The first of its kind when it opened in 2000, the London Wetland Centre converted numerous small reservoirs – disused since the Victoria era – into an impressive range of habitats and wetland features for wild birds and other fauna to find their new homes in. The London Wetland Centre was the first project in London to give the urban back to nature, and it has since been reaping the rewards.
Hosting many species of birds that cannot be found elsewhere in London, with wild birds of interest including the great crested grebe, common kingfisher, Northern lapwing, and the far-travelling Sand martin, and their impressive diversity among their captive wildfowl, the London Wetland Centre is the number one spot in London for birdwatching. You won’t even need the binoculars.
But there’s much more on offer than species of ecological interest, this is a chance for your kids to explore and indulge in the boundless glory of nature. Meet some animals you wont get to see anywhere else, including otters, cranes, Hawaiian geese; go pond-dipping in a supremely tranquil environment, specially designed for children with sensory difficulties; cook up some mud meals in the mud kitchen; for the more adventurous, take on a zip-line or the wobbly bridge, or race ducks in the adventure playground!
Perhaps most uniquely, you can make music with the sounds of nature in their Sound Garden. A musical playground like no other, like a gym dotted with instruments, you can have a crack at the bamboo xylophone (often misreferred to as a ‘glockenspiel’) or find your tempo on the giant tube drum panel. Try to time your rhythms with the sounds of nature, as bees buzz past and the trees susurrate to create a natural chorus.
A premier nature spot for kids all the way up to elders, there are few better places in London for you to take in the sheer wonderment of natures gifts.
Details
- Address:
- WWT London Wetland Centre
- SW13 9WT
- Transport:
- Barnes