5 Best Bird Sanctuaries in London | Hyde Park, WWT, Tarn

London, an iconic city known for its rich cultural heritage, also boasts remarkable bird sanctuaries offering serene retreats for nature enthusiasts. Amidst the urban hustle, these sanctuaries provide vital habitats for avian species, promoting biodiversity and conservation.

Visitors can marvel at nature’s beauty while contributing to efforts to protect these magnificent creatures. Discover London’s harmonious blend of ecology and city life.

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The Tarn Bird Sanctuary in Greenwich is a fabulous place to visit, with abundant wildlife like ducks, geese, baby chicks, and herons. Nearby, explore WWT London Wetland Centre and Hyde Park for more nature adventures in London.

1. WWT London Wetland Centre

The WWT London is just 10 minutes from Hammersmith, an urban nostalgia for wildlife and humans. The cafe by the lake, the pond, and the garden are perfect for relaxation, and the kids will love the play areas. Wetland is a natural reservoir full of life in the heart of London.

You can access the place by public transport (33 and 72 buses from Hammersmith to Red Lion stop) or by car.

You can purchase a ticket in advance, and it is cheaper. Also, get a discount offer with a family ticket. In addition, you can get information about events in the day (guides, explanations, and feeding schedules) that could enrich your visit.

Catering services are affordable, but the best option is to bring your own food and drinks. There are several facilities where you can have a picnic.

Once you are there, you have facilities like Catering, shops, toilets, etc. There are two main itineraries: the west and the South. This bird sanctuary is also suitable for wheelchair users. It is a very nice walk in the middle of a beautiful landscape, full of life with ducks, birds, otters, etc., like Epping Forest.

On the south itinerary, you can reach the peacock tower. It’s a perfect place to observe wildlife from a distance, so take your binoculars!!!. On a sunny day, I recommend you bring water and a cap for the walk.

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WWT London Bird Sanctuary opening time

• WWT London Bird Sanctuary is open seven days a week, 364 days a year.
• Summer opening time – 1 March until 31 October
• 9.30 am to 5.30 pm (last entry 4.30 pm).
• Winter opening time – 1 November to 28 February. 9.30 am to 4.30 pm (last entry at 3.30 pm). Extra time- 1/2 hour before closing time.
• Early closing on 24 December (last entry at 2 pm, the centre closes at 3 pm).
• Closed on 25 December.
• The summer route is closed during the winter.
• Kingfisher Kitchen at Barnes Wetland Centre.
• Last orders 4.00 pm in winter and 5.00 pm in summer.
• Closes 4.30 pm in winter and 5.30 pm in summer.

WWW London  bird sanctuary entry fee

Ticket	Concession for (65+ years, disabled, full-time student, unemployed)	without gift aid
Adult	£14.00	£12.72
Concession for (65+ years, disabled, and full-time student, unemployed)	£11.90	£10.81
Child (4-16 years)	£8.50	£7.72
Family (2 adults and 2 children, 4-16 years)	£38.25	£34.77
Children (under 4 years)	free	free
Essential helpers assisting disabled visitors	free	free

• Content: 01453 891900
• Email: [email protected]
• Address: WWT, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7bt

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2. Hyde Park Bird Sanctuary

Hudson Memorial Bird Sanctuary in the United Kingdom is enriched with a stone monument. It remembers the memory of the 19th-century author and naturalist William Hudson. He helped establish the Royal Society to protect birds and preached about wild areas in the park.

Sir Jacob Epstein’s engraving, Rima, who represents the child goddess of nature, was published in Hudson’s novel Green Manjane in 1904. Designer Ariel Gill Designs Memorial was established in 1924 and immediately debuted. The Daily Mail wrote: “Take this park out of our park.”

Hyde Park Bird Sanctuary opening times and entry fees

The park is open from 5:00 am to 11:59 pm all year round. And the entry fee is free for all.

Hyde Park Bird Sanctuary bird experiences

The robin, dunnocks, tits, small groups of Long Tailed Tits, feral pigeons, black swan, a vulture, and Egyptian geese.

