Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation is a bird of prey centre and wildlife sanctuary in the village of Eynsford, Kent, perched above the Darent Valley near Junction 3 of the M25. It celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026 — a year that has already seen significant disruption. The park closed for approximately two months due to avian influenza (bird flu) restrictions, reopening on 10 January 2026.
This guide was updated in May 2026. Full flying displays and standard admission prices resumed from 1 April 2026. You can book on Viator to secure your place in advance.
Quick facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Lullingstone Lane, Eynsford, Kent, DA4 0JA |
| Summer hours (1 Apr–30 Sep) | Daily 11:00–17:00 |
| Winter hours (1 Oct–31 Mar) | Friday, Saturday, Sunday only, 11:00–16:00 |
| Flying displays — summer | 12:00 noon and 15:30 |
| Flying displays — winter | 12:00 noon only |
| Adult admission | £16.95 |
| Child (3–14) | £12.95 |
| Senior (65+) | £14.95 |
| Under-3s | Free |
| Parking | Free |
| Nearest station | Eynsford (~1.4 miles, 30-min walk) |
| Typical visit | 2–4 hours |
Opening hours
Summer (1 April to 30 September): Open seven days a week, 11:00–17:00. Flying displays run at 12:00 noon and 15:30.
Winter (1 October to 31 March): Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only, 11:00–16:00. The park is closed Monday to Thursday throughout the winter months. There is only one flying display per day in winter, at 12:00 noon.
Flying displays are weather permitting and are cancelled when temperatures exceed 30°C for animal welfare reasons. Given the park’s avian flu closure earlier in 2026, visitors planning a visit centred around the flying displays should confirm display status on the official website or social media before travelling.
Ticket prices
All prices include VAT. Tickets can be purchased on the day or booked in advance.
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £16.95 |
| Child (3–14 years) | £12.95 |
| Senior (65+) | £14.95 |
| Under-3s | Free |
| Disabled visitor’s carer | Free (with valid DLA or Carers Allowance letter) |
Annual passes are available at £37.95 for adults — covering themselves in fewer than three visits.
Note on the official website: The older URL eagleheights.co.uk/plan-your-visit shows entirely outdated 2018 prices of £9.95 for adults. The correct current prices above are from the live plan-your-visit page. Visitors who find the old page via a search engine will have completely wrong pricing information.
Book on Viator to confirm your visit in advance.
Why visit Eagle Heights?
- 🦅 One of the UK’s original bird of prey centres: Thirty years of raptor care and conservation have made Eagle Heights one of the most experienced and well-regarded bird sanctuaries in the south-east, with over 20 species of birds of prey on site.
- 🎪 Free-flying displays included in admission: Eagles, falcons, owls, and vultures fly free in daily displays narrated by experienced handlers — the centrepiece of any visit and included in the standard ticket price.
- 🐺 A husky and malamute rescue centre on-site: More than 30 rescued huskies and malamutes live at Eagle Heights, making it one of the very few places in England where you can encounter a full working sled dog pack.
- 🌳 An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty setting: The centre sits high above the Darent Valley with views stretching across ancient Kent woodland — a genuinely beautiful backdrop for a day out just 25 miles from central London.
- 🎂 30th anniversary year — 2026: Eagle Heights celebrates three decades of conservation and rescue work in 2026, with events and celebrations planned throughout the season.
How to get there
By car: Eagle Heights is 5 minutes from Swanley Interchange (Junction 3, M25). Set sat-nav to Lullingstone Lane, Eynsford, DA4 0JA. Look for the large Eagle Heights sign, turn right, and follow the tree-lined drive to the free car park at the top.
By train: Eynsford station (EYN) has direct trains from Sevenoaks, Bromley, and several London stations. The walk to Eagle Heights is 1.4 miles (approximately 30 minutes) and includes a steep hill. Local taxis should be pre-booked.
Parking
Parking is free and on-site at the top of the entrance drive. No pre-booking is required for parking.
How long to spend
Most visitors spend two to four hours. Timing a visit to catch both the noon and 15:30 flying displays — in summer — with time to explore the aviaries, meet the huskies and other animals, and stop for lunch makes for a comfortable half-day. Pre-bookable animal experiences extend this to a full day.
Accessibility
The site is largely outdoor and on uneven terrain; some areas may be challenging for wheelchair users. A wheelchair is available for visitor use at no charge — pre-booking is required. Disabled visitors’ carers enter free with valid DLA or Carers Allowance documentation. The park describes itself as autism aware and as a neurodiverse, family-run organisation with particular attention to welcoming all visitors. Baby changing, a disabled toilet, and a hearing induction loop are all available on site.
What to see at Eagle Heights
Eagle Heights combines indoor and outdoor aviaries with open flying grounds across its hillside site. Over 20 species of birds of prey are resident, from small owls and kestrels to large eagles and vultures, alongside meerkats, alpacas, an African serval, reptiles, and farm animals.
