York Bird of Prey Centre image

York Bird of Prey Centre

Tourist attraction Zoo

One of the Best Places To Visits in Easingwold


Address

Baston Ln, Huby YO61 1JB, United Kingdom

Website

www.yorkbirdofprey.co.uk

Contact

+44 1347 833214

Rating on Google Maps

4.90 (1.1K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Wednesday: 10:30 am to 5:30 pm
  • Thursday: 10:30 am to 5:30 pm
  • Friday: 10:30 am to 5:30 pm
  • Saturday: 10:30 am to 5:30 pm
  • Sunday: (Christmas Eve), 10:30 am to 5:30 pm, Hours might differ
  • Monday: (Christmas Day), 10:30 am to 5:30 pm, Hours might differ
  • Tuesday: (Boxing Day), Closed, Hours might differ

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: birds (92) staff (40) experience (36) great (29) amazing (28) knowledgeable (24) flying (23) friendly (23) visit (23) volunteers (17)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Neil H. 2 years ago on Google
    An absolutely amazing experience. The opportunity to get up close and personal with these beautiful birds made our day out extra special. The volunteers clearly love the birds and imparting knowledge whilst giving you a great experience. After a look around we joined the 11.30 flying show. This lasted over 1hour and we all had the opportunity put on the glove and let the owls land on you. Perhaps we were lucky with limited numbers. Then outside we all got the chance to hold a Golden Eagle. Please donate generously or book a personal experience as its such a great place and worth every penny.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Alison L. 2 years ago on Google
    We went for the half day experience, and I cannot recommend it enough. We both had a great (although wet and windy!) day and really enjoyed it. All the volunteers/team are great and were shown around by Nicola & Charlie. So thank you Charlie, a great experience!
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ben S. 2 years ago on Google
    Had a great time for my youngest's birthday present. Staff are amazingly knowledgeable and friendly. Nicola and Hayley were brilliant with the kids. Definitely will be going back to see more of the magnificent array of birds they have .
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 85 H. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing day. Exellent staff, very friendly and very knowledgeable. We did the owl experience and it was truely amazing, holding owls stroking owls and finding out about their lives and habitats. Our owl experience guide was very very informative and friendly. The group flying with various birds was excellent and very informative. We learned so much. Highly recommended and I will go again for sure. This is an exellent experience and very worth the fees and experience day fee. Wonderful day
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jacob G. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing! Visited multiple times before and it just gets better and better everytime. It is so interactive and is great for kids and adults because there is birds of all sizes you can hold and fly. The staff and volunteers are super knowledgeable and the owner Andrew and his wife are the nicest people you could meet(You will hear his jokes in the show 🤣) the show is one of the main highlights and is definitely one of the best I've seen. So I highly recommend visiting this amazing place and seeing these beautiful birds.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jacqueline G. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely amazing experience day. Full hands on all through the day with all the birds kept here, such beautiful birds and so fantastic having them sat on your hand, feeding them and interacting so much with them. Billy & George looked after us most of the day and their knowledge of the birds is second to none, everyone here works voluntarily and even Andrew's jokes in the arena were funny! Such lovely people and very keen for you to handle the birds, none of this, sitting miles away and only watching. It was a fabulous day and one I will remember for a long, long time. Thankyou guys Jackie & Martin Gill xx
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 peter78 1 year ago on Google
    We booked the owl experience as a birthday treat for my mother and what an experience it was! Be advised the post code doesn’t take you to the centre, use it to get close then look out for signs. We missed the actual Bird of Prey sign but there is a massive sign for a cattery, that’s the road you want! Also the site of the local hotel. Once on site the Bird of Prey Centre is located at the very end of a narrow single track road, as my mother is disabled we did drive down; I advise you to park on the left at the top of this lane though and walk down. As you enter the centre you’re straight into the cafe where you can grab a coffee and a slice of cake. Later in the day they also do hotdogs and paninis, there is also a selection of cold drinks and seating. The staff were amazing right from the off, plenty of banter and laughter, they are all volunteers who love showing you the birds so make the most of their passion and experience. There is a wide variety of bird of prey to look at complete with information boards, live shows which include feeding and flying happen throughout the day in the flying arena. This is an interactive experience so be prepared to get involved and have a go at flying