
Discover more at Wicken Fen
Find out when Wicken Fen is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.
If outdoor activities and learning about nature sound like a good day out for your family, Wicken Fen is the right place for you. Discover everything you need to plan your family day out, from events and activities for kids to hiring bikes.
You can enjoy the wheelchair/pushchair-friendly woodland walk, join our popular brass rubbing trail around the boardwalk, pick up an explorers' bag and there's always some colouring or craft activities waiting for you in the family discovery area inside the visitor centre.
Running one Friday per month , our popular Mucky Pups outdoor adventures - for pre-school children who enjoy getting grubby - are back! Seasonal activities, crafts and stories for children aged 2-5 years, with an accompanying adult. £7 per child. Booking essential.
Oour Easter Egg Hunt is running until Sunday 27 April*: Make your way along the trail and find nature-inspired activities for the whole family.
*This is subject to chocolate egg availability! To avoid disappointment, feel free to call us on 01353 720274 ahead of your visit.
Looking ahead to the Summer Half Term, we have lots of family-friends activities to get involved in.
Running from 24 May to 1 June is our brand-new All About Peat Trail: Follow the boardwalk and discover peat's secrets; , how it makes the reserve a unique haven for a host of fenland species and acts as enormous carbon store.
A fun Grass Printing Workshop is running on 29 May: Create a work of art to hang at home, using simple printing techniques and some local grasses.
Our popular Pond Dipping sessions are back, running on 27 and 28 May: Delve into the watery world of Wicken Fen to find out what is living beneath the surface. All equipment provided, plus a helping hand to identify the creatures that you find.
On 30 May, don't miss Discover the Dirt!: Outdoor family fun, celebrating peat - nave you ever wondered what is under the ground at Wicken Fen? ...deep, dark, damp peat, which has taken thousands of years to accumulate.
We have a special event on 1 June, Within the Peat - exploring Wicken Fen's ancient habitats [free event, no booking necessary]: See and handle ancient remains of plants and invertebrates from the peat at Wicken Fen. Visit the Learning Centre where environmental archaeologists will be sharing materials from their research at Wicken Fen.Learn how past ecologies and landscapes can be reconstructed from the remains of plants and invertebrates in peats. This event is being run in partnership with the Fenscapes project, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge.
Tickets for our events can be booked here!
Here's the information you need at a glance to make the most of your family day out at Wicken Fen:
Explore the reserve on two wheels and enjoy an easy family ride to see the Konik ponies or discover the wildlife in the wider reserve. Or take a ride on the Mayfly and see some water wildlife up close.
Boat trips are running daily throughout the summer
Explore the reserve on two wheels and enjoy an easy family ride to see the Konik ponies or discover the wildlife in the wider reserve.
Cycle hire rates (all rates are for two hours; additional hours are charged on return)
Sit back, relax and watch the world go by as you explore the beautiful fenland waterways on the Mayfly. The 50-minute trips run from mid-March to late October.
Our open boat is powered by a quiet electric motor, allowing you to enjoy the tranquility of the Fen. Our expert driver will be able to let you know about the wildlife on the day, point out features of the Fen, and answer questions about fenland waterways and drainage.
Boat trips run daily throughout the summer. Please contact us on 01353 720274 to check availability and to book. In the event of unfavourable weather, please call us to check if the boat is running.
Prices: Adult £7.50, child £4.50 (under 1s go free), family £22.50 (two adults and two children)
The boat has capacity for 12 passengers, including babies
Minimum charge for hire of whole boat is £67.50 (but charged at per person rate if higher)
Pay on the day, in the Visitor Centre - non National Trust members please be aware, admission for Wicken Fen will also be required
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Dogs are not permitted on board (except assistance dogs)
There are lots of '50 things to do before you're 11¾' activities to tick off during your visit. Here are some recommendations:
No. 11 Explore on wheels: Feel the wind on your face as you explore the fen on a bike. See if you can spot the Konik ponies and discover more wildlife in the wider reserve
No. 25 Join nature's band: Head to the wider reserve or the Boardwalk and stop and listen for a minute. It won't take long to notice the music of nature and the longer you listen, the more you'll hear. Birds singing, woodpeckers tapping, reeds rustling. The fen is bursting with wildlife and the sounds of nature
No. 31 Make friends with a bug: In the summer the fen is full of the buzz of insects, spectacular hawker dragonflies and smaller darters. See what butterflies you can spot in the woodland walk glades and over the wet grassland
No. 44 Watch a bird: Wicken Fen is home to lots of birds. Birds can be shy or timid. You'll need to be as quiet as a mouse while you keep a look out for our feathered friends. Head over to one of our hides to start your birdwatching, be as quiet as you can then sit tight and wait
No. 48 Keep a nature diary: Keep a record of your amazing adventures in nature, capturing your memories of the animals and plants you’ve seen at Wicken Fen. Call into the Visitor Centre where you’ll find information about the wildlife you might see at the fen.
Find out when Wicken Fen is open, how to get here, things to see and do and more.
Visit the Docky Hut Café and try our freshly baked sausage rolls and hot snacks or buy a gift in the shop as a souvenir of your visit.
Explore the fens on two wheels or on foot. Enjoy an easy family ride to see Konik ponies or discover the wildlife in the wider reserve.
Wicken Fen was the first nature reserve to be managed by the National Trust. Today it’s one of Europe's most important wetlands and home to over 9,000 species.
We’ve cared for Wicken Fen National Nature Reserve for over 125 years. Discover its history and how we continue to look after this very special place.
Looking for a family day out that'll keep everyone entertained? Find things to do with the kids at the places we care for near you.
Plan fresh-air activities, discover facts about nature and wildlife or learn a new skill with our suggestions for ‘50 things to do before you’re 11¾’.
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