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How to reach

Hyde Park is very easy to access by public transport. They provide car parking facilities, but we suggest that visitors avoid coming by car because there is limited space. If you are using a mobile device, the postcode for the park is W2 2uh, but it is a suggestion only because the park covers a large area. The address is Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes, London SW13 9wt.

Hyde Park, England, bird experiences

American wood ducks, noisy white-faced whistling ducks, etc.

Green Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Avocet, Redshank, Dunlin, Greenshank, Snipe, Common Tern(9), Garganey, Peregrine, Red Kite, Buzzard, Hobby, Little Egret(6), Whitethroat, Nuthatch, Yellow Wagtail, colourful garden birds, pretty wading birds, as well as frogs and newts.

• Contact: Call the team at Hyde Park on 0300 061 2000.
• Email: [email protected]
• By post: Hyde Park Office, Rangers Lodge, Hyde Park, London, W2 2uh

Opening and closing times

Our reception is open Monday-Friday, 8.45 am-4.45 pm.

3. Walthamstow Wetlands Bird Sanctuary

Walthamstow Wetlands Bird Sanctuary is London’s most significant urban wetland and nature reserve. It’s a gem in East London, providing an opportunity to walk closely with nature in a peaceful way. The sanctuary offers a special home for many important wildlife species. In addition, ten large reservoirs in nature supply water to 3.5 million Thames Water subscribers.

Here you can enjoy some peace while reaching nature and discovering the fascinating history of this unique city. You can enjoy the cafe hospitality at the Engine House Visitor Centre. There is a dedicated path for those interested in running or cycling that allows us to enjoy nature preserved without wildlife. It’s another type of wildlife tourism.

This sanctuary is famous for waterfalls, which fly thousands of miles/kilometres. Nature Reserve is a special scientific interest site. Lee Valley is part of the Special Protection Area, and international importance is included in the Ramsar’s list of wetlands.

It is a fabulous nature reserve open to the public with safe walkways around the lakes and grassland. Opportunity to spot many types of wildlife, birds, mammals, and fish. Several hides are located around the site to give better viewing opportunities.

Excellent cafe serving a varied menu from snacks to meals, with an extensive range of teas, coffees, and soft drinks. The children’s menu is available. You are viewing the platform above the cafe. There is ample car parking. Good for children.

It’s a haven for waterfowl and wild birds. You can see grebes, cormorants, herons, Canada geese, Egyptian ducks, and many familiar garden birds. There are lots of geese, including Egyptian geese, swans, many types of ducks, and grebes. It’s a historic site with the Copper mill and Engine house (where the cafe, visitor centre, and shop are situated). It’s well-maintained and accessible.

Rules and Behaviours Walthamstow Wetlands Bird Sanctuary

• Don’t forget to check the website for opening times and activities before your visit.
• Leave your dog at home.
• Don’t run or jog around the reservoirs.
• Don’t paddle in the water.
• Please take your litter home with you.
• Stout shoes are advisable, and warm clothes in milder weather due to the exposed nature of the site.
• Access to the site is free, but car parking is not.

Walthamstow Wetlands Bird Sanctuary opening time

It is open 7 days a week between 9.30 am to 5 pm.

Walthamstow Wetlands Bird Sanctuary entry fee

The entry fee is free for all, but car parking is not free.

Walthamstow Wetlands Bird Sanctuary bird experiences

You can see pochard and the gadwall are regionally important for breeding birds such as grey herons, tufted ducks, and little egrets. In the summer, swift birds visit here. Also, we can see the kingfisher and the Peregrine falcon all year round.

How to reach Walthamstow Wetlands

The main entrance to Walthamstow Wetlands Bird Sanctuary, London, is 2 Forest Road, London N17 9nh.

The bird sanctuary is conveniently located only 15 minutes on the tube from central London.