some of the birds yourself. We had a electric mobility scooter for my mother who is disabled, at times the scooter struggled with the outdoor terrain but this was easily resolved with a little manual push when it did get stuck. As a result I would say this centre is easily accessible for the disabled, they have ramps at the entrance/exit and there are no steps to negotiate. I would advise you take warm clothing and waterproofs depending on the weather as the majority of the centre is outside, the flying arena can be breezy adding to the cold. There are some trampolines for children to have fun on if they get bored. This is a real chance to see birds of prey in action and flying extremely close, and for you to feed the birds and have them land on you; it is truly spectacular. We had an awesome experience and loved every minute of it! On your way out you can put a donation into an owls beak (donation bucket) or there are opportunities to sponsor a bird where you get a certificate and priority on handling when you visit. This is a charity organisation so they rely on bookings, sponsorship and donations to survive and educate us all on these fantastic and beautiful animals. You can also be a volunteer if you’re interested, be prepared to muck in and clean out the aviaries and sweep to start with though…..you can’t go straight into being a master of flying the birds. Based on our experience today I would totally recommend a visit, we will be back.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Natalie W. 1 year ago on Google
    Developed loads since we last came. Lots of improvements made. Loved it once again. Charlie and George were brilliant. All staff were super friendly, polite, funny and helpful. Keep up the fab work!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Karl G. 1 year ago on Google
    Went for a visit and then went back a week later for a half day experience. Absolutely fantastic centre. A really clear focus on what they want to achieve. All the volunteers are amazing. Though I'd single out Billy as outstanding both visits he was spot on. A chance to be hands on with birds of prey and some of the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic Talks I've ever sat and listened to.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Abby 10 months ago on Google
    This place is incredible! We did the owl and hawk walk experience and had the best time getting to hold and pets lots of beautiful owls and getting to fly the hawk out on the grounds. The team and volunteers were amazing - they gave us so much info about each and every bird. We only did the 3 hour experience but were at the centre all day because there was just so much to do. We got to see two shows where everyone gets to put on the glove and take a turn flying the birds and they even let us go inside the owl aviary to get up close to even more beautiful owls. We even got to see the team fly two beautiful baby peregrines together - it was incredible seeing all the work and training they put in for these amazing birds. This place isn't like any other zoo or bird of prey centre where you gaze at the animals behind a cage. For the £11 entry fee, you get to interact with so many beautiful birds and take a turn flying them. The team really focuses on you individually and allows everyone to get involved. I've truly never been somewhere like it before where we got to do so much with these wonderful birds of prey. We wanted to give a special shout out to Chris who took us around to hold and pet the owls and for leading the show, and Michael for taking us out on the hawk walk and giving us so much information about each and every bird - he was truly amazing and we loved spending time with him yesterday. I got a great photo of him below, I hope he sees it! The whole team is amazing! Thank you for the best day!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Adrian B. 11 months ago on Google
    Lovely few hours spent here, some beautiful birds and a good flying show. The staff were all amazing, friendly knowledgeable and great with the kids.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Maria T. 1 year ago on Google
    It is our best experience for Christmas and Halloween. All staff are welcoming and friendly. You can see all types of birds and get information about them. Plenty of games, crafting, activities. Every one are patient and cheerfully. Great, thank you to everyone for the best time❤
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michael M. 6 months ago on Google
    Absolutely fantastic experience, the staff are warm and welcoming, and full of amazing facts and information about their beautiful birds, there is plenty to see. You also have a chance to handle the birds. Highly recommended. Thank you.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 heaty f. 3 years ago on Google
    Bloody awesome! Made me want a barn owl even more! Went there twice in three days and got at least one picture of every bird. Thx for the good time (Here are some pics of my fav birds) would 1000% go back! (I'd also like to volunteer there but I don't live anywhere near)
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lee M. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutely amazing family day out we all enjoyed it, learn't quite a lot about the birds got to hold and see them fly, such a great place with great people running it. Highly recommend this place.

