Bird PlacesPeacock Tower
step-freeseats 40
West over the main lake and reedbed
Often seen: Bittern, Shoveler
WWT (Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust) reserve · Barnes, Greater London
London Wetland Centre birdwatching guide
The London Wetland Centre turned four disused Victorian reservoirs in Barnes into lakes, reedbed and grazing marsh, and did it so successfully that the site is now nationally important for wintering wildfowl. Six hides including a three-storey observatory sit within half an hour of central London, making it the easiest place in Britain to watch bitterns and wintering duck without leaving a capital city.
Key facts
- Habitat
- wetland
- Size
- Not recorded
- Entry fee (adult)
- £17.10
- Entry fee (child)
- £11.12
- Membership required
- No
- Hides
- 6
- Wheelchair access
- Yes
- Car park
- Yes
- Car park to hides
- 200m of level path to the first hide
- Toilets
- Yes
- Dogs
- Not allowed
- Status
- open
- Best seasons
- winter, spring
Species by season
| Season | Species | Likelihood | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| autumn | Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) | frequent | — |
| winter | Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) | occasional | Watched from the Peacock Tower in hard weather |
| winter | Peregrine (Falco peregrinus) | occasional | — |
| winter | Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | common | — |
Hides at London Wetland Centre
Peacock Tower
Wader Scrape Hide
Getting there
Barnes, Greater London
View on OpenStreetMap · Official website
Facilities & opening
9:30am–5:30pm (4:30pm in winter); last entry one hour before closing
Frequently asked questions
How do I get to the London Wetland Centre without a car?
Barnes and Barnes Bridge stations are both about a fifteen-minute walk, and the 33, 72 and 209 buses stop at the entrance.
Can I see bitterns at the London Wetland Centre?
Usually one or two winter each year in the main reedbed, watched from the Peacock Tower; December to February gives the best chance.
Nearby reserves (all organisations)
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Information last updated 25 July 2026.