National Centre for Birds of Prey
Animal Farms, Zoos & Wildlife Parks · Helmsley, North Yorkshire
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🏠 Indoor & outdoor0–11–33–55–88–1212–16☔ Rainy-day friendly🐐 AnimalsEducational🌲 Woodland
What’s there
- Café on site
- Free parking
Access & inclusion
- Step-free access
Only facilities we’ve confirmed are listed — anything missing here we simply haven’t checked, rather than know to be absent.
The National Centre for Birds of Prey sits in the woodland and parkland of Duncombe Park, a short drive from Helmsley in the North York Moors. It presents itself as the largest collection of birds of prey in the north of England, with aviaries holding owls, eagles, hawks, vultures, falcons and kites from many parts of the world. Families can watch flying demonstrations where staff introduce the different species, and in wet weather some birds fly indoors so the displays carry on. A free ink stamp trail and a word search and colouring sheet give younger children something to do around the site. Admission includes the surrounding parkland, so there is room to walk between displays. There is a café on site and a gift shop. The centre also runs hawk and owl experiences for those who want a closer encounter, and it is involved in conservation and captive breeding work.
Questions parents ask
- How long should we allow for a visit?
- Plan for 2 to 3 hours to see everything, though some visitors stay all day. You get a wristband on entry, which lets you leave and come back as often as you wish, so you can break it up with walks in the surrounding parkland or a trip into Helmsley.
- Is there somewhere to eat, or should we bring a picnic?
- The Owl House Cafe serves hot and cold meals, snacks, fresh coffee and Yorkshire Tea, with all cakes made on the premises. We haven't confirmed whether there's a dedicated picnic area.
- Does it work in bad weather?
- Yes. The page notes that even in poor weather it was a good visit, with the flying demonstrations being a highlight. The centre is set within woodland so offers some shelter, though the paths are compacted fine gravel.
- Is there parking, and is it a walk from the car?
- Parking is confirmed at the venue. The site has full disabled access throughout with no steps, and compacted fine gravel paths, making it manageable from the car park.
Stuff to take with you
The things people wish they’d packed for a day out like this one.
Wellies- Puddle suitThe only way a toddler stays dry at a farm in February.
Refillable water bottleMost places will fill it for free.
Snacks that survive a rucksackCheaper than the café, and buys you twenty minutes.
Pram clip-on fan- Comforter, plus a spareThe one that must not be lost. It will be lost.
Lip balm- Car window sunshade
Spare shoesOne puddle and the day is decided otherwise.
Bottle or beaker
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Photos: Anna Tesar, CC BY 2.0 · Iadirmiz, CC BY-SA 4.0 · I AM GIFTY, CC BY 4.0
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