Riverdale Farm
Riverdale Farm
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Toronto's Riverdale Farm covers 7.5 scenic acres and is a hot spot for families. Along with the wooded areas, ponds and gardens, there are plenty of farm animals to visit. All this and more in the heart of downtown Toronto.
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Neighbourhood: Cabbagetown-South St.James Town
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4.5
166 reviews
Excellent
79
Very good
67
Average
17
Poor
3
Terrible
0
lornem649
Toronto19 contributions
Feb 2020
This February being a rather mild month we took our 2 year old boy (Grandson Clarkie) to the Riverdale Farm. The boy was thrilled and we spent two hours of smiles and giggles that went by all too fast.
Getting there was a snap by car and just as easy by public transportation I am given to understand. Parking is free and in abundance. Not too crowded in winter months and many of the livestock were still outdoors.ofcourse you can view lots of rabbits,turkeys,chickens goats and sheep indoors.
The horses ,cows ,pigs and lambs were all outside and equally big hits. Kids love animals and enjoy imitating the sounds they make. This place is fun free and educational! Take your child or grandchild asap you won't be disappointed,
Getting there was a snap by car and just as easy by public transportation I am given to understand. Parking is free and in abundance. Not too crowded in winter months and many of the livestock were still outdoors.ofcourse you can view lots of rabbits,turkeys,chickens goats and sheep indoors.
The horses ,cows ,pigs and lambs were all outside and equally big hits. Kids love animals and enjoy imitating the sounds they make. This place is fun free and educational! Take your child or grandchild asap you won't be disappointed,
Written 15 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LexiV
Cleveland, OH1,682 contributions
Aug 2024 • Solo
This is a pretty place, and it's enjoyable to watch the animals. It's small, but it's free and makes a nice walk if you're in the area. It's probably best for young children. I took the longer path through the natural area and saw both a muskrat and a heron very close up.
Written 5 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina70,626 contributions
July 2019 • Family
My grandson had a great time looking at the farm animals on this 3-hectare mini-farm operated by the City of Toronto through its Toronto Parks. The farm animals include horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens and more.
Written 1 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Departure20271
Toronto1 contribution
The farm is a must visit for anyone with children who visit the Cabbagetown area of Toronto. A true treasure in the heart of the city. The people running the farm truly aim to make the visit the best it can be and it's FREE!! so even those of us on a budget can take full advantage. I used to visit when visiting Toronto, now I live in Cabbagetown, and make a point of bringing visitors from out of town to the farm and without fail they love it.
Goats, horses, chickets, cows, special events, Fall harvest & hallowween fest for the kids.. I could go on.
Goats, horses, chickets, cows, special events, Fall harvest & hallowween fest for the kids.. I could go on.
Written 10 January 2003
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave_Shutterbug
Toronto129 contributions
Sept 2014 • Family
Riverdale Farm is a wonderful little spot not too far from the heart of downtown with a bunch of animals (of course), cute little buildings and beautiful gardens.
OMG for those of you that commented that it was "smelly"---what did you expect at a real functioning farm with animals that deficate??? Are you for real? Did you expect them to spray the animals every 5 minutes with Febreeze and/or have them wear deodorant? LOL
For those that said there was only a few animals and it wasn't worth it (Michael)---c'mon, it's a great little place that's been there for years and it survives on donations. It comes as advertised and is in no way misleading. Relax. What else could you really have expected?
And finally, for those of you that said it's "FREE". Yeah, there is no charge to visit and you do not have to make a contribution---but this place survives on pay what you can, so please give something so this gem can continue to operate!
As others mentioned it is a wonderful place for a picnic.
OMG for those of you that commented that it was "smelly"---what did you expect at a real functioning farm with animals that deficate??? Are you for real? Did you expect them to spray the animals every 5 minutes with Febreeze and/or have them wear deodorant? LOL
For those that said there was only a few animals and it wasn't worth it (Michael)---c'mon, it's a great little place that's been there for years and it survives on donations. It comes as advertised and is in no way misleading. Relax. What else could you really have expected?
And finally, for those of you that said it's "FREE". Yeah, there is no charge to visit and you do not have to make a contribution---but this place survives on pay what you can, so please give something so this gem can continue to operate!
As others mentioned it is a wonderful place for a picnic.
Written 26 May 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
it rocks!!!!!
Written 17 May 2002
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CoupontheKitty
Toronto, Canada76 contributions
May 2014 • Family
An absolute gem in the heart of Toronto... especially for a toddler boy beginning to learn his animal sounds.
We went on a weekday morning and it was quite quiet with the only type of visitors being parents with toddlers. Our son immediately stopped at the two tractors and enjoyed simply walking back and forth between them. While stuck at the tractors with my son, i realised that every toddler boy also stopped for a good length of time at the tractors.