  • 5/5 Dani B. 1 year ago on Google
    An amazing place for both adults and kids. Our daughter who is 3 got to hold a young owl called fidget and my partner held an eagle called shadow. The staff were so friendly and couldn't do enough to accommodate for us. Was a lovely visit and will definitely be back.

  • 5/5 Jean B. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing experience, getting to hold 4 different owls and an eagle, beautifully cared for by a dedicated team of volunteers who have a vast store of facts about all the birds. Well worth a visit

  • 4/5 Dion T. 2 years ago on Google
    What an amazing place to visit and the staff are so passionate about the birds. They are full of knowledge and facts about all the birds and the displays they put on are fantastic as well as getting the customers involved. I'd highly recommend it to all bird lovers and can't wait to go back.

  • 5/5 Carol O. 11 months ago on Google
    Amazing place. 2nd time there. So friendly, learn so much about the birds. After 1st time there I was no longer scared of birds. Will definitely go again

  • 5/5 Sheila K. 1 year ago on Google
    A great place!!! We loved our visit. The staff, all volunteers, know the birds well. They fly them 3 times a day, but closed on Tuesday. Try to go for the 10.30 or 1.30 display as sometimes the 3.30 is cancelled. You can hold the birds, under supervision of course. We happened to go on a photography day, so they were flying the birds so they could get good shots. If you are into photography it's well worth booking in for the one of these days. It has a small café that sells hot and cold drinks and lovely cake at a good price. If we are in the area we will go again.

  • 5/5 Graham W. 3 years ago on Google
    Wow!!! Never been here before but certainly will come again. Amazing collection of birds of prey. Displays of birds on the wing. You are able to handle many of them. The staff are friendly and willing to answer any questions you may have. A great day out. Well recommended

  • 5/5 Steve K. 3 years ago on Google
    We visited the centre on the 11th Sept. The birds were in great condition and a good variety of birds. We were allowed to handle the birds with staff wearing the glove of course. The flying of some of the birds after having lunch was exeptional. The education about the birds was first class. We learned a lot in the few hours we were there. All the staff were very friendly. I would certainly recommend visiting the centre. A brilliant day out.

  • 5/5 John F. 3 years ago on Google
    Excellent day out, weather good as well. Staff knowledgeable and nothing was too much trouble for them. Fantastic to see some of the birds flying. Thank you, appreciated.

  • 5/5 Helen B. 3 years ago on Google
    Well worth a visit. Staff/ volunteers very passionate about the birds and very Informative. Excellent!

  • 5/5 Anthony C. 11 months ago on Google
    Such a great place to visit lovely staff (most of these are volunteers) and owners and so many birds of prey to see and hear about the talks and flying displays are so worth it. My third time visiting with friends and will be back again sometime this year. Good value for food and drinks aswell although limited you can take your own picnic with plenty of seating around the place. Good value overall.

  • 5/5 Darren W. 1 year ago on Google
    We spent nearly 4 hrs at this superb centre. The passion and expertise of the handlers and presenters was clear to see, and there is an incredible collection of birds from across the globe. A strongly recommended visitor attraction.

