Acton Scott Historic Working Farm

4.6/5 based on 464 reviews
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Expectations had been raised by all the good reviews but unforunately the visit did not live up to expectations. The only member of staff to share any information was at reception. There are three or four craft bases but none where manned. The venue has the potential but something is lacking.
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Attended an apple day where you take along your apples & they identify the variety . By pure chance spoke to someone their from the blue hills project who managed to gain us a grant to plant 24 historic English fruit trees.
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Acton Scott Historic Working Farm is a great place to get a feel of what farming was like in the Victorian - and a great day out for the whole family. Set in the rolling Shropshire countryside Acton Scott offers a wide variety of interest from animal petting to cart wheel making and farrier demonstrations, horse harrowing and displays of old farm implements. In the grounds there is an old school house now converted to an excellent café with a great range of snacks and meals. The staff are really friendly and knowledgeable (make sure you have a chat with the fellow who tends the working horses - brilliant! Through out the summer season several special events are held so check the web site for dates.
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Visited with parents as a party of 2 couples.
We thoroughly enjoyed learning about a Victorian working farm including the various demonstrations of skills including wheel making and crop harvesting.
Dad was able to travel around with us in the farm's 'Tramper' a rugged mobility scooter which coped with all paths and fields too!
The staff were dedicated and enthusiastic which added to our enjoyment.
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Well, what a lovely day out! My daughter loved the farm, the hens, geese, pigs, cattle and Dusty the donkey but the greatest attractions are Joe & Charlie, their beautiful shire horses. Not only did we meet them but we groomed Joe for a good while and if we could of taken him home, we would of done. We saw traditional butter making, bought freshly laid eggs from their shop, all in all a great day out and will definitely recommend again and again 😊
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We visited this museum with our 4year old granddaughter. We arrived as it opened and left reluctantly 6 hours later. It is a museum and has a very gentle, relaxed atmosphere. We all loved the Shire Horses and Eve enjoyed sitting astride Charlie on two occasions. She is still showing everyone the two postcards of the Shires. The relaxed feel allows you to amble gently around looking at everything in detail and going back to follow the activities of the animals.
The shop was well stocked with some unusual items at reasonable prices.
Nothing was too much trouble for the staff and it encouraged conversations between visitors which was lovely.
We will be back and would encourage young and old alike to support this wonderful place.
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Being a parent or grandparent gives you an excellent excuse to visit Acton Scott farm museum just off the A49 in Shropshire, although it's perfectly fine to not to have a child in tow.
We went at Easter with the added excitement of lamb feeding and piglets but any time of the year would be idyllic, with it's evocation of country days long gone.
The old school house is now the tea room with good quality plain food. A lovely day out!
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Returning after several years I was very pleased that my happy memories were not
spoilt. It seems better than ever lots of things to see and do. Friendly and helpful staff
with a good knowledge of the history and animals. My younger guests had a very
good day and loved being close to the animals. Entry costs were reasonable
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First visit earlier this week and an absolutely fantastic day out! We spent 4 hours here (which we didn't expect to!) and could probably have stayed a further hour. Animals well looked after, staff incredibly knowledgeable on history of the Farm, and plenty of demonstrations going on throughout the day. We went on a guided tour (for free!) at 12 noon around the main farmyard that lasted well over an hour which I would definitely recommend, saw the Blacksmith/Farrier at work, met the Bailiff and his Wife working, and saw the heavy-horse duo Joe & Charlie doing some work in the field! Definitely worth the price (£13.50 for 1 Adult and 1 Child/Student)
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After reading some very negative reviews we almost didn't go. Thank goodness we ignored them. We had a wonderful time - plenty to see and discover. There were animals, displays of farming practice, people to explain things, buildings to wander in and the traditional style farmyard itself was a joy to anyone interested in vernacular architecture, with the buildings being around a central yard, complete with dung heap. All just as things used to be - only just about in our living memory so a historical experience for children. Lunch was very good too.
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Acton Scott museum certainly brings to life farming of yesteryear and is a must a super place to visit. The staff help to bring the place to life and certainly made our visit special. You can get close to all of the farm animals and the heavy horses are so gentle they really do look like they are enjoying their task of entertaining the visitors. The cost to visit is very reasonable.
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This is a working farm open to show visitors the traditional way of farming, It has appeared on Tv as working farm set in different time periods

