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Award-winning flying experiences suitable for all ages and abilities

 

 

 

All of our flying experiences take place inside the National Botanic Garden of Wales. Whether you are 2 or 92 you can be part of the fun. We adapt each experience to individual needs and our birds are all trained by us so we know how super friendly they are. Other than the small amount of guidance you will receive from our experienced falconers it is all about you flying the birds.

Flying Experiences

Half Day Flying Experience

Private Half Day Experience

Our most popular experience! Two and a half hours flying four different bird of prey species. 

Eagle Experience Wales

Eagle Experience Wales

Fly the UK's 3 Largest birds of prey yourself. Golden Eagle, European Eagle Owl and White-tailed Sea Eagle

Owl Experience

Private Owl Encounter

Family favourite! One and a half hours, flying three different species of owl.

Woodland Walk

Private Woodland Walk

For those that want to mix it up! One and a half hours, flying a falcon and an owl. 

Photography Experience

Private Photography Experience

Want to get the perfect shot? Experiences can be tailored to individual needs and abilities to include static shots in natural surroundings or birds in flight.

Group Flying Experiences

Group Flying Experiences

Take place daily. Max 15 people per session. 30 minutes flying an Owl or a Kite. No need to pre-book.

New for 2024

Ticket Refund Protection included 

  • Ticket Refund Protection is included within the advertised ticket price at no additional cost.
  • (i) For all bookings made on or after 18/03/2024 Ticket Refund Protection is provided by TicketPlan Ltd. TicketPlan protection will provide you with a refund if you're unable to attend your experience due to a wide range of unforeseen circumstances including:
    • Accident / illness / injury/ bereavement
    • Public transport failure / mechanical breakdown
    • Fire or Burglary at your residence / jury service / court summons
  • For full TicketPlan terms & conditions and details of how to apply for a refund please visit https://www.ticketplangroup.com/uploads/assets/ast/AST-Refund-Promise-102023.pdf#
  • Where Ticket Refund Protection is included, please note that eligibility for a refund is determined and administered by TicketPlan Ltd and The British Bird of Prey Centre is not liable for the outcome of applications. TicketPlan Refund Protection is an optional service (included in ticket price) offered by The British Bird of Prey Centre and administered by TicketPlan on their behalf. It is not an insurance policy.
  • The British Bird of Prey Centre reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions without prior notice.

Seasonal Activities

🧙‍♀️WOW! Witches-Owls-Wizards🦉

Date: Monday 28th October - Friday 1st November

Get ready for a spellbinding day of magic and adventure at our special Halloween event, WOW! Witches - Owls - Wizards! This fun-filled day is perfect for families, owl lovers, and anyone who enjoys a little enchantment.


Event Highlights

🪄 Wand Making & Halloween Crafts
Time: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Location: Great Glasshouse
Unleash your inner witch or wizard by crafting your own magical wand and diving into Halloween-inspired crafts. Perfect for all ages, our creative space will bring your Halloween imagination to life!


🦉 Indoor Owl Shows

Owls of Magic: A Spooky Flight Experience 🦉✨🎃
Step into the enchanting world of Owls of Magic: A Spooky Flight Experience, where the most famous owls from your favorite wizarding tales take center stage! Watch these majestic birds soar through the air as we bring their iconic roles to life, sharing behind-the-scenes stories from the magical world of cinema.

Prepare to be spellbound as these mystical creatures fly before your eyes in this unique Halloween show that will leave you captivated!

Showtimes:

  • 11:30 AM
  • 1:00 PM
  • 2:30 PM

Tickets: £3 per person (limited to 50 people per show)
Make sure to pre-book your tickets as spots are limited!


Fly Your Favourite Owl Characters
We’re bringing your favourite owls from the world of witches and wizards to life! Watch these majestic birds soar and even get the chance to fly them yourself:

  • Snowy Owl (like Hedwig) at 12:30 PM
  • Great Grey Owl (like Errol) at 1:45 PM
  • European Eagle Owl (like Malfoy’s owl) at 3:15 PM

Fancy Dress Encouraged!

Come dressed as your favourite witch, wizard, or magical creature! Whether you're casting spells or chasing after owls, we encourage everyone to join in the Halloween spirit.


Ticket Information

  • Owl Show Tickets: £3 per person
    Pre-book your show time to avoid disappointment, as each show is limited to 50 tickets!

  • General Entry: Normal Garden entry applies 
    Tickets to the Garden include access to wand-making, crafts, and visiting the owls in their aviaries

🎅🦉 Santa and The Owls 🎄✨

Date: From 30th November - 23rd December

This Christmas, a magical adventure awaits at Santa and The Owls! Experience the joy of the season with Santa, his owl helpers, and festive fun for the whole family. 🎄🦉


Event Highlights

🎅 Visit Santa in His Grotto
Tickets: £8 per child (accompanying adults go free!)
Make memories with a magical visit to Santa in his cozy grotto! Each child will have the chance to meet Santa, share their Christmas wishes, and leave with a special gift.