The barn was home to lambs and some of the pens had elevated child accessible platforms overlooking the pens. Most of the other pens around the farm were double fenced. This meant even if our son got his hand through the first fence, there was still another 1-2 feet open space until the second fence (behind the second fence were the animals).
But the surprise of the farm was the toy room. Inside was lots of great farm themed toys included a big barn and many, many toy tractors. It was tough to get our son to leave the toy room.
For lunch we picnicked at one of the picnic tables in the shade. For dessert, we strolled across the park to the little shop at the corner for ice cream (but it also has lunch food as well).
For afternoon nap, i pushed his stroller in the quiet cemetery but could have easily strolled along the beautiful shaded victorian streets of Cabbagetown.
My only concern is that it was very difficult to get to by TTC. It seemed all the nearby routes involved either streetcars or elevator-less subway stations - neither is easy to navigate with a stroller.
We would definitely go again but would probably drive.
We went on a weekday morning and it was quite quiet with the only type of visitors being parents with toddlers. Our son immediately stopped at the two tractors and enjoyed simply walking back and forth between them. While stuck at the tractors with my son, i realised that every toddler boy also stopped for a good length of time at the tractors.
The barn was home to lambs and some of the pens had elevated child accessible platforms overlooking the pens. Most of the other pens around the farm were double fenced. This meant even if our son got his hand through the first fence, there was still another 1-2 feet open space until the second fence (behind the second fence were the animals).
But the surprise of the farm was the toy room. Inside was lots of great farm themed toys included a big barn and many, many toy tractors. It was tough to get our son to leave the toy room.
For lunch we picnicked at one of the picnic tables in the shade. For dessert, we strolled across the park to the little shop at the corner for ice cream (but it also has lunch food as well).
For afternoon nap, i pushed his stroller in the quiet cemetery but could have easily strolled along the beautiful shaded victorian streets of Cabbagetown.
My only concern is that it was very difficult to get to by TTC. It seemed all the nearby routes involved either streetcars or elevator-less subway stations - neither is easy to navigate with a stroller.
We would definitely go again but would probably drive.
Written 4 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steve L
Baltimore, MD91 contributions
May 2013
We were looking for something to do and stumbled on this farm on tripadvisor. The place is free, and there were enough farm animals in the place our 4.5 and 3 year old could recognize. It's not too big so as parents you won't get too tired. :) there's a chance to pet some lambs if they're near the fence. There's plenty of animals there (horses, ponies, sheep, chickens, roosters, pigs, cows, etc)
You can spend about 1-1.5 hours there. There's a good ice cream place right in front that caps off the time well.
Highly recommend if you're looking to do something before that afternoon nap and get a late start in the morning ;)
You can spend about 1-1.5 hours there. There's a good ice cream place right in front that caps off the time well.
Highly recommend if you're looking to do something before that afternoon nap and get a late start in the morning ;)
Written 26 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louise J
Toronto, Ontario, Canada5 contributions
June 2012 • Family
I have been visiting Riverdale farm since I was a child, back when it was the Riverdale Zoo!
The farm is now the home to many domesticated animals; cows, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, and beautiful BIG horses. In the spring, you can look for new young ones, the piglets and lambs are especially fun to watch!
Along side the farm, is a large park with a wading pools for the kids to cool off in. The park is often host to interesting bazaars(great shopping) and, events(one summer TVO set up a scavenger hunt, it was loads of fun!).
If you have the time and, the inclination, the Necropolis (city of the dead) is right across the street. There you will find interesting grave stones from many well known Toronto families. It may be the oldest cemetery in Toronto but, I am not positive about that.
All in all, a wonderful time can be had at Riverdale farm, enjoy!
The farm is now the home to many domesticated animals; cows, pigs, chickens, goats, sheep, and beautiful BIG horses. In the spring, you can look for new young ones, the piglets and lambs are especially fun to watch!
Along side the farm, is a large park with a wading pools for the kids to cool off in. The park is often host to interesting bazaars(great shopping) and, events(one summer TVO set up a scavenger hunt, it was loads of fun!).
If you have the time and, the inclination, the Necropolis (city of the dead) is right across the street. There you will find interesting grave stones from many well known Toronto families. It may be the oldest cemetery in Toronto but, I am not positive about that.
All in all, a wonderful time can be had at Riverdale farm, enjoy!
Written 28 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1972Lala
Toronto, Canada22 contributions
Aug 2012 • Friends
The farm is a great place to visit with all the animals and you can probably do the whole place in less than an hour. Then visit the gift shop/washroom area and you can buy some homemade cookies/cupcakes. Or bring your own picnic with you and sit on the grass outside the farm, with a little wading pool. Better yet, visit the ice cream shop across the street for fries, hotdog and well, ice cream!
Written 24 January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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