
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.
Join the popular monthly Mucky Pups for pre-school children. Each session has a different theme and they all take place outside for great adventures in nature for youngsters. Booking essential.
There's a family trail around the Boardwalk, showing how all the animals get ready for winter.
You can explore the woodland walk, join our popular brass rubbing trail around the Boardwalk, and jump in puddles on the Lodes Way.
Listen out for lots of geese and look out for barn owls hunting over the Fen, as well as big groups of rooks and crows coming in to roost as the afternoon draws into evening.
And don’t forget, of course, that the Wicken Fen elves are busy preparing the Fen for visits from Father Christmas and Mother Christmas – booking is now open for you to come and see them.
For Father Christmas there's limited weekday availability, weekends are sold out.
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.
Please note boat trips will run from March to October 2024
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 120 years. Discover its history and how we continue to look after this very special place.
There are lots of things to do when you visit one of our family-friendly places. Find inspiration for days out and discover a range of activities for everyone.
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