Cannon Hall Farm: the Barnsley family farm loved by TV audiences

Few farms in Britain are as well known as Cannon Hall Farm. Set near the village of Cawthorne, about five miles west of Barnsley, this working farm and visitor attraction has won a devoted following both at the gate and on television.

The farm is owned and run by the Nicholson family. Charles Nicholson bought the estate in 1957, and his son Roger, who inherited the land at 16, developed the farm and attractions that visitors enjoy today. Its roots go back much further: the earliest reference to the farm is a conveyance from 1650, and it was once the home farm of the Cannon Hall estate, known for its Large White pigs.

This is still very much a working farm, producing more than 750 lambs and 800 piglets a year. Visitors can meet the animals, explore a reptile house and nocturnal house, let children loose in the adventure playground or the Hungry Llama indoor play area, and browse the farm shop. The Lucky Pup, a dog-friendly cafe, opened in July 2021 with a visit from Princess Anne.

Television brought the farm to a national audience. The Nicholsons appeared in Springtime on the Farm on Channel 5 in 2018, which became the weekly This Week on the Farm in 2020, and other series have followed, including Cannon Hall: A Yorkshire Farm in 2024. During the 2020 lockdown, the farm's daily live broadcasts earned it a Commonwealth Points of Light Award.

Awards have come from closer to home too. Cannon Hall Farm was named Best Tourist Experience at the 2011 Welcome to Yorkshire White Rose Awards, and it is a VisitEngland quality-assured attraction.

Autumn is a lovely time to visit, with a pumpkin patch and a bonfire and firework spectacular, before Santa and the Reindeer Rangers arrive for Christmas. Those wanting to linger can stay at the Mill Spring Holiday Cottage.

Nearby, Cannon Hall itself is a Grade II* listed country house run as a museum by Barnsley Council, with 18th-century parkland and a walled garden, making the area a rewarding full day out.

Tickets must be booked in advance online. Opening times, events and prices are on the Cannon Hall Farm website.