  • 5/5 Betty I. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely fabulous, staff are amazing, theyre so friendly and knowledgeable about the birds. The flying display is fabulous & holding the birds is amazing. Definitely well worth a visit

  • 5/5 David J. 10 months ago on Google
    It is not a large establishment, and at first I thought we would only be here for an hour, but five hours later...... The staff are exceptionally knowledgeable and there are numerous flying and interactive events happening constantly. You are encouraged to take part in what is going on... Great for young and old. There is a cafe on site which is very reasonably priced with a small selection including some cakes. We have been to many bird of Prey centres, but this is the most friendly and interactive. Highly recommended

  • 5/5 Paul C. 10 months ago on Google
    Wow wow wow what a fantastic little gem this is, I've been to many many bird of prey displays all over England and Scotland and I can easily say this place is head and shoulders above the rest.we were greeted by the manager who was obviously a lover of his job. He was informative and extremely pleasant. All the birds looked well cared for and all the pens were clean. The flying display itself was so informative and interactive. If I'm ever this way again I will return.

  • 5/5 Debi B. 9 months ago on Google
    We spent an absolutely amazing afternoon here and would return again in a heartbeat! Everyone who works here is so passionate about the birds that they work with and very knowledgeable. The displays were out of this world and getting to see the two young peregrine falcons fly together was brilliant ❤️ P.S the two little barn owlets are adorable ❤️

  • 5/5 Phil R. 9 months ago on Google
    Great place to spend a few hours. The standard entry fee gets you a hands-on experience with a variety of owls and other birds of prey. The half day small group experiences should be amazing if this is anything to go by. Can't recommend visiting here enough, one of the highlights of our visit to York.

  • 5/5 natalie k. 8 months ago on Google
    As always a fantastic day out! This is our favourite birds of prey center for the following reasons: So much interaction with the beautiful birds, very educational everytime we visit we always learn something new. The owners Claire and Andrew and the rest of the staff are so friendly,welcoming and have a great sense of humour. They are unbelievably good at what they do and the passion for their birds is phenomenal. Highly recommend the hawk walk that Chris took us on very knowledgeable and a great guy. Super fun all round 👍🙂

  • 5/5 Hayley E. 8 months ago on Google
    Staying in York with my partner for the week having done the city sights so far, the Bird of Prey Centre was next on our list of things to do with it only being a few minutes down the road from where we were based, and it certainly did not disappoint!! What an experience!! We did the Hawk Walk with the beautiful Assassin, absolutely amazing, so informative and would definitely recommend this to anyone wanting that bit more special personal touch to your day here. We watched two of the talks/shows and every member of staff is so knowledgeable and comical with it too! We ended our day with the shooting range, brilliant fun!! Loved every minute of our day with you all, thank you!!!

  • 5/5 David H. 8 months ago on Google
    The entrance is a little hidden in beside a hotel and training centre, however once I side the facility has a lot of birds with a lot of information about the various species. We seen one of the flying displays which was presented by a knowledgeable team. They explained about the majority of the staff actually being volunteers. The birds all look in great condition and although the site looks a little tired in place, the centre clearly cares about their birds. Worth a visit if your in the area.

  • 5/5 Lynch 8 months ago on Google
    A brilliant informative day out. Lots of interaction with the birds during the live demonstrations. Where else are you going to see a Peregrine Falcon in full flight and hunting mode.? The volunteers are knowledgeable and really enjoy working with the birds showing what they can do.

  • 5/5 C S. 8 months ago on Google
    Appearances can be deceptive when you enter the centre down a narrow lane behind a hotel. It is a good place, we had a great day out here. Kiddies really enjoyed it. You get plenty of opportunities to handle the birds and get up close to them. The staff gave numerous talks (quite comical) on the birds and flying displays throughout the day. Definitely recommend.

  • 5/5 Terry B. 5 months ago on Google
    We had a great day at the York Bird of Prey Centre. We had booked the Owl Exprience and the Hawk Walk and thoroughly enjoyed both. The staff were very welcoming and extremely passionate about the birds. Our handler/guide for the day, Chris, was extremely knowledgeable and taught us much about the birds at the centre. We got to fly numerous owls which was incredible as well as a beautiful Harris Hawk on our Hawk walk. It really was fascinating and we had a great time. We are hoping to bring the rest of our family with us in the future.

