The Animals in London Living Rent Free - (The Best Places in London to see Wild Animals!)

Going out to see Animals in London is one of my favourite pastimes.

It’s such a stark contrast from the busyness and the grime of the gridlocked streets of London.

It honestly makes me feel like I'm in a different reality.

Like how can there be deer (basically mini horses) roaming FREELY with no guidance in the greens of Richmond and Bushy Parks?

And how can a whole peacock be parading up and down a park in West London without a care in the world 😂

It’s always refreshing to see wild animals just be in London, it’s almost therapeutic.

To see how they freely roam with little care in the world for where their next meal will come from or where they are gonna sleep tonight (these guys are living rent-free in London, the audacity!)

But it reminds me not to worry, to have faith that things will work out, if animals in BUSY London are being looked after, what more me?

Anyway, enough rambling let’s get into some of my favourite spots around London to see animals for free! 

Hampton Court, Bushy, and Richmond Park - South West London

Animals: Deer

Home of the deer! Britain’s largest free-roaming animal.

What an alternate reality.

Across various green spots in The Royal Borough of Richmond upon Thames, you’ll find 100s (maybe even a thousand) wild deer roaming the parks!

These parks may as well be nature reserves because it’s not parks for people at this point, it's the home of the deer 😭

Anyways if you come to any of these parks you are BOUND to bump into some deer EASILY! Worth visiting for sure!

Park Information

Richmond Park

• Location: Richmond, TW10 5HS
• Nearest Station: Richmond Station (District Line, Overground, and National Rail)
• Opening Times: Pedestrian gates 24/7, vehicle gates 7 am - 8:15pm

Bushy Park

• Location: Hampton Court Road, Hampton, TW12 2EJ
• Nearest Station: Hampton Court Station (South Western Railway)
• Opening Times:
  • Daily: 6:30 AM - 7:00 PM (varies by season; generally from 6:30 AM to dusk)

Hampton Court Park (Home Park)

• Location: Hampton Court Road, East Molesey, KT8 9AU
• Nearest Station: Hampton Court Station (South Western Railway)
• Opening Times:
  • Daily: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM (varies by season; generally from 7:00 AM to dusk)

Holland Park - West London

More specifically Kyoto Gardens.

Animals: Peacocks

Kyoto Gardens is home to the peacock couple (I don’t know if they are a couple but there are two of them lol).

In addition to the stunning Japanese garden, you get the additional treat of seeing these colourful peacocks roam freely!

The peackocks are native to Inida and Sri Lanka, but were introduced to Holland Park in the 1850's (allegedly) as they were once a status symbol. They were previously associated with Holland House, a Jacobean country house that formally used to exist in the park.

Park Information

• Location: Holland Park, Ilchester Place, London, W8 6LU
• Nearest Station: Holland Park Station (Central Line)
• Opening Times:
  • Daily: 7:30 AM - 30 minutes before dusk

Mudchute Park and Farm - East London

Animals: Farm animals including geese, llamas, cows, sheep, pigs, goats, and chickens.

A break from the simulation that is Canary Wharf.

London loves a good title and that theme definitely continues here with this supposedly being Europe's biggest *city* farm. 

Home to over 100 different farm animals you’ll feel as if you’ve been flung onto the set of Shaun the Sheep or something of that nature 😂

Shocking how this place is free though, seriously.

100 odd animals?

Geese, Llamas, Cows, Sheep, chickens and MORE!

If you haven’t heard a Cockcrow before you’ll definitely hear it here, it’s not only in Shaun the Sheep or in the movies, they actually do it in real life too 😂.

Park Information

• Location: Pier Street, Isle of Dogs, London, E14 3HP
• Nearest Station: Mudchute Station (DLR)
• Opening Times:
  • Park: Open 24 hours
  • Farm:
    • Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
    • Saturday to Sunday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Vauxhall City Farm - South/Central London

Animals: Llamas, pigs, rabbits, goats, sheep, chickens, ducks, and guinea pigs.

Another city farm to add to the list!

It’s crazy how many farms are hidden in busy areas in inner London.

If you blink you’ll miss the pleasure gardens, which the city farm is located in in Vauxhall, when travelling across the intersection of highways out of Vauxhall.

This farm is a little on the smaller side but definitely still has some charm being home to goats, llamas, pigs, hamsters and more!

Moreover, the animals here (like Mudchute) can be fed, for a small teensy fee!

How pleasant!

Farm Informatiom

• Location: 165 Tyers Street, London, SE11 5HS
• Nearest Station: Vauxhall Station (Victoria Line and National Rail)
• Opening Times:
  • Tuesday to Sunday: 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Monday: Closed

Horniman Museum and Gardens (Animal Walk) - South London

Animals: Alpacas, goats, sheep, rabbits, guinea pigs, and chickens.

Last but not least, my favourite, my local, Horniman Museum Animal Walk.

This was my first exposure to city farms in London being a frequent visitor here as as a result of numerous primary school trips!

Open daily from 12-4 you can see animals and more ( that rhymed hey!)

Attached to the Horniman Museum (A museum worth visiting), the Animal walk is a great addition to a relaxing day in southeast London!

For a small fee, you can get access to the museum's aquarium and butterfly house!

How wholesome!

Museum Information

• Location: 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3PQ
• Nearest Station: Forest Hill Station (Overground and Southern Rail)
• Opening Times:
  • Animal Walk:
    • Daily: 12:30 PM - 4:00 PM
  • Gardens: Open from 7:15 AM until dusk
  • Museum: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM

Now those are my favourite spots to see animals in London, but there's much more!

Here is a further list of places to see animals in London.

1. Golders Hill Park

• Location: West Heath Avenue, London, NW11 7QP
• Animals: Deer, exotic birds, and a small zoo with lemurs, coatis, and more.

2. Crystal Palace Park Farm

• Location: Thicket Road, London, SE19 2GA
• Animals: Goats, pigs, and other farm animals.

3. Spitalfields City Farm

• Location: Buxton Street, London, E1 5AR
• Animals: Goats, sheep, donkeys, and chickens.

4. Gillespie Park Nature Reserve

• Location: Drayton Park, Highbury, London, N5 1PH
• Animals: Urban wildlife, including birds, frogs, and hedgehogs.

5. Hackney City Farm

• Location: 1a Goldsmiths Row, London, E2 8QA
• Animals: Pigs, goats, rabbits, and chickens.

6. St. James's Park

• Location: London SW1A 2BJ
• Animals: Pelicans, ducks, and other waterfowl.

7. Clissold Park

• Location: Green Lanes, London, N16 9HJ
• Animals: Deer, goats, aviary birds, and aquatic life in the ponds.

Now get out there and see some animals! But until you do that, find a hidden gem near you.