London's City Farms

See more than 30 animal varieties at Belmont Children's Farm: from traditional livestock including chickens, geese, cattle and goats to wallabies, eagle owls and snowy owls. Make sure you visit the Waffle Café which serves fresh waffles, English breakfasts, deli snacks and has a special menu for kids.

The Deen City Farm spreads over five acres of land near South Wimbledon. Unusual animals include Milo and Kimby the alpacas and a snow-white peacock called Derek. The farm also has a riding school, a cafe and a community garden. There's also a very active volunteer scheme should you wish to get involved. Entry is free

You can meet all kinds of farm animals at Freightliners City Farm, including five hives of honey bees! If you want to try out your green fingers, you can join in the weekly gardening club on Wednesday afternoons. There's also lots of fresh produce for sale, including the farm's own fruit, vegetables and honey. Entry is free

The geese, turkeys, ducks, chickens, sheep, pigs, cows, rabbits and guinea pigs at Hackney City Farm all love having visitors. Hackney City Farm is a friendly place with a good value Italian café and deli called Frizzante. As well as the animals, all sorts of activities are on offer, including pottery, craft and textiles workshops. Entry is free

Meet the farm animals close up at Hounslow Urban Farm, and watch feeding taking place at 3.30pm every day. The farm has a children's playground, a picnic area and its own shop where you can buy the farm's free range eggs. Animals you'll get to meet include ponies, donkeys, alpacas, pigs and chipmunks.

Lots of farmyard and wild animals live on site at Kentish Town City Farm. Children can help feed, muck out and look after the animals and ride the ponies at weekends. The farm has a busy activity programme during school holidays and runs annual events such as May Day and Apple Day. Entry is free

Lee Valley Park Farms are home to a few unusual farm animals including meerkats, a brood of ex-battery hens, giant rabbits, chinchillas and a llama. In springtime you can watch hatchings in the farm's incubator, take a tractor or trailor ride to see the cows being milked and play in the Bundle Barn.

The steep grassy hills, wooded glades and grazing fields of Mudchute Park and Farm are a refreshing oasis in the concrete world of the Isle of Dogs in East London. Highlights of this city farm include the llamas and a riding school offering group and private lessons. The space is also great for family walks and picnics. Entry is free

Head to Beckton to meet Newham City Farm's largest resident – Blaze the Shire horse! Other animals include alpacas, an owl, a peacock, cows, sheep and rabbits. There's also a café and children's play area, and don't leave without buying some fresh farm eggs, honey from the beehives and even some manure for the garden! Free entry

Offering green space close to The City is Spitalfields City Farm. Meet animals in the farmyard and learn how to care for them, visit the wildlife garden, and learn to grow your own food in the vegetable garden. Toddlers can also enjoy the under-5s' play area. The farm shop sells free range eggs and seasonal vegetables and herbs. Entry is free

Stepney City Farm is open to visitors between 10am and 4pm at weekends only. The range of animals includes Shetland ponies, goats, sheep, cows and ducks. There's also a pond where you can spot frogs and tadpoles. After meeting the animals, you can relax in the picnic area, or browse the home produce and gift shop.

Laid out on the site of an 18th-century shipyard, Surrey Docks Farm boasts landscaped herb, physic, vegetable and fruit gardens. As well as the regular farmyard animals, look out for a group of bronze sculptured animals on the riverfront. The farm has recently opened a new cafe on site serving Italian food. Entry is free

Providing a little bit of countryside between the busy streets and high-rise buildings, Vauxhall City Farm is home to horses, sheep, chickens, guinea pigs and other animals. Volunteers run the farm and help is always welcome. The city farm also contains a grassy spot for picnicking. Entry is free