Name: Smithills Open Farm
Rating: 5.0

Smithills Open Farm

Smithills Open Farm, Smithills Dean Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester BL1 7NS, UK

1-90 Years

Paid

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Contact

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Description

Smithills Open Farm, set within 70 acres of rolling countryside near Bolton, is a family-run attraction where children and adults can enjoy a fun-filled day out. The farm is home to over 25 types of animals including cows, pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, llamas, owls, meerkats, donkeys, ducks, skunks, deer and even Burmese pythons. With new arrivals every week, there is always something different to see. Beyond the animals, families can enjoy an adventure playground, an inflatable assault course, donkey rides, tractor tours, and plenty of space to play. A souvenir shop offers gifts and keepsakes, while the café serves tasty homemade ice cream as well as hearty meals like sausage, chips and beans.

Admission Prices are Adults £13.50, Children (2–16 years) £11.50, Children under 2: Free.

If you are looking for Best Children's Farms in Bolton , Greater Manchester then you can visit Smithills Open Farm. Smithills Open Farm is one of the places in Bolton Greater Manchester for day out with kids and families. More details can be found on the website for this place.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Playtime: Have great fun playing in the different areas of the farm.
- Toy Tractors: Pretend to be a farmer and have a drive around on one of the toy tractors. Avoid bumping into the tractor tyres then you don’t spill anything you might be pulling in your trailer. There are yellow, red, green and blue tractors and some little trikes for the smaller children. Let children take their pick and use their imagination.
- Outdoor Play Area: There is some large equipment for over 4’s and some smaller equipment for the younger ones. The “Kidbine” is fantastic, a pretend combine harvester with some added features from the real ones. A slide and a tunnel! Pretend to drive the combine, or whizz down the slide have a go you are sure to have fun. The assault course type equipment is popular with the adults too, try not to fall off the stepping logs and if you are brave enough, have go down the tall curly slide, that’s if you can climb the cargo net to get there. Please note this activity will not be available in wet weather.
Dairy Farm:
- Milking the Cows: The dairy farm is the heart of the visitor farm, showing and educating visitors where the milk comes from and how it is collected. The cows being milked are all Pedigree Holstein Cows (and one little Jersey cow!) known as the Carldanton Herd. At 1pm daily, some of the cows can be seen being milked with a short talk explaining the process.
- Calf Feeding: With all these cows around this means lots of calves too! Help the farmers feed the calves with giant bottles of milk and learn more about the calves too. Daily at 12pm.
- Dairy Depot and Pasteurising Room: Watch the milk transfer from the robot to the dairy depot where it is stored in a big bulk tank. Peep through a window to look in the tank at all the milk swirling around. The tank keeps the milk cool until it is needed in the pasteurising room, or the tanker comes to collect it. Some of the milk is used to make ice cream and milkshakes! Look through the window at the complicated pipes or even see someone making ice cream.
Meet and Greet
- Meet the Meerkats – Come and meet them at various times throughout the day and join in with feeding them. You may be able to hand them some wriggling mealworms! Listen to the short presentation and learn more about this entertaining species.
- Meet the Piglets – At various times throughout the year piglets will be brought out of the stable to show up close. Have a stroke or take a close up photo and learn about pigs and piglets.
- Reptile Sessions – Meet the reptiles and learn more about them. You may even get to meet up close a tarantula or a corn snake!
Donkey Rides: Children can enjoy a donkey ride at the Donkey Depot. There are donkeys of all colours and sizes taking it in turn to give rides. This activity is open all day, tickets cost £2 each and can be purchased at the entrance, snack shop or café. Adults may walk alongside very young children. A height restriction applies.
Pets Corner: This area of the farm is the most popular activity. Meet animals up close and personal, from lambs, goats, foals, cria, European Eagle Owls to baby rabbits, guinea pigs, and chicks. Farmers share information while animals make their way around Pets Corner. Times: Weekends (April–October): 10.30am, 11.30am, 12.30pm, 1.30pm, 2.30pm, 3.30pm, 4.30pm & Term Time: 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.15pm, 3pm
Tractor Rides: A purpose built passenger trailer is towed with a huge John Deere Tractor. The 15-minute ride takes visitors uphill past animal fields to where donkeys gather for feeding. Enjoy views stretching as far as Manchester City Centre. Times: Weekends & Holidays (April–October): 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm & Term Time Midweek: 12pm and 2.30pm

Facilities

Café, Snack Shop & Snack Kiosk
Farm Ice Creamery: For More Visit

What to see

Farm Animals: See traditional farm favourites including goats, sheep, alpacas, Shire horses, Holstein cows, donkeys, Pot Bellied pigs and Kune Kune pigs. Each animal has its own charm and offers the chance to learn more about life on the farm.
Pets: Get up close to smaller animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs and tiny chicks. These gentle creatures are always a favourite with families and provide great opportunities for hands-on interaction.
Birds: Discover a variety of birds around the farm including chickens, geese, guinea fowl, emu, rhea and the impressive European Eagle Owl. From the familiar to the unusual, there is always something to watch and learn.
Weird & Wonderful: Meet some more unusual residents such as meerkats, wallabies, skunks and coatis. These creatures add a touch of the exotic to the farm and are sure to delight visitors of all ages.
For More Information Visit: https://www.smithillsopenfarm.co.uk/animals/

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Ticket Prices
- Adults: £13.50
- Children (2–16 years): £11.50
- Children under 2: Free
- OAPs: £11.50
- Family Ticket (2 Adults + 2 Children): £45.00
- Family Ticket (1 Adult + 3 Children): £45.00
Animal Experiences
- Meerkat Experience – £50 per person
- Lemur Experience – £50 per person

Pricing URL: https://smithillsopenfarm.digitickets.co.uk/tickets

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

Birthday Parties: Have a variety of group and party packages designed to make your celebration extra special. Birthdays here are full of fun, laughter, and of course animals. When we tell them it’s your birthday, they’re extra friendly to you and your guests.
- Price: £18 per child
- Adults and babies under 1 go FREE
- Full day admission to the farm
- Included Pets Corner, Donkey Rides & Tractor Rides
- Reserved party area
- Fun with friendly animals
- Hands-on experiences and feeding sessions
- A special birthday welcome for the birthday child
- Free entry for adults and babies under 1'
- Download invitation
- To Book Click

Open every day from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed on: Christmas Day, Boxing Day & New Year’s Day

Address: Smithills Open Farm, Smithills Dean Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester BL1 7NS, UK

Post Code: BL1 7NS

Council: Bolton

County: Greater Manchester

By Car
- From the South: M6 → M62 (Bolton) → M60 → follow Manchester directions.
- From Manchester: M60 → M61 (1 mile) → A666 → follow brown signs for Smithills Hall & Country Park.
- From Chorley: M61 → exit J5 → follow brown signs for Smithills Hall & Country Park.
- From Blackburn / Burnley / Accrington: M65 → exit J3 → A675 (Abbey Village → Belmont Village → fork right to Horwich) → follow brown signs.
- From Preston & the North: M6 → exit J30 → M61 → follow Chorley directions.
- From Westhoughton: Chequerbent roundabout → Bolton → left at Shell Garage (Hunger Hill) → Chorley New Road → Victoria Road → follow brown signs.
By Bus
- Bus 526 or 525 from Trinity Street Station (outside Bolton Train Station).
- Ask for the last stop at Smithills (opposite farm entrance).
- 5–10 minute walk from bus stop to farm.
By Train
- Nearest: Bolton Town Centre Train Station (3 miles from the farm).
- From station: catch Bus 526 or take a taxi.