The free-flying displays are the headline event — eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons soaring and diving overhead while handlers explain behaviour, ecology, and conservation. Summer visitors get two displays (noon and 15:30); winter visitors get one (noon only). This is the single most important practical distinction for planning your day.
Beyond the birds, the husky and malamute rescue centre houses over 30 dogs and is central to the Eagle Heights experience. Pre-bookable animal experiences — including eagle handling, owl encounters, alpaca walks, husky kennel tours, and husky hikes — must be reserved in advance and are not available on a walk-up basis.
Practical visitor tips
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Only one flying display in winter | The noon display runs year-round, but the 15:30 display is summer only (April–September). Arriving in winter expecting two displays will result in disappointment. |
| Winter opening is Friday to Sunday only | The park closes Monday to Thursday throughout October to March. Many visitors assume it is open daily. Check the day of your visit carefully before booking. |
| Check display status before visiting | Eagle Heights suspended flying displays in early 2026 due to avian influenza. Full displays resumed from April 2026, but visitors should verify current status on the official website before making a trip centred on the flying show. Book on Viator once confirmed. |
| Animal experiences must be pre-booked | Eagle handling, owl encounters, husky hikes, alpaca treks, and meerkat experiences all require advance booking. None can be added on the day at the gate. |
FAQ
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Are flying displays available year-round? | One display (12 noon) runs every open day, year-round. The 3:30pm second display runs in summer only (1 April–30 September). In winter, there is only the noon showing. |
| Is the park open on weekdays? | In summer (April–September) yes — seven days a week. In winter (October–March) the park is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday only. |
| Were flying displays cancelled in 2026? | Yes — displays were temporarily suspended due to avian influenza restrictions following the park’s two-month closure. Full displays resumed from 1 April 2026. Book tickets in advance and confirm current status on the official site before visiting. |
| Can I book animal experiences on the day? | No — all experiences (eagle handling, husky hikes, alpaca treks, etc.) must be pre-booked through the official website. Walk-up bookings are not accepted. |
Things to do nearby
Lullingstone Castle and World Garden is less than a mile away along Lullingstone Lane. The World Garden maps the world’s plant life by country of origin and is one of the most ambitious private gardens in England, making it a natural companion to an Eagle Heights visit.
Lullingstone Roman Villa (English Heritage) is a short drive away in the Darent Valley and contains some of the finest surviving 4th-century Roman mosaics in Britain, housed in a purpose-built enclosure.
Eynsford village is a short walk downhill and is one of the prettiest villages in Kent. The medieval bridge, ford, and churchyard of St Martin’s are worth exploring before or after the park.
Brands Hatch motor racing circuit is approximately 10 minutes by car and hosts a varied calendar of motorsport and motorcycle racing throughout the year.
Knole House (National Trust), Sevenoaks, is one of England’s largest medieval houses, about 15 minutes south by car, with a free-access deer park year-round.
What to visit tomorrow
Bird of prey and raptor centres of Eagle Heights’ scale are relatively scarce in the south-east. The options below offer the closest comparable experiences within range.
Leeds Castle Falconry, Maidstone (~30 min by car): Leeds Castle holds daily falconry displays within its castle grounds. The programme is part of a broader castle attraction with gardens and grounds, so this is a fuller and more expensive day out than Eagle Heights — but the raptor displays are genuinely good.
Wildwood Trust, Canterbury (~40 min by car): A British woodland wildlife park focused on native UK species, including wolves, lynx, beavers, and red squirrels. Different in focus from Eagle Heights but a strong conservation mission and a rewarding same-region alternative.
British Wildlife Centre, Lingfield, Surrey (~20 min by car): A native species centre on the Surrey-Sussex border dedicated to animals rarely seen in the wild — pine martens, polecats, red squirrels, and more. One of the closest comparable small wildlife sanctuaries to Eagle Heights.
Wingham Wildlife Park, Canterbury (~50 min by car): A larger, more zoo-like wildlife park in east Kent with big cats, primates, meerkats, and a good bird collection — open year-round and offering broader species variety than Eagle Heights.
Shepreth Wildlife Park, Cambridgeshire (~1.5 hrs by car): An independent animal rescue sanctuary north of London with otters, red pandas, and a variety of raptors. Worth the journey for those looking to extend a south-east wildlife trip northward.
More Kent travel
Other Kent travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- A practical guide to visiting Chatham Historic Dockyard.
- A practical guide to visiting Hever Castle.
- A practical guide to visiting Chartwell.
- What you need to know before visiting Walmer Castle and Gardens and Deal Castle on the Kent coast.
- Go back to Roman Britain at the Richborough Roman Fort and Amphitheatre – arguably the most important of England’s Roman heritage sites.
