The London Wetland Centre, Barnes, London

Meh. Mostly ducks and geese. Lots of signs telling you which exotic and interesting birds can be found in various continents, but pointedly not to be found at the Wetlands.

You'll see more bird diversity in Regents' Park - and not have to pay the rather expensive entry price to do so.

In November 2010 I attended an event on biodiversity at the British Library. Questions from the audience included things like how best to bring back biodiversity to urban environments and engage young people with nature.
I can't think of a example of where this works better than the London Wetland Centre.
Not only is it a haven for water birds, water voles and all sorts of other
creatures, it is a haven for people as well. There are lots of things to see and do for adults and children alike. Tell me, what beats mucking around with water and not being told off!
True, there is a lot of noise from aeroplanes, but it can't really spoil the fun for me. It is in the top 3 of my favourite places in London.

brilliant .

We could not believe we were so close to central London!

It’s a wonderful escape… you’ll need to allow at least half a day to enjoy properly.

Can get busy, especially at weekends and during school holidays. Go early, before the crowds arrive!

A huge conservation area in South West London. A really good day out, although best enjoyed on a dry day! There are observatories as you walk around the site which provide shelter to view the birds if it's not as dry as you'd like! It's a really lovely opportunity to see so many birds in an open space so close to central London. If you travel by train, you can get 2 for 1 entry if you go to www.daysoutguide.co.uk.

A great day out in London to do something completely different. You see a fantastic variety of birds if you look out for them but there’s also some failsafe attractions such as the education center, playground and different animals in a petting zoo type enclosure. Definitely great for families with younger children. Just a perfect way to relax and get away from all the stress of city life for a day!

Very interesting place to go, for educational purposes and just for a nice place to take the family. The birds arent shy, and will freely wander near the visitors so it is nothing like the stereotypical sort of birdwatching through binoculars. You follow whatever paths you want and you can stay there for as long as possible. Best time to go is probably when the new chicks have hatched but are still small and fluffy....they are just so cute!

Form the 1st of December to the 22nd this palce will be busy as it selling Christmas trees to the public.There sre some nice big ones to choose from.

This place is so tranquil that it makes you forget that you are in London. The London Wetland Centre has been very well thought out to engage visitors of all ages and it is definitely a great day out for kids, as mentioned in the previous review, but it's also a good spot for adults who want to escape to a rural setting if only for the day.

There are some great hides if you fancy some bird watching, but I have to admit that I prefer going for a stroll in the meadows then relaxing at the waterside cafe. You'll see all sorts of wildlife, the visitors centre is full of information about the animals at the centre and if you have specific questions the staff are always happy to tell you more.

This really is a fun day out for all and trust me you'll be astounded by all the wildlife and then you'll be astounded again when you remember that you're in London.

The London Wetland Centre in Barnes is one of our favourite places to go in the holidays. The children can learn all about the wildlife and look at the birds in the observatory. The adventure playground is well worth a visit too. There’s a maze of child-sized burrows, a wall made of boulders to climb over and a river - great fun, and feels like a little bit of the country right in the heart of London.