area featuring an apple tree swing, climbing frame, swings, and slide, while you take a relaxing stroll along the woodland nature trail, followed by an orchard treasure hunt and a spot of afternoon tea at the Summerhouse Café – all adding up to a fun-filled but peaceful trip to the countryside. Book your experience on their website (prices vary) along with afternoon tea for only £4.50 per person.

5) Woodland View Alpacas – Birchington

Known for their Alpaca Trekking experiences around Quex Park, Woodland View Alpacas now also has Pony Pampering Sessions! While this farm contains more niche activities, it’s not one to be missed; if you’re a keen hiker (or just keen on alpacas) you’ll enjoy your 90-minute walk with an adorable, friendly alpaca through areas of the park that aren’t usually open to the public, take your own pictures together with your new fleecy friend, and have the opportunity to hand-feed them! Pre-book a time slot for Alpaca Trekking on any day of the week during the summer holidays for under £30 for an adult and under £15 for a child.

If your children (ages 5-16) are excited about pampering a pony, they’ll love meeting Shetland ponies Maggie and Jess in a 75-minute session where they’ll learn all about how to care for them, what they eat, how to groom them, and then take them out for a stroll! This experience can be pre-booked on Saturdays for under £30 on their website. Once your special experience is over, kids can enjoy the Watering Hole outdoor play centre, and the whole family can feast on sandwiches, scones, cake selections and freshly brewed tea or coffee (adults can even upgrade to prosecco!) with pre-booked afternoon tea at the Watering Hole Café for just £15 per adult and up to £10 for teens and children. 

Love nature? Why not add a trip or two to the seaside? Our blog ‘Best Beaches to Visit in Kent This Summer’ has a list of all the top beaches in Kent, from quiet and peaceful to bustling with life!