Tiggywinkles Visitor Centre
ENTRY
from £13.50
WHERE
Haddenham
What it’s like
See rescued hedgehogs, owls, foxes and deer up close, plus talks and a nursery peek at this wildlife hospital's visitor centre near Haddenham.
This is the visitor side of the wildlife hospital, so what you're actually looking at are the permanent residents who can't go back to the wild, hedgehogs, owls, foxes and deer among them, plus a peek into the mammal and baby bird nurseries. School holidays bring expert talks where you get to meet some of the rescued animals close up, which is the bit worth timing your visit around if you can.
There's a play area for when the animal-watching wears thin, an arts and crafts centre, and a picnic area if you've brought your own food, though there's also a kiosk doing ice creams and snacks. Pricing shifts with the seasons, an adult is £8.20 in spring and summer with the Gift Aid donation, dropping to £6.10 over autumn and winter, and a family ticket covering two adults and two children runs £25.20 in the warmer months. Skip the donation and you pay a touch less, £7.38 for an adult in summer. No booking needed, you just turn up and buy on arrival.
If you fancy something more structured, there are guided tours at £13.50 that run about three hours and end with a complimentary hot drink in the undercover café. Worth flagging though, tours aren't suitable for under-8s, no younger children or babies allowed on those, so they're a different day out to a general visit rather than a variant of one. Parking's free on site, and dogs aren't allowed in, so leave them at home rather than in the car.
Facilities
Need to know
- Booking
- Tickets can be purchased on arrival, no need to book
- Parking
- Free car park on site
- Food
- Kiosk serving ice creams, drinks and snacks
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Getting there by bus or train
- Haddenham & Thame Parkway train station approximately 20 minutes' walk away
- Prices are lower if you skip the Gift Aid donation, but you pay a bit more with it added on
- Guided tours aren't suitable for under-8s, unlike general admission
- The centre is open 24 hours to take in injured wildlife, no need to call first
- Animal adoptions include a free entry ticket plus an optional soft toy
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
In spring and summer it's £8.20 for an adult and £6.50 for a child with the Gift Aid donation, dropping to £6.10 and £4.40 in autumn and winter. A family ticket for two adults and two children is £25.20 in summer, £18 in winter.
Do we need to book?
No, tickets are sold on arrival for general admission.
What are the opening hours?
10am to 4pm, Thursday to Monday currently, and the same hours during school half-term weeks.
Is there parking?
Free parking on site.
What will the kids actually see?
Permanent resident hedgehogs, owls, foxes and deer, plus a look into the mammal and baby bird nurseries. School holidays add talks where you can meet some of the animals up close.
Can we bring the dog?
Dogs aren't allowed at the centre.
What about food?
There's a kiosk for ice creams, drinks and snacks, and a picnic area if you'd rather bring your own.
Are guided tours different from a general visit?
Tours cost £13.50, last around three hours, and end with a complimentary hot drink in the café. They're not suitable for under-8s, so no babies or younger children on those.
Can we book a group visit?
Group visits last around three hours and include meeting a hedgehog up close, with a minimum booking of £150 depending on group size.
How do we get there without a car?
Haddenham & Thame Parkway train station is about a 20 minute walk from the centre.
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