North Somerset Bird Of Prey Centre
ENTRY
from £29
WHERE
Congresbury
What it’s like
Hold a bird of prey on your fist, from free Open Days to paid one-to-one Experience Days from £29.
The main event here is getting a bird on your glove, whether that's an owl, a hawk or something further up the food chain. Open Days let you turn up and hold a bird of prey with no booking needed, which is the easy way in if you just fancy a wander and a go. The proper Experience Days go further, up-close, hands-on sessions that need booking by email and start from £29 a person, and they run all year.
Some of the named experiences, like Meet the Animals or the Ultimate Predator Experience, need wellies or boots and ask that participants are able-bodied, since a few enclosures sit off the accessible path. Others, the Owl Experience, Raptor Experience, Falconry Day and Bird of Prey Experience, are wheelchair accessible, with gravel paths that are firm and level bar a slight slope up to the flying arena. If you want to bring someone along just to watch, spectators can join the Raptor, Owl or Bird of Prey Experience for £10 on the day, or £20 for a Falconry Day, and under 4s watch free.
Worth knowing before you book: it is not open for general admission every day, since a lot of the time goes on educational visits, school and university work and the breeding programme, so an email to check what is running that week saves a wasted trip. The 7-day cancellation policy is strict and bookings are non-refundable once paid, and since these are wild birds, nobody can promise they will perform on the day you visit. Parking is free on site at Smallway Leisure Park, and gift vouchers last 12 months if you're buying one as a present.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Experience Days require pre-booking by email
- Parking
- Free parking on site at Smallway Leisure Park
- Wheelchairs
- Gravel paths, generally firm and level
- Dogs
- Guide dogs allowed with advance notice
- Parties
- Private sessions available. Contact by email for details and pricing
- Worth knowing
- Gift vouchers valid for 12 months from date of purchase
- It is not open for general admission every day, so much of the week goes on schools work and the breeding programme
- Birds are wild animals, so a performance is never guaranteed and there are no refunds if they are not in the mood
- Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months from purchase
- Private group sessions can be arranged by emailing the centre directly
Plan your visit
Do we need to book?
Open Days need no booking at all, just turn up and you can hold a bird of prey. Experience Days need pre-booking by email and payment in advance.
How much does it cost?
Experience Days start from £29 per person. Spectators pay £10 on the day for the Raptor, Owl or Bird of Prey Experience, or £20 for a Falconry Day, and under 4s go free.
What should we wear?
Comfortable outdoor clothing and sensible shoes are fine for most experiences. Wellies or boots are required for Meet the Animals, Ultimate Predator, Rare and Endangered Species, Junior Keeper and Zookeeper for the Day.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
The Owl, Raptor, Bird of Prey Experience and Falconry Day are all wheelchair accessible, with gravel paths that are firm and level apart from a slight slope to the flying arena. Meet the Animals and a few of the other hands-on experiences need participants to be able-bodied.
Can we cancel if plans change?
There's a strict 7-day cancellation window, and after that vouchers and bookings count as used. Everything is non-refundable once paid.
Is there parking?
Free parking on site at Smallway Leisure Park.
Can we bring the dog?
Guide dogs are welcome with advance notice. Other dogs aren't allowed since they can spook the birds.
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