It a suitable visit for all the family, but do not expect to be entertained with rides and play areas

There are sheep, cows, horses, pigs, geese (who bite so do not go to close)

and all the smells you would expect on a farm

On Sunday butter is made during the day and you can buy some from the shop

I recommend you do, it is delicious tasting, and the freshest you will ever buy (and at a fair price)

It is fairly wheelchair friendly if a bit on the bumpy side

There is a cafe on site, and clean toilets in several locations
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Visited the Acton Scott today and it was really enjoyable day out. It was great to see how much equipment they had on show. Seeing the little children getting so excited and parents explaining everything to them.
There is quite a walk to the farm area and no means of getting there if you cannot walk to far.
Loads of chickens roaming around. Baby piglets were so cute. There was not many animals to see, which disappointed me.
The buildings were very interesting.
Watched the butter being made and brought a 250gram slab and it tastes amazing.
Joe and Charlie the shire horses were beautiful. Saw Charlie coming back from ploughing but did not see it.
Met the bad behavioured geese that was biting people's legs in the cafe grounds.The cats were lovely wanting cuddles and stroking. The cafe did not have much on sale, but the tea and coffee was nice. The staff all over the farm were lovely and had a chat to quite a few of them.
Did not see much of the farm working. There was not much happening to actually watch.
Saw about four men learning how to make chairs out of willow.
I would say go and enjoy the day.
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Realy quite interesting visit a few days ago. Part of a coach holiday package.
My wife and I visited recently, we find shire horses to be very photo genic and pleasant hard working animals. Such true muscular strength and capable of most farm tasks, even today. Very interesting pleasant staff who seem to be at home with children and adults. Perhaps a little unprepared for our visit as several programme activities were not taking place, for whatever reason. Some advice for some seniors, the actual farm area is some distance from the car and coach parks. Suggestion? would be rather nice for a horse and trap ride to the farm area or even a small horse bus. Children are given bottles of milk to feed the lambs(under supervision) this proves to be very popular, It also possibe to milk an imitation cow complete with udder and the other, into a bucket, quite a child draw,this. There are a few territorial geese(beware!) Some dear ginger piglets and of course mum and dad. A display of cart wheel making is very interesting too There is a cafe on site and also toilets at the main entrance. Must not forget the donkey of course, who makes himself heard. Nice couple of hours!
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We had tried to visit several years ago, but it was closed we later found out because of the filming of "Victorian Farm". We were therefore looking forward to visiting when we were in the area again recently. However, I would suggest "working" farm is rather misleading. Apart from a lady making griddle scones in the cottage and another lady helping children to make peg dolls, there was nothing else happening, and this was in the school holidays. I was brought up on a farm so appreciate that certain times of the year have less to show, but a little imagination could surely come up with something? Someone appeared to be spending a day with the blacksmith, but this was roped off so the public could see very little, and another person seemed to be having a Shire horse day, but again taken away from the public viewing. Would that not have been a lovely sight for visitors, and even encouraged others to book for these experiences? The drawn map shows horses plouging, machinery working in fields, etc, but sadly not in real life.

The other let-down was old machinery crammed into buildings so difficult to see properly, or randomly planted round the site and rusting, and some explanation signs were clearly propped against the wrong items or just leaning against the barn walls, so visitors would not always know what they were looking at anyway. What about arranging them in the chronolgical order they might be used during the farming year, with a short explanation of what they were used for, to make more sense of the farming calendar and the hard work involved back in those times? Also, some areas looked sad and neglected - I know a real farm does not want to look like a showroom or museum, but high weeds blocked the view of some areas and a lick of paint here and there would not be too out of character. It looked as if no-one had really bothered after the TV cameras left some years ago. Special activities during the year were advertised, such as herb days, hedge laying, and orchard restoration (a good way of getting people to pay to do your work for you!) but at around £60 per person takes them out of the budget of family day out.

