Historic College Farm in Finchley could be back in business

Closed for over a quarter of a century, College Farm in Finchley could reopen to the public in due course thanks to a new partnership between the College Farm Trust and the Jeremy Coller Foundation.

The site, once a model dairy farm and popular visitor attraction, has fallen into disrepair and is “likely to require very substantial” investment to bring its Grade II-listed buildings and barns up to standard.

A new board of trustees was appointed to College Farm Trust in May 2025 (Image: Coller Foundation)

Alan Jacobs, chairman of the College Farm Trust, said: "College Farm has a rich history as London’s leading model dairy farm and more recently as a popular visitor attraction. However, it has been closed to the public for 25 years.

"The new board of trustees has been focused on developing a plan for the reopening of this much-loved and greatly missed facility, focused on educating young people about the history and future of farming.

"We have been very encouraged by the positive discussions we have held with the Jeremy Coller Foundation and have now entered into a long-term partnership which we believe will herald a bright new future for College Farm."

The trust’s new board, appointed in May 2025, includes former Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer and Finchley Society chairman Mick Crick.

College Farm is a much-loved local community landmark, held on charitable trust by College Farm Trust (Image: Coller Foundation)

The Jeremy Coller Foundation is a charitable institution that focuses on sustainable food systems and is the main funder of the Science Museum’s Future of Food exhibition.

At an extraordinary general meeting on July 6, members of the trust adopted new articles of association, making the Jeremy Coller Foundation the sole member.

The trust remains an independent registered charity with its own board.

Jeremy Coller, chairman of the Jeremy Coller Foundation, said: "I have very fond memories of visiting College Farm in my youth and am very much looking forward to taking my grandchildren to visit the animals and to enjoy everything the farm has to offer when the buildings and farm have been restored to their former glory."

Chris and Jane Ower have managed the farm for almost 50 years and supported the partnership in hopes of securing the site’s long-term future.

Mr Ower said: "Before the foot and mouth crisis of 2001, we held regular open days with thousands of visitors. It has been a source of great frustration that the farm has had to remain closed to the public for the past 25 years due to the poor condition of the buildings.

"We hope to be able to work with the Jeremy Coller Foundation to secure its long-term future."