National Centre for Birds of Prey (NCBP)
ENTRY
from £11.50
WHERE
Helmsley
What it’s like
Watch birds of prey fly free over 300 acres of parkland, with three flying demos a day and woodland walks between them.
The demos are the reason to come. Three times a day, at 11.30am, 2pm and 4.15pm, the birds fly and the aviaries empty out into the sky, which is a different thing entirely from watching a bird sit on a perch. Between demos you get a wristband on entry so you can wander the 300 acres of Duncombe Park woodland and parkland, then walk straight back in without paying again. That's a proper bit of thinking from them, because a toddler or a restless eight-year-old will not sit still for three hours between shows.
There's a free ink stamp trail and a word search sheet if you've got kids who like a task to follow round, plus the aviaries themselves to wander between times. The site reckons on 2 to 3 hours to see everything properly, though they admit some visitors stay all day, and once you've walked the parkland too that's not hard to believe.
Entry is £15 for an adult and £11.50 for a child aged 4 to 16, with under 4s going in free, so a family of four is looking at £45 if you take the family ticket. Last entry is 4.30pm and there's no need to book ahead, you just turn up. The Owl House Cafe does home-baked cakes and meals using Yorkshire produce, and picnics are allowed if you'd rather eat out on the grass with the woodland as your view.
One thing to flag if you're bringing the dog: he's not allowed in the centre grounds, though the parkland that comes with your ticket is apparently great for a dog walk, so you could split the day between the two. There's an off-road wheelchair for loan free of charge, first come first served, plus blue badge parking and accessible toilets.
Facilities
Need to know
- Last entry
- 4.30pm
- How long to allow
- Allow a good 2-3 hours to see everything, but we stayed all day
- Food
- Owl House Cafe with home-baked cakes, drinks, snacks and freshly-made meals using locally sourced Yorkshire produce
- Wheelchairs
- One off-road wheelchair available for loan, free, first-come-first-served
- Dogs
- Not allowed in centre grounds. Parkland walking included with admission
- Worth knowing
- Under 4s go free
- Last entry is 4.30pm, so don't leave it too late in the day
- Season tickets run £50 to £180 if you reckon on going more than once a year
- One carer per disabled visitor gets free admission with proof of PIP, DLA or international disability proof
- Under 4s go in free
- The gift shop does cuddly owls and stone owls if you need a souvenir
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£15 for an adult, £11.50 for a child aged 4 to 16, and £14 for seniors. Under 4s go free, and a family ticket for two adults and two kids is £45.
Do we need to book?
No need to book, you just turn up on the day.
What time are the flying demonstrations?
There are three a day: 11.30am, 2pm and 4.15pm.
How long should we plan for?
They say allow 2 to 3 hours to see everything, though some visitors end up staying the whole day.
Can we leave and come back in?
You get a wristband on entry so you can head into the parkland or into Helmsley between demos and walk straight back in.
What's there to eat?
The Owl House Cafe does home-baked cakes and meals made with Yorkshire produce, and picnics are allowed if you'd rather eat outside.
Are dogs allowed?
Not in the centre grounds, but the surrounding parkland that comes with your ticket is fine for dog walking.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
There's blue badge parking, accessible toilets, and one off-road wheelchair available to loan for free on a first-come-first-served basis.
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