10 Best Children's Farms In Leicestershire

Start with the six that carry an indoor flag, and Stonehurst Family Farm and Museum, Manor Farm and Woodlands and Windmill Farm Park are among them. Indoor at a farm normally means barns and a covered play area rather than a fully heated building, so it takes the edge off bad weather rather than removing it. Waterproof trousers for a small child are worth more than any amount of choosing between venues.

Twinlakes Park keeps animals alongside its rides, which is why it surfaces in both places. It is worth knowing before you go, because the day is nothing like a farm visit: bigger, busier, longer and built around queueing for attractions. If your child has asked to see pigs and lambs, one of the dedicated farms will serve you better. If they want rides and animals in the same trip, this is the entry that does both.

Older children need a hook beyond the animals themselves. The larger parks in this list supply that with play equipment, tractor rides and space to run, and a museum element gives a curious eight-year-old something to fix on. A small community farm such as Gorse Hill City Farm works differently: it suits a child who wants to help, ask questions and understand how the place is run, which is a real interest at that age but not a universal one.