Bird PlacesEstuary Tower
step-freeseats 60
West over the Dumbles to the Severn
Often seen: Bewick's Swan, Great White Egret
WWT (Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust) reserve · Slimbridge, Gloucestershire
Slimbridge Wetland Centre birdwatching guide
WWT Slimbridge is the birthplace of modern wetland conservation, founded by Peter Scott on the Severn in 1946. Sixteen hides and a heated observatory overlook floods that draw Bewick's swans from Arctic Russia each winter, alongside thousands of white-fronted geese and waders.
Key facts
- Habitat
- wetland
- Size
- 325 ha
- Entry fee (adult)
- £17.91
- Entry fee (child)
- £11.84
- Membership required
- No
- Hides
- 16
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
- Car park
- Yes
- Car park to hides
- 150m to the first hides on hard, level paths
- Toilets
- Yes
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Status
- open
- Best seasons
- winter, spring
Species by season
| Season | Species | Likelihood | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| spring | Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta) | common | — |
| autumn | Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) | frequent | — |
| winter | Bewick's Swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii) | common | Studied here individually by bill pattern since 1964 |
| winter | Great White Egret (Ardea alba) | frequent | — |
Hides at Slimbridge Wetland Centre
Estuary Tower
Getting there
Slimbridge, Gloucestershire, GL2 7BT
View on OpenStreetMap · Official website
Facilities & opening
9:30am–5:30pm (5pm in winter)
Frequently asked questions
When do Bewick's swans arrive at Slimbridge?
Usually from late October, peaking December to February, with floodlit evening feeds in front of the Peng Observatory.
Nearby reserves (all organisations)
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Information last updated 25 July 2026.