How to get a free ticket worth up to £18 for WWT wetland centres

Family outings can cost a fortune, but you can enjoy a free day trip to a Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) centre if you snap up a complimentary ticket from the WWT website. But hurry, there’s limited availability.

Before signing up for a ticket, be sure you can use it between 31 January and 7 February, as it won’t be valid outside of these dates.

Once you’ve secured one for each family member (except under-fours as they're free), you’ll be able to visit a nearby centre. There are 10 throughout the UK in locations including London, Manchester, Dumfries, Carmarthenshire, and Newtownards in Northern Ireland. See below for a full list.

Each centre has a variety of wetland species you might be able to spot – from pelicans to ducks, owls and flamingoes – plus lots of activities for families to enjoy, including otter feeding sessions, bird talks and adventure playgrounds

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How do I get a free WWT wetlands centre ticket?

1. Head to the free ticket sign-up page on WWT’s website.
2. Enter your details.
3. Choose the wetland centre you want to visit.
4. Make sure you fill it in for each person who wants to attend – everyone must have a unique email address (under-fours go free). It’s just one free entry per email, so if you and one child want to go, you will need to borrow a second email address from someone else to get two.
5. Once you've signed up you should receive a barcode by email – you’ll need this to show to reception staff on the day you visit, between Friday 31 January and Friday 7 February only.

How many free tickets are available?

WWT hasn’t announced how many free tickets are up for grabs, but it is limiting the number available per centre, so it’s best to secure yours as soon as possible. Tickets for WWT Washington have already sold out.

Where are WWT wetlands centres located?

WWT manages 10 wetlands centres throughout the UK in the following locations:

• Arundel wetland centre (near Worthing, England)
• Caerlaverock wetland centre (Dumfries, Scotland)
• Castle Espie wetland centre (near Belfast, N.Ireland)
• Llanelli wetland centre (Carmarthenshire, Wales)
• London wetland centre (England)
• Martin Mere wetland