The chance to get close to various animals is obviously appealing, which was very enjoyable for our family, but I think Acton Scott is missing opportunities to make the visit an even better experience.
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What a wonderful experience to be able to travel back in time, well that's how it feels when you visit this farm. The geese and the chickens roam wherever they like while the shire horses pull the haywain in which the children have a ride. Plenty to see and do as the farm recreates life in the past, most of the buildings are the original so if you remember the 50s you will recognise images of you childhood. The staff are dressed in traditional costumes and really show affection towards the animals. The tea room is the old school house and although we only had scone(homemade) the meals that came out looked delicious, will make a point of eating here next time.
Apart from a small shop on site you do not need to spend any money just wander about and enjoy the atmosphere.
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Very quiet and restful visit, loved it all, animals, helpful staff and good value for money.
Lovely things in the gift shop for all ages - could have seriously damaged the credit card and Cafe is quirky - but the cakes are just fab.
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We went on a Thursday 23rd July (with a groupon voucher) and there were lots of demonstrations and there were not many visitors that day, but it also meant that my boys got to help the farrier (who was putting shoes on the shire horse) to pump the bellows, they also got to turn the wheel for lathe for the wheel wright who was showing us how to make a wooden wheel to go on a cart, they also got to feed lambs. There was a tour of the farm but we didn't do that. Lovely cafe in the old school, and nice seating area outside of it, reccommend the coffee and walnut cake! My favourite animal were the cute piglets, The boys spent a long time milking the pretend cow. We did take a picnic, there are lots of picnic benches and space for a picnic including a undercover area. There are some lovely things to buy in the shop, including local crafts. My children also loved playing in the shepherds hut in the play area. Beautiful location in the Shropshire countryside, afterwards we went onto nearby Carding Mill Valley and had fish and chips for tea (from Church Stretton) by the stream-beautiful!
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Demonstrations are given of crafts and skills from a by-gone age. Loads to learn. Smashing tea room too!
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Enjoyable and relaxing afternoon wandering around. Bottle fed a lamb and held a one-day old chick, which was an unexpected bonus. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff who answered all questions patiently and enthusiastically. Always a treat to get up close to a Shire horse.
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We had been looking forward to this for such a long time (since watching Victorian Farm on tv) and were not disappointed. Mucky footpaths, a midden of steaming manure, whiffy pigs, the scent of the blacksmiths forge and the wallop of the wheelwright - magnificent. We loved every minute and time flew, the team there are so into it, dress in period outfits and uphold the way of life of a Victorian farm.
Would definitely return, well done all.
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This historic working farm is a really good day out for all the family. Me and my husband took our 10 year old grand daughter yesterday and she thoroughly enjoyed stroking and feeding the lambs. She was also able to get close to shire horses and tanworth piglets as well. We watched scones being made as well as butter and my grand daughter tried her hand at milking a pretend cow. Had lunch at the cafe and the food was superb.
A really good day out
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Visiting with family for the first time we were pleasantly surprised by the amount of areas and interactions for all ages.
Despite the downpour the day before the ground was fine and accessible even for a wheelchair (take care on the cobbles!)
Several people explaining how things were done and showing the parts still surviving. Teaching about the animals - Lambs, chicks, pigs, geese, cows etc - and feeding time again for all ages.
A lovely backwater with interest around every corner.
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The perfect family day out. Set in Shropshire's rural ideal, this working Farm takes you back to the turn of the century. Coming from a rural back ground I enjoyed seeing the kind of farming my grandfather talks about, and when I have taken him before he spent hours reminiscing. I love the working horses in their brasses, but for my metal head brother there were also steam engines and tractors.

Children will love petting the animals, and getting muddy. The food is good, and we particularly rate the hand churned butter. Perhaps not the best place for a first date, but a fun family day out.
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Had a great day out at the farm looking at all the different animals, old building and meeting the staff that showed us all the old ways a farm used to be run.
The kids got to stroke the cows, horses, donkeys & lambs.
They got to hold the chicks and feed the very energetic lambs, which was the highlight.
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