WWT London wetland centre

WWT London Wetland Centre is a blissful nature reserve right by the river Thames, just 15 minutes walk from Barnes rail station. Providing visitors with brilliant days out surrounded by wildlife, our mission is to inspire people to cherish and protect the world’s wetlands. Once consisting of defunct, concrete-lined Victorian reservoirs, the space was transformed by WWT into a thriving wildlife haven opened by Sir David Attenborough in 2000.

He said: “It’s sensational – an extra lung for Londoners, and right in the middle of London” At the heart of the reserve is a host of diverse and rare water habitats created to support thousands of animals. These include Red List birds such as black-tailed godwits that use the site as an essential lifeline for migrating. By providing a stronghold for threatened UK wildlife, the reserve is regarded as one of the great conservation successes of the 21st century.

It is now used as a blueprint for urban wetland creation around the world. Our aim is for people to feel connected to wetlands, returning again and again, supporting our work, and being inspired to take action to protect these precious spaces. While exploring the reserve, visitors can expect to see wildlife found nowhere else in London including species of butterflies, dragonflies, bees, moths, beetles, bats, frogs, fish, birds, plant life, fungi, and more.

While on-site they can also discover the importance of wetland habitats and how to protect them through our talks, friendly staff and volunteers, art installations, and engaging signage. What’s more, visitors can feel even better safe in the knowledge that their tickets and onsite purchases contribute to WWT’s essential conservation projects, protecting wetlands around the world.