Stonebridge City Farm & Gardens — Attraction in Nottingham

I hate the term hidden gem as it is overused when describing many interesting places, I prefer hidden treasure or better still lucky find and Stonebridge City Farm is a lucky find.

Located just outside the city centre of Nottingham, this little urban farm and petting zoo and gardens is an ideal place to take young children all year round. There is a play area with climbing frames and swings and slides for children to have fun, a creepy crawly corner, a café selling drinks and cakes and a farm shop selling produce grown in the gardens which contain orchard trees and greenhouses and hidden away is the apiary. The honey produced by the bees is sold in the farm shop alongside the wonky looking vegetables and fruits. There is an area for hand washing and this is stressed as a must use area not only because of COVID but because of touching animals.

Over the years I have visited I have seen all sorts of animals come and go including Lucy, one of the cheekiest of goats Ive come across. On one visit she grabbed the bag of food right out of my hand and blew raspberries at me oh, you can by animal feed for 60pence a bag and the kids love to feed the little animals especially the kids and lambs. In addition to the goats and sheep I have seen pair of Kune Kune Pigs, Charlie the Shetland Pony, cows, rabbits, guinea pigs, ponies, chickens of all breeds including some strangely furry looking chickens, ducks, birds, and even a couple of turkeys.

As a registered charity it is funded entirely on donations and grants, its staff are all volunteers and host the educational visits from schools as well as general public visits. The farm has been open since 1980 or a site with residential houses one side and a few industrial units the other. It’s a about 10-15 minutes walk from the city centre and buses run along Carlton Road only a few 100 yards away. Here is a small parking area and much of the farm is accessible to people with disabilities although some of the garden and orchard areas are not level ground and can cause a few stumbles.

There is no admission fee although in my opinion 50 pence per child and £1 per adult would not be too much to charge and would go a long way to...

What's not to love about Stonebridge Farm—it's a fully functioning farm in Nottingham's city centre! It's free to enter with a humble suggested donation and they have their own free car park (or it's £2 per day to park on the street). We love walking over when we're in town as it's just a short walk from Old Market Square, mere minutes from The National Ice Centre or Sneinton Market.

They have a lovely little cafe with hot and cold food, cakes and snacks, hot drinks, and sweets—their cake selection is always on point and the portions are shareable! The loos are at the back of the cafe, accessible from inside or outside from the car park—there is also a big hand washing station at the entrance / exit of the farm area. There's a little shop with farm themed toys, sweets, and food for the animals as well as a sprawling garden area with raised beds, composting, greenhouses, and tables with plenty of plants on offer to take home. There is a pizza oven, a wonderful indoor community room with regular events or activities for visitors, a lovely play park area, and a barn that has visiting hours—and the farm itself is truly impressive with chickens, geese and ducks, small birds, goats and sheep, cows, pigs, ponies, and more! Info is posted at each enclosure about the animals and any instructions for feeding (use the tubes, mind your fingers, please don't feed, etc). The play park is wonderful—with climbing frames, play houses, swings, obstacle courses, slides, monkey bars, as well as plenty of picnic tables, highchairs to use outside, and sometimes even a marquee for covered seating. It's a great place to bring a picnic and let the kids play for a while—as a part of a day out in town or as a day out in itself!

The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, the volunteers are lovely and welcoming, the animals are well looked after, and the grounds are maintained to a high standard. Please do stop by when you're in the area and support this incredible oasis in the city—there's no...

Visiting this farm is truly a wonderful family experience that everyone will enjoy. Children, in particular, will be delighted by the opportunity to feed the goats, sheep, and cows. The hands-on interaction with these friendly animals creates unforgettable memories. But the fun doesn’t stop there! The farm is home to a variety of other animals, including geese, chickens, rabbits, bees, and even turtle and frog ponds. Each visit offers a chance to learn more about these creatures and their habitats.

In addition to the animals, there's a lovely vegetable and fruit garden where, if you’re lucky, you might get to pick some fresh produce. It’s a great way to teach kids about where their food comes from! You can also purchase small pouches of animal feed for just 85p, and any donations go directly to supporting this charitable cause.

For younger children, there’s an engaging play area that keeps them entertained for hours, while older kids can also find plenty to do. After a day of fun, you can relax at the café or browse the store for refreshments to enjoy. Each time we visit, we have a fantastic time, making it a perfect outing for families. If you’ve never been to this farm before, I highly recommend it. It’s an experience that you and your family won’t...