Hawk Conservancy Trust Bird of Prey Centre
ENTRY
from £17.65
WHERE
Andover
What it’s like
Flying displays, a vulture trail and a tractor ride round the grounds make this a full day rather than a quick stop.
The main event is the flying displays, and they're not messing about, the site calls them world-class, with birds swooping low over the arena. Beyond that there's the Vulture Voyage Adventure Trail and a Tree Trail about habitats, plus a chance to get close to the Burrowing Owls, who seem to draw a crowd whatever else is on. Tractor rides run around the grounds too, weather permitting, which is worth knowing before you promise a small child a ride on the way in.
At £24.50 for an adult and £17.65 for a child, this isn't a cheap afternoon, and that price already has a 10% voluntary donation folded in. Given how much ground there is to cover, tractor rides, a playground, trails, the displays, it earns its billing as a full day out rather than a couple of hours before lunch. Feathers Restaurant does hot and cold meals plus afternoon tea and ice creams, with the menu changing daily.
You don't have to book, but they do advise it, and if a day is fully booked you will not get in on spec. Last admission is 4:30pm on weekdays and 3:30pm at weekends, so turning up mid afternoon on a Saturday cuts your visit short. Parking is free, and there's free disabled parking right at the main entrance for blue badge holders.
It closes over winter for a stretch in January and February, and it can also shut at short notice in genuinely dangerous weather, which is a fair trade for everyone's safety but a nuisance if you've driven a long way on a whim.
What’s on here
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- Last admission at 4:30pm (weekdays), 3:30pm (weekends)
- Booking
- Pre-booking advised but not required
- Parking
- Free disabled parking at main entrance for blue badge holders
- How long to allow
- Full day out
- Food
- Feathers Restaurant serves hot and cold meals, afternoon tea, ice creams and hot drinks
- Wheelchairs
- Free loan of manual wheelchairs (pre-booking advised)
- The admission price already includes a 10% voluntary donation, so it's not on top
- Tractor rides only run when the weather cooperates
- Weekend last entry is an hour earlier than weekdays, at 3:30pm
- Wheelchair loans are free but best arranged in advance
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£24.50 for an adult, £17.65 for a child aged 4 to 15, and £23.45 for seniors. That price already includes a 10% voluntary donation.
Do we need to book ahead?
It's advised but not required. You can pay at reception if there's space, but a fully booked day means no walk-in entry.
What time is last admission?
4:30pm on weekdays and 3:30pm at weekends, with the site closing at 5:30pm or 4:30pm respectively.
How long should we plan to stay?
This is a full day out. Between the flying displays, the trails and the tractor rides, there's enough to fill an afternoon and then some.
Is there food on site?
Feathers Restaurant serves hot and cold meals, afternoon tea, ice creams and hot drinks, with a menu that changes daily.
Is parking free?
Yes, and there's free disabled parking at the main entrance for blue badge holders.
What if the weather's bad?
The tractor rides depend on the weather, and the whole site may close in genuinely dangerous conditions.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Manual wheelchairs are available to borrow, best pre-booked, and there are reserved areas at the display arenas plus accessible toilets in Feathers Restaurant.
Can a carer come for free?
A designated carer gets free entry if you bring supporting documentation.
Is the Trust open all year?
It closes for a stretch from early January to mid February, so check the dates aren't crossing your visit.
Can you do birthday parties there?
Yes, birthday parties are listed among what's on offer, alongside school visits and group bookings.
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