London Wetland Centre

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  • Address
    Queen Elizabeth's Walk, Barnes, SW13
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  • Phone
    8409 4400
  • Website
  • Transport
    underground rail: Hammersmith then bus 283 (Duck Bus), 33, 72 or 209
train: Barnes

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Lonely Planet review

One of Europe's largest inland wetland projects, this 43-hectare centre run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust was transformed from four Victorian reservoirs in 2000 and attracts some 140 species of birds as well as 300 types of moths and butterflies. There's even a large colony of parakeets, that may or may not be the descendants of caged pets.

From the Visitor Centre and glassed-in Observatory overlooking the ponds, meandering paths and boardwalks lead visitors around the grounds, taking in the habitats of its many residents, including ducks, swans, geese and coots and the rarer bitterns, herons and kingfishers. By no means miss the Peacock Tower, a three-storey hide on the main lake's eastern edge. Though there a half-a-dozen hides sprinkled elsewhere around the reserve, the tower is the mecca for the more serious birders, who will be happy to point out what they've spotted. Free daily tours, which are led by knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff members and are highly recommended, depart at and daily.