Birdland Park & Gardens in Gloucestershire Review

19/03/2024

507 3 minutes read

DISCLOSURE – THIS EXPERIENCE WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST/S FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW.

Reviewed by Mel Randle

At the weekend we packed a picnic and set off for a day in the Cotswolds at Birdland Park and Gardens. We were fortunate to have one of the only days so far this year it hasn’t rained, but we were well prepared for a day outside whatever the weather. Travelling from Bedfordshire, it took us approximately an hour and half, but the route took us through beautiful Cotswold countryside so really was part of the experience.

Arriving in Bourton-On-Water, it was evident that this is somewhere we need to return to and make a weekend of. The village is stunning and there seems to be lots to do! The walk from the car park to the park entrance was a treat in itself and really did set us up for what turned out to be a thoroughly lovely day out!

Birdland is a wildlife park showcasing over 500 birds – many in aviaries whilst a river flowing through the centre of the park offers a habitat for a number of water birds. You can expect to see birds from all corners of the globe, from the Kookaburra to the Snowy Owl and Flamingos to Marabou Storks. They also boast the only breeding group of King Penguins in England.

The penguins were one of the first birds to greet us as we made our way into the park. My daughter was delighted that there was an underwater viewing window and also a raised platform so we could easily view the penguins from a number of angles. We arrived just in time for the first feed of the day where the keeper introduced us to the penguins and gave small informative talk about them. She then stayed and took some questions from us at the end. There are a number of talks and feeding displays throughout the day and the keepers are really knowledgeable and friendly. They were also approachable with our ad hoc questions throughout the day.

As a seasoned wildlife park visitor, the one thing I was most impressed with at Birdland were their information boards. I love to find out the facts about the creatures I am visiting, and the information they provided was really clear and relevant. They also had information to engage the kids – measure yourself against the height of birds or how does your arms compare to their wingspans. As a home educator, I do love to go away feeling like my daughter has enjoyed learning new things and wants to soak up the information.

Half way around we took a break in the education centre. They have chicks hatching in incubators, colouring sheets and crayons out for the children and walls full of fun facts.

The back of the park opens up into a lovely woodland walk as you are taken on Birdland’s Jurassic Journey. A trail is available from the ticket office on the way in, and it’s an opportunity for the children to go hunting dinosaurs that are nestled amongst the trees and learn a little about them too, especially how they relate to birds today. Although the dinosaurs look a little tired now compared to the rest of the park, it was a really nice walk broken up with an archaeological dig in the middle. Be sure to return your trail sheet at the end to claim your sticker!

We took our own lunch with us and there were many picnic benches provided (including an undercover area) so we could sit and soak in the beautiful surroundings. The park does have onsite catering at The Nest Kitchen and Café which serves a wide selection of food from lunches to lighter snacks and cake and coffee. All seemed reasonably priced and there were options for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free. I was pleased they served barista coffee and we enjoyed ice creams at the end of the day. The nest provided tables and chairs indoors and out, comfortable sofas and ‘egg’ chairs as well as a little library for the children to enjoy whilst the adults recharge! Talking of charging, they also provide plug points and USB points.

The park provide lots of toilet facilities. The paths on the whole seemed to be fully accessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs and dogs on leads are allowed to accompany their humans which is ideal for those on holiday in the area! There is a children’s play area which we utilised at lunch time and a little gift shop on the way out.

Overall we spent approximately 4 hours in the park which was enough time to see everything. On a warmer day we would probably spend longer because we could sit and enjoy the beautiful gardens from the many vantage points by the river. I highly recommend this as a family day out for kids (and adults) of all ages. Also check out the website for special events taking place throughout the year.

Rating: 5/5