Things to do in Essex
Looking for things to do in Essex? Come and visit Old MacDonald’s Farm!
If you’re looking for something fun to do in Essex, then you’re in the right place! As one of the leading attractions in Essex, and awarded the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 2026 & voted the #1 thing to do in Brentwood on Trip Advisor, you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained at our farm! Perfect for family days out and with plenty to keep kids entertained for hours, we’ve got everything you need right here at Old MacDonald’s Farm.
We’re open seven days a week, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Things to do at Old MacDonald’s Farm in Essex
See all of our amazing animals!
Alongside the soft play, rides and events available at our Essex attraction, you have to come and see our animals! Here’s what you can find at our farm:
Highland cows
Shetland ponies
Alpacas
Llamas
Meerkats
Donkeys
Cows
Chickens
Goats
And so much more!
See the full list of animals at our farm here.
Rides & attractions
All of our rides & attractions are included within the cost of your day ticket, which means you can enjoy all of them at no extra cost! We have plenty to keep the family busy for hours, including:
The thrilling crazy barn ride
Doggy dog roller coaster
Happy horses adventure ride
Merry-go-round
Farm themed train ride
Gigantic snake slide
A full list of rides available at Old MacDonald’s Farm can be found here.
Events
We have a fantastic range of events for children at our farm throughout the year, including at Easter, during school holidays, Halloween, Christmas and more. The perfect day out for families or those with children, and our events are available at no extra cost! Your day ticket to our farm includes access to everything we have to offer.
Upcoming events at Old MacDonald’s farm in Essex:
Gabby's Dollhouse
Gabby & Cakey visit Old MacDonald's Farm on the 5th September 2026.
Celebrate nan & grandad at our Essex farm on the 5th October 2026. Grandparents get a free cup of tea included in the entry ticket!
Come and see Bluey & Bingo during storytime sessions in our events area at intervals throughout the day on the 10th October 2026.
Enjoy the spooky season at our farm between 24th October and 1st November 2026. Pumpkin picking, magic shows and plenty of spooky fun to be had at our Essex Halloween festival!
A Christmas Journey at Old MacDonald's Farm
Celebrate the most magical time of the year at our very own Christmas event in Essex! We have a roaming Santa at our farm every day, massive polar bears, singing princesses and as much fun as the family can handle.
Farm Cafe
We know that enjoying the rides and animals at our Essex farm can work up an appetite! Our on-site farm cafe has all of the family favourites including hot dogs, burgers, chicken nuggets and more. We always have vegetarian and halal options available and all food is prepared fresh on-site.
Kids’ birthday parties
Take your time at our farm to the next level! We’re a popular children’s birthday party venue in Essex, and for good reason! Celebrate your child’s birthday surrounded by our amazing animals and enjoy unlimited access to all of our rides!
For just £26.99 per child our children’s birthday parties are available in our farm themed party room and include a party meal and ice cream for each guest.
Bookings for kid’s parties at our Essex birthday party venue can be made here.
Indoor soft play
Our indoor soft play area is included with farm admission and the perfect place for kids to run around and have unbeatable fun!
Buy your tickets online
You can book your tickets online before visiting our farm
Getting to our farm
By Road
From the A12 AND M25 JUNCTION 28. Take the A1023 to Brentwood. Turn left at the first set of traffic lights into Wigley Bush Lane. Travel for half a mile until you reach the T-junction. Turn left into Weald Road and continue for 2 miles. Old MacDonald's Farm is situated on the left before you reach the junction with Chequers Road.
By Rail
The train service runs from Liverpool Street to Brentwood and Harold Wood.
By Bus
Please take the 294 to Bear Pub in Noak Hill. Please be aware that it is a 20 minute walk, partly without a pavement, to reach the farm. We do not recommend walking to the Farm, as some of the surrounding roads do not have pedestrian footpaths, making the route unsafe.
Parking
We have a large FREE car parking area which has ample parking even during the busiest of times.
Taxi
Licensed taxis are available from Brentwood and Harold Wood Stations.
For cheaper rates on taxi service please call MiniCab 4U on 01708 348 008 or 01708 377 975