🦉 Meet the Owls Who Deliver Santa’s Letters
What would Santa do without his trusty owls? Come face-to-face with the owls who help deliver Christmas wishes straight to the North Pole!


🎨 Festive Arts & Crafts
Get creative and make your own festive masterpieces! From Christmas decorations to holiday cards, our arts & crafts station will get everyone in the holiday spirit.


🎭 Christmas Flying Shows
Location: Theatr Botanica

Wings in the Shadows: The Secret Life of Owls  🌍🦉✨
Step into a world of wonder with an immersive indoor flying show narrated in the style of David Attenborough. Watch as owls from around the globe soar through Theatr Botanica, and journey with us as we explore their lives, habitats, and the magic they bring to the natural world.

Prepare to be captivated by their grace and power as they fly just above your head in this truly unforgettable Christmas show!


🔎 Elf Hunt in the Great Glasshouse
Can you find all the elves hiding in the Great Glasshouse? This festive scavenger hunt is perfect for kids (and adults!) who love an adventure.


🦉 Meet Fudge, the Giant Owl
Say hello to our lovable giant owl, Fudge! He’s ready to welcome visitors for some festive fun.


🦉 Hold a Real Owl
Tickets: £3
Want to hold one of Santa’s magical owls? Don’t miss the chance to hold one of these majestic creatures and capture the moment with a photo!


Ticket Information

  • Tickets include entry to the National Botanic Garden of Wales, The British Bird of Prey Centre and the Christmas Flying Show
  • Santa Grotto Tickets: £8 per child (adults free!)
  • Owl Holding Experience: £3
  • Arts & Crafts (included)
  • Elf on the shelf trail (included)

Arrive instantly - print yourself

Gift Vouchers

E-Gift Vouchers valid for 12 months.

How it all works

On arrival you will be met by one of our experienced falconers who will be with you throughout your experience. They will provide you with a falconers glove and introduce you to each bird, so you know exactly who you are flying, then guide you on your route around the Garden while the birds fly free.

You will fly each bird yourself and as it’s your adventure, you decide how fast and how far you walk. The birds are happy to fly to people standing up or sitting down and are fine with wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

Your guide will tell you all about the birds and when you are ready you can call them to land on your glove. Different birds will be flown in different areas of the Garden to make the experience as natural as possible. Make sure you bring your camera to get those special photos with all your new friends!

As well as flying the birds yourself, our Private Experiences include watching one of our amazing flying displays and visiting all the other birds in the Centre. We will also make you a nice cup of tea, coffee or a soft drink whilst you decide who was your personal favourite!

Experiences Montage

Something extra to make your experience even more special...

These options can be added to any of our Private Flying Experiences.  Just add them to the cart when you make your booking. 

Meet Margaret

Margaret is a DIVA! 

This is a 15 minute 'add-on' to your experience, where you will spend with our sassy, Snowy owl, Margaret. 

This 15 minutes will be spent on the flying ground, where you will be able give her some food, sit next to her, learn all about her 'larger-than-life' character, take photos and if she's feeling like it, you can hold her on your glove. 

Please be aware that we have added this experience due to popular demand, however Margaret will only do what Margaret wants to do. We can only guarantee you her time, the rest will depend on how she feels on the day! 

Only one 'add-on' per booking is required, everyone in the party will be able to spend time with Margaret

Hold a Golden Eagle

Get up close and personal with one of the largest members of our team! Have a chance to hold Midas the Golden Eagle after your experience and get the photos of this once in a lifetime opportunity  

Please Note: Midas weighs over 3.5kg. This session will be tailored to each individual and handling will only be able to take place if it is safe for both the participant and the Eagle. Meet and greet and photography will still be able to take place. Recommended for age 14+

Photography support

We are lucky that one of our falconers is also a professional photographer. If you would like him to offer advice and support during your photography experience, so you are most likely to get the photos you want, you can now make that happen.

This 'add-on' will ensure your experience takes place with our photographer and they will support you as little or as much as you want during your experience.

The British Bird of Prey Centre

What our visitors say about our experiences...

"So glad we booked this amazing activity. Four of us took part in the ‘Hawk Walk” with Malachi the Harris Hawk, complete with access to the Botanical Gardens of Wales...It was a fantastic end to our holiday and luckily for us it is within day trip distance - so we will definitely be going back for more of the raptor experiences!

The walk is easily managed with sensible shoes. One of our party uses crutches, but that did not hinder either the walk or the handling of the birds."

Gr3yOne - TripAdvisor

Flying owls was always something I wanted to do, The British Bird of Prey centre made it happen. Emma and Alex were amazing handlers and really informative, the birds were beautiful and obviously well looked after.
The experience was amazing and highly recommended.

Brooksie14 - TripAdvisor

"Just had the half day BOP flying experience. Absolutely fantastic experience. Life enhancing to get up close to these magnificent birds. Really takes you out of yourself, and under the guidance and expertise of James, who has tremendous skill and knowledge to rap in to. Really makes you want to know more and look after nature as a result. Highly recommended. Thank you BBOPC. What you do has very positive implications by allowing visitors to think about nature."

Ian C - TripAdvisor

Tell us about your experience

Birds of Prey