  • 5/5 Hayley R. 6 months ago on Google
    So much fun! Great staff very knowledgeable and friendly and super helpful answering questions about the birds A fab 45 minute ish with great experts telling us all about each type of bird of prey and a chance to hold one 😀 Would be fab for kids but we didn't have ours with us A bit muddy so wear old shoes! We really really enjoyed it and appreciate the great conservation work they do 👍🏻❤️ a great way to spend 2-3 hours A little cafe on the way out that looked and smelled lovely but we had no time to stop unfortunately

  • 4/5 Roger S. 3 years ago on Google
    Worth a visit. Large variety of birds of prey. Many of the birds have been reared there or have been rescued or previously injured, so would not be able to survive in the wild in any case. Frequent displays and educational demonstrations at additional cost. Adjacent to Burn Hall hotel who do a good afternoon tea.

  • 5/5 kevin r. 3 years ago on Google
    fantastic place to visit you one on one with the birds. fantastic staff and very friendly

  • 5/5 Lucy S. 3 years ago on Google
    I organised a group photography event at the York Bird of Prey Centre and they staff and volunteers were amazing! The communication with the centre before the event was easy and we were made to feel very welcome when we arrived. We were looked after by a volunteer called Kevin who was wonderful! Kevin's respect, love and devotion for the birds was evident, and he was incredibly knowledgeable. He was really friendly and helpful, as were all the staff/volunteers that I encountered. It's clear that the birds are very well looked after and have a fantastic life. Thank you for such a wonderful day!

  • 5/5 Kaye c. 3 years ago on Google
    Would highly recommend a fantastic day out, so many different species & very helpful & friendly staff. Looking forward to going back.

  • 5/5 Snake S. 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing, big Andy was great 🙌

  • 4/5 Kathy H. 3 years ago on Google
    Really fabulous place to learn about the birds and get hands on experience with them. My only criticism is the toilets, they were not very clean.

  • 5/5 Julie S. 3 years ago on Google
    Had an excellent time there. The birds were amazing and I'm glad I got to hold them especially the golden eagle. The staff are great and they volunteer their time so every donation is very welcome.

  • 5/5 Thelma H. 3 years ago on Google
    It's has friendly staff who will tell you anything you need to know. its amazing how many birds you can hold. a simple a must to visit

  • 5/5 Paul C. 3 years ago on Google
    Friendly staff, amazing birds! Place for the whole family!

  • 5/5 John J. 3 years ago on Google
    Fantastic place and very friendly staff cant wait to return in the summer.

  • 5/5 Susan H. 3 years ago on Google
    A well spent couple of hours here earlier. What an amazing place run totally by volunteers. Learned a lot of fascinating facts. Well worth a visit !

  • 5/5 Hussain P. 3 years ago on Google
    Really friendly place to visit with the family. They have bird handling throughout the day and the shows are definitely worth staying for. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable.

  • 5/5 Irene S. 3 years ago on Google
    Absolutely brilliant experience. We were able to hold some of the birds. The staff were so knowledgeable and helpful. Highly recommended for an interesting day out set in lovely surroundings.

  • 5/5 Martina C. 3 years ago on Google
    Staff are really passionate about everything to do with birds. Live demonstrations are really interesting and informative but also really fun and hands on

  • 5/5 David P. 3 years ago on Google
    Great half day experience. Got to hold a great many birds and the falcon walk was superb. The staff are very knowledgeable with a fantastic sense of humour. Highly recommend for all ages.

  • 5/5 Ros K. 3 years ago on Google
    This is a wonderful place to visit with over 100 birds. The staff are very friendly and informative and there are opportunities to hold birds if desired. The display is amazing and you also have the opportunity to see others in the aviaries. We spoke to owner who is so passionate about the birds and their roll in returning some endangered birds back into the wild following a breeding programme. Cannot recommend a visit enough.