• Walthamstow Wetlands email — [email protected]
• Call 0208 496 2115.
• Address- Walthamstow Wetlands,2 Forest Road, London, N17 9nh

4. The Woods and Richard Jefferies Bird Sanctuary

The Woods was a large Victorian house with a lake and mixed woodland. The house was demolished in 1933, and in 1947, the site was purchased for a public park, which opened in 1951/2 soon after they bought the land.

It’s suggested that it be turned into a bird sanctuary and called Jefferies Wood after the naturalist Richard Jefferies, who had lived in Surbiton. So, in 1980, part of the site became the Richard Jefferies Bird Sanctuary.

This small town park, close to Surbiton station, includes a fenced bird sanctuary. The publicly accessible part comprises mown grassland and planted trees and shrubs. The bird sanctuary is largely wooded, consisting of oak (Quercus sp.) and sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus).

Locally uncommon plants in the ground flora include wood-sorrel (Oxalis acetosella) and ramsons (Allium ursinum). Breeding birds include great-spotted woodpeckers, jays, and song thrush. The site is a Local Nature Reserve, and the London Wildlife Trust manages it.

A small suburban park, including a fenced bird sanctuary, is managed as a nature reserve. The accessible part is a pleasant place to relax amidst the planted trees and shrubs. It is mainly wooded and supports a range of common birds.

The Woods and Richard Jefferies Bird Sanctuary entry fee

The Woods Bird Sanctuary’s part of the site is free public access. But Bird Sanctuary is closed to the public; it is open.

The Woods and Richard Jefferies Bird Sanctuary bird experiences

The great spotted jay and song thrush woodpecker are found here.

How to reach The Woods and Richard Jefferies Bird Sanctuary 

• Rail — Surbiton.
• Bus — 281, 406, 71, 465, K1 (walk)
• Email — [email protected]
• Ph. no — 07737644119

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5. The Tarn Bird Sanctuary

The Tarn Bird Sanctuary is a pretty cool park in southeast London with birds and lots of water animals. There are many seats. The garden is well-kept. Green chains are part of a walking park. There is an interesting ice well at the end of the park.

The Royal Borough of Greenwich owns the Tarn, which is open yearly and maintained by the Royal Borough of Greenwich Park Department. You can see ducks, Greece, baby chicks, and herons. The place is covered with beautiful trees, sculptures, and wild wildlife birds. Here alone, you can enjoy a happy time or bring children to see the true glory of nature.

Please note that dogs are prohibited in this place because they disturb the wild animals during this year’s breeding season.

The park is near Mottingham Station. The park location has easy access points by car and public transport.

Opening time

The Tarn is open all year round in daylight.

The Tarn Bird Sanctuary bird experiences

The tan has a wide variety of wildlife. The following is a list, which is not exhaustive. If you want to add to this list, please let us know what you have seen in the Tan.

Canada Geese, Greylag, Mallards, Tufty Ducks, Coots, Moorhen, Mandarin Duck, Egyptian Goose, Pipistrelle Bats, (Common, Soprano & Nathusius), Blackbirds, Thrush, Robin, Parakeet, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Green Woodpecker, Magpie, Jay, Nuthatch, Crow, Pied Wagtail, Goldcrest, Wren, Long-tailed Tit, Coal Tit, House Sparrow, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Heron, Tawny Owl, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Kingfisher.

How to reach the Tarn Bird Sanctuary

The nearest Station is Mottingham.

Buses 124, 126 and 161.

Address — 133 Court Road, London SE9 5AQ, England

Contact number 020 8856 0100

Email: [email protected]

Bird rescue number in London

The RSPCA bird rescue number is 0300 1234 999 for all requests and urgent help (a 24-hour helpline charged at national call rates).

It is another number, 0207 272 2264 (an electronic voicemail service that is regularly manned; we aim to respond in 48 hours).

RSPCA bird rescue address is

RSPCA Central, West & North East London, Box 145, 2 Lansdowne Row, London W1J 6hl

Email: [email protected] (Please DO NOT use this email address for bird or animal emergencies).