Scottish Owl Centre
BEST FOR
Ages 3-15
ENTRY
from £9.50
WHERE
Bathgate
What it’s like
Get up close to more than 140 owls, watch a flying display and hold one for a photo if you're brave enough.
This one's all about the owls, obviously, but it's the flying displays that make the visit. They run every day whatever's going on outside, so a grey Tuesday in February doesn't mean a wasted trip. There's a photo opportunity too where you can actually hold an owl, though that's £5 on top of your entry ticket, so decide before you go whether that's a yes for your family or a step too far for a nervous six-year-old.
With 140-odd owls from all over the world on show, there's more to look at than you'd think, and the adventure playground gives kids a spot to burn off the waiting-around time between displays. Ages 3 to 15 are catered for on the pricing, which tells you it's built with families in mind rather than a quick add-on for older kids doing a school project.
Entry isn't cheap for what's essentially a specialist bird centre. It's £9.50 a child and £11.50 for an adult, though the family ticket at £40 for two adults and two kids softens that a bit. Opening hours shift a lot through the year, running to 5pm in summer but cutting right back to 2pm on winter weekends, and last entry is always an hour before closing, so check which season you're visiting in before you plan your day.
There's a café on site within Polkemmet Country Park if you need lunch, and a picnic area if you'd rather bring your own. No dogs allowed, which is worth knowing if the family dog usually tags along on these outings. It's wheelchair accessible too, and if it's a birthday you're after, £120 gets up to 15 kids a private owl flying display and their own photo moment.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 3 to 15, with the flying displays the bit kids remember
- Last entry
- 1 hour before closing
- Food
- Café on site within Polkemmet Country Park
- Picnics
- Picnic area available, covered picnic area for birthday parties
- Dogs
- No dogs allowed
- Parties
- Birthday parties from £120 for up to 15 children, includes private owl flying display and photo opportunity
- Flying displays run daily regardless of weather
- Last entry is always an hour before closing
- No dogs allowed on site
- Opening hours cut right back in winter, so check the season before you set off
- Holding an owl for a photo is £5 on top of your ticket
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£9.50 for a child, £11.50 for an adult, or £40 for a family of four. Holding an owl for a photo is £5 extra.
Do we need to book ahead?
There's nothing in their info about needing to book, so it looks like you can just turn up.
What age is it good for?
They price tickets from age 3 up to 15, so it's built for that age bracket rather than teenagers or grown-ups on their own.
Can we bring the dog?
No dogs allowed on site, so leave the family dog at home for this one.
What are the opening hours?
It changes a lot by season. Summer runs 10:30 to 5pm, spring and autumn cut back to 11:30 to 4pm, and November and January weekends are just 11:30 to 2pm.
Is there food there?
There's a café on site within Polkemmet Country Park, plus a picnic area if you'd rather bring your own.
Can you actually hold an owl?
You can, it's a separate photo opportunity for £5 on top of entry. Worth deciding in advance if that's something your kids will be up for.
Do they do birthday parties?
From £120 for up to 15 children, which gets you a private owl flying display and a photo opportunity built in.
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