Open Farm Sunday 2026: Free Family Farm Visits In June

What is Open Farm Sunday and why it matters

You can have an udderly free day down on the farm this June. On Sunday, 7th June 2026, hundreds of working farms across the UK will open their doors for Open Farm Sunday, a national event now in its 20th year. It's a genuinely free family day out, genuinely educational, and genuinely important for supporting an industry that's under real pressure.

British farming faces genuine challenges right now. The industry is tough to enter, profit margins are narrow, and fewer young people are considering farming as a career. If current trends continue, there's a serious question about who will be producing the food that feeds the country in 20 years' time.

Open Farm Sunday addresses this in a practical way. By bringing families onto working farms, the event builds understanding of what farmers do, appreciation for the work involved, and hopefully, interest from the next generation.

For families, it's a free and educational day. For farmers, it's an opportunity to showcase their work and connect with people who buy the food they produce.

Over the past two decades, around 3.5 million people have experienced the joy of visiting a farm and meeting the faces behind their food. A huge 92% of 2025 visitors said their trust in British farming grew as a result of the experience. The age-old saying “seeing is believing” has never been truer.

I've taken my family to Open Farm Sunday before, and we're planning to visit Tuesley Farm near Godalming, Surrey again this year.

It's a fruit farm run by the Hall Hunter Partnership, and the experience is genuinely worthwhile. You see real farming in action, not just a version many people only see on TV!

You get to understand the work involved, and your children get to interact with animals and machinery, see where their food actually comes from, and get a feel for what farm work looks like.

What happens on Open Farm Sunday?

The event is organised by LEAF, a national charity that works with farmers to promote sustainable and environmentally responsible farming. Open Farm Sunday is their annual opportunity to bring farmers and consumers together. Volunteer staff at each participating farm answer questions about how the farm operates, share the farm's history, and explain the work that goes into producing food.

The activities vary by farm, but typically include farm tours where you can walk around and see how the operation runs. Machinery displays show off the equipment farmers use. Tractor and trailer rides are popular with children. Host farmers give demonstrations of different farming practices.

Nature trails and walks let you explore the farm environment. Most importantly, you can interact with the animals. Dairy cows, pigs, sheep, and other livestock are part of the experience. You see what farm animals actually look like rather than just the packaged versions in supermarkets.

For children, especially, this context matters. When you've stood next to a dairy cow and understood the effort involved in producing milk, you have a different perspective when you buy milk at the supermarket. When you've seen how much work goes into growing strawberries or other crops, the price starts to make sense. When you've met farmers and heard them talk about their work, farming becomes less abstract and more real.

The event is family-friendly. There's no admission charge. Some farms ask for a small donation, which goes to charity, but nothing is mandatory. The atmosphere is relaxed and educational rather than commercial.

Supporting British farming matters

This is the element that often gets overlooked when people think of Open Farm Sunday as just a fun family day. Agriculture in the UK is under genuine strain; farmers operate on tight margins, and labour costs are rising. Then factor in rising costs for feed, fuel, and equipment, increasingly unpredictable weather, and, crucially, the industry's struggle to attract young people.

If you talk to farmers, most will tell you they wouldn't recommend their children go into farming, not because they don't believe in the work, but because the financial reality is brutal; farm incomes have been squeezed for years.

Policy uncertainty adds risk. The barrier to entry for young people is enormous: land and equipment are expensive, and you may need knowledge passed down through generations or access to expensive training.

The result is an ageing farming population with fewer young people coming through. Open Farm Sunday doesn't solve these problems, but it addresses the cultural side. When children visit farms and see farming as interesting and worthwhile, some will remember that experience, and some might consider agriculture as a career.

Even if they don't, they'll grow up with a better understanding of where food comes from and what goes into producing it. That understanding creates consumer awareness, which can support farmers in other ways. People who understand farming are more likely to value British-produced food, support local producers, and make purchasing decisions that benefit UK agriculture.

So when you visit Open Farm Sunday, you're not just taking your family on a free day out. You're showing support for an industry that genuinely needs it.

Planning your visit

You can find participating farms by visiting the official Open Farm Sunday website and entering your postcode to see which farms are opening near you. Many farms ask visitors to book in advance because attendance has grown significantly over the years. Booking also helps farms plan for visitor numbers and prepare activities.

The event is free to attend. Some farms request a small donation for charity, but this is optional. Pack a picnic, bring your wellies, and plan to spend a few hours exploring. The experience is weather-dependent, so check the forecast and dress appropriately.

Image courtesy of Open Farm Sunday's Facebook Page

Most farms have toilets, and some offer food and drink, though bringing your own is often cheaper. Many farms also have farm shops selling fresh produce of genuinely good quality, but it does mean you might spend more than you planned, as we did when we visited before.

Tuesley Farm, where we're going this year, will have:

• Tractor and trailer rides

• Farm machinery displays

• Children’s play area

• Strawberry picking

• Fresh fruit for sale

• Delicious food and drinks & more

There are so many strawberries, and seeing them growing is quite different from seeing them packaged in a supermarket. It's amazing to see the scale of the operation; it's mind-blowing!

My wife's extended family has connections to the farm, which adds another dimension, but you don't need that link to appreciate what the farm does.

The bigger picture of British food

Open Farm Sunday sits within a broader context of food security and farming. The UK imports roughly 40% of its food. Climate change, geopolitical uncertainty, and supply chain disruptions have highlighted the importance of domestic food production.

Supporting British farming isn't just about sentiment. It's about resilience. If the UK farming industry continues to decline, the country will become more dependent on imports for basic food needs. That's a vulnerability.

Farmers producing food under UK regulations and environmental standards, with transparency and traceability, offer a level of security and quality that matters. Open Farm Sunday helps people understand that. By visiting a farm and seeing how food is actually produced, you gain respect for the work involved and for the importance of keeping British farming viable.

Open Farm Sunday on 7th June 2026 offers something genuinely rare: a free, educational family day out that also supports British farming during a period when the industry faces real pressures. For the cost of petrol and a picnic, you get to visit a working farm, understand where your food comes from, and show your family why farming matters.

It's one of the few occasions when you can connect directly with the people producing the food you eat. That connection is valuable for both families and the future of British agriculture.

Further information about the Leaf Open Farm Sunday can be found on the Open Farm Sunday Website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Open Farm Sunday completely free? Yes, admission to farms is free. Some farms ask for a small, optional donation to charity, but it's not mandatory. However, many farms have farm shops and food facilities, so you might spend money if you choose to.

Do I need to book in advance? Most farms request advance booking to manage visitor numbers, but check the individual farm details on the Open Farm Sunday website. Some farms take walk-ins, but booking is safer if you want to guarantee entry.

At what age do children start to enjoy it? It depends on the child, but generally, children aged 3 and up will find something to engage with. Younger children enjoy animal interactions. Older children might be more interested in machinery and farming techniques. The mix of activities means there's something for most ages.

What if the weather is bad? Most activities are outdoors, so the experience is weather-dependent. Check the forecast and dress appropriately. Many farms have shelter, but come prepared for rain or wind.

Can I bring my own food? Yes. Most farms welcome picnics. Some have tables and seating areas. Bringing your own food is usually cheaper than buying on-site, though farm shop produce is often excellent quality.

Is there parking at the farms? Parking varies by farm. Check the individual farm details on the website. Some farms have limited parking and encourage public transport or car-sharing.

What if there are no farms near me? The Open Farm Sunday website shows participating farms by postcode. If there are none within travelling distance, you could consider it a reason for a day trip to a different area. Alternatively, the website has videos of farms you can watch to learn about farming and food production.