  • 5/5 Elaine B. 3 years ago on Google
    Good variety of raptors, owls, and a kookaburra in spacious, clean cages, reliably sourced - we're told. Good info sharing, they want u to know / learn, hold , stroke some birds.One flew off mid show, some concern but it chose to return about 1 hour later and walked back into his cage No time pressure. Friendly. Good value. Burn Hall is an ok hotel for meals too.

  • 5/5 Janet C. 3 years ago on Google
    Fantastic centre which was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Really informative and so much more than any of us expected. You can easily spend hours there enjoying a hands on experience. Children were engaged even from a young age but it was just as captivating for the older generation. I can’t rate highly enough. Well done to all the staff.

  • 5/5 brett c. 3 years ago on Google
    This place is fab, run by passionate volunteers, the birds are very loved and content.great educational talks and demos by a very passionate owner. Best ever experience you could wish for.

  • 5/5 Julie M. 3 years ago on Google
    Fantastic day out lots to see and very informative, well worth a visit, lovely cafe too

  • 5/5 Rebecca T. 3 years ago on Google
    We visited for an experience afternoon and could not recommend enough. The staff are knowledgeable and enthusiastic and really care about their animals. The bird show was excellent with lots of chance for audience participation. But the real highlight was the hawk walk... which was just phenomenal. Seeing the birds up close and flying about having fun was magical. Billy our guide was excellent and told us loads of extra fun facts. We learned loads and made some really special memories. An amazing day. Thanks to all the staff.

  • 5/5 Altaf Naeem A. 3 years ago on Google
    Visited Sept 2020. Lots of birds of prey on site. Including displays and ability to handle these birds during the flying sessions. Tea shop and toilets on site.

  • 5/5 Val M. 3 years ago on Google
    Great

  • 5/5 Nick L. 3 years ago on Google
    Loved it awesome day out! Staff are very welcoming and knowledgeable.

  • 5/5 Jill S. 3 years ago on Google
    Great talk from the owner. All birds are rescues and well looked after. Amazing to be able to handle owls and hawks

  • 5/5 Phil D. 3 years ago on Google
    Brilliant experience and worth every penny for what could have easily been a full day full of excitement. I have been to many Bird of prey shows / experiences in my time but nothing comes close to this. Easily the best Birds of prey experience ive seen anywhere!

  • 5/5 Linda S. 3 years ago on Google
    What a fantastic experience, would highly recommend it.

  • 5/5 Neil C. 3 years ago on Google
    Birds are all very well cared for, volunteers are all eager to help and love what they are doing, nothing is too much trouble.

  • 5/5 Ronald H. 3 years ago on Google
    Very interesting interesting talk on birds of Prey and demonstrations. Lots of different birds in their cages.

  • 5/5 simone a. 3 years ago on Google
    Amazing experience with knowledgeable and entertaining staff. Would definitely visit again!!

  • 5/5 Gerhard G. 3 years ago on Google
    Birds well looked after and trained to go off and come back when they want. Also tame deer roam around that you can stroke.

  • 5/5 MICHAEL S. 3 years ago on Google
    Very good,well organised. Big variety of birds Every one given a chance to land the birds on your arm.

  • 5/5 Jonas H. 3 years ago on Google
    Fantastic knowledgeable staff birds are fabulous pity about rain but hey ho

  • 5/5 Andrew B. 3 years ago on Google
    Nice walk around, lots of birds of prey to see and staff were friendly

  • 5/5 Ruth M. 3 years ago on Google
    Lovely place very informative and amazing experience!

  • 5/5 Mick C. 3 years ago on Google
    This is an excellent place to visit you can easily spend a whole day here. The owner and team are brilliant, welcoming and knowledgeable. Very clean and the animals are well looked after. there are great flying demonstrations to watch. Clean toilets and cafe.

  • 5/5 Claire W. 3 years ago on Google
    Would highly recommend a day here. We did the full day experience and it was well worth the money. Volunteers are very passionate about the birds. Great day


Call +44 1347 833214 Open on Google Maps

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