Down at the Farm
🏟 Farm park · Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland
Down at the Farm
20-acre outdoor family farm between Sunderland and Durham, with animal sessions, a tractor ride and loads of play areas. Seasonal - reopens March 2027.
🕑 Opening & entry
🌱 Seasonal attraction open spring to the end of October each year. Weekends 10am to 4pm, school holidays 10am to 5pm. Currently closed for winter - the farm reopens in March 2027. Check the website before travelling.
Prices: Adult GBP 8.95 online / GBP 9.95 on the day; Child (2+) GBP 8.45 online / GBP 9.45 on the day; under 2s free. Price includes a tractor ride for each person and a barrel ride for each child. Booking online saves GBP 1 per person. Check the website for current prices.
Booking: Choose a timed arrival slot and book online (saves GBP 1 per person); you can also pay on the day. No-refund policy but visits can be postponed within the season.
📍 Location & directions
🗺️ Show map ▾
Address: Stoneygate Lane, Houghton-le-Spring, Sunderland, DH5 8JG
Plus Code: 9C6WVH32+99
About Down at the Farm
Down at the Farm is a 20-acre outdoor family farm at Houghton-le-Spring, set between Sunderland and Durham just off the A690, that has grown from a traditional cattle farm into a child-focused fun farm. It is an all-outdoor attraction, so visitors are encouraged to dress for the weather. The animals are the heart of the day: daily handling sessions let children brush a bunny, groom a donkey, bottle-feed lambs and hold chicks, and the collection includes Kune Kune pigs, sheep and lambs, Valais sheep, alpacas, llamas, red deer, mini goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, hens and a tractor ride up the hill to see the cows. There is plenty of play too - outdoor air bouncers (including a toddler one), a mega play zone with a castle maze and dinosaurs, a galleon sandpit, mini tractors, JCB play, a zip line, a giant tube maze, a tree house and a Little Tykes area for under 3s. A marquee cafe serves hot and cold food with picnic areas dotted around. The farm is a seasonal attraction, open weekends and school holidays from spring to the end of October (weekends 10am-4pm, school holidays 10am-5pm), and is currently closed for winter, reopening in March 2027. Parking is free, with accessible toilets and baby changing on site; only assistance dogs that meet strict criteria are permitted.
⭐ What makes this place special
- 20 acres of outdoor farm fun
- Tractor ride to see the cows (included)
- Barrel ride for children (included)
- Daily animal handling sessions
- Marquee cafe and picnic areas
- Sandpit quiet area
🏞 Facilities
- Parking: Yes – free car park (80 spaces plus a 200-space overflow field), with 4 accessible bays near the entrance.
- Toilets on site
- Café / refreshments
- Accessibility: Everything is on one level with step-free main entrance, but the outdoor site has gravel paths that may not suit all wheelchair users; the tractor ride has a wheelchair ramp. Buggies and wheelchairs are common on site.
- Dogs: Pet dogs are not permitted (zoo-licensing biosecurity); some trained assistance dogs may be admitted if criteria are met.
🧒 Ages & play
- Ages: Outdoor family farm for all ages; animal sessions, rides and play areas suit toddlers and young children, including a Little Tykes area for under 3s.
- Outdoor air bouncers (6yrs+ and a toddler one)
- Mega play zone with castle maze and dinosaurs
- Galleon sandpit
- Mini tractors and JCB play
- Zip line and swings
- Giant tube maze
- Little Tykes area for under 3s
- Tree house
- Little racers coin-operated track
📍 Nearby places to play
- Herrington Country Park · approx 1.9 miles · Herrington
- Silksworth Lakeside Park · approx 2.7 miles · New Silksworth
- Barnes Park · approx 3.1 miles · Barnes
Explore more:
❓ Frequently asked questions
How much?
Adults GBP 8.95 online (GBP 9.95 on the day) and children aged 2+ GBP 8.45 online (GBP 9.45 on the day), with under 2s free. The price includes a tractor ride each and a barrel ride for each child; booking online saves GBP 1 per person.
What animals?
Kune Kune pigs, sheep and lambs, Valais sheep, alpacas, llamas, red deer, mini goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets and hens, plus a tractor ride to see the cows, with daily handling sessions.
Good for toddlers?
Yes. There is a Little Tykes area for under 3s, a toddler air bouncer, sandpit and gentle animal sessions, and under 2s go free.
Need to book?
You choose a timed arrival slot and book online (saving GBP 1 per person), though you can also pay on the day. Note the farm is seasonal and currently closed until March 2027.
Where/parking?
Stoneygate Lane, Houghton-le-Spring DH5 8JG, between Sunderland and Durham off the A690, with a free car park (80 spaces plus a 200-space overflow field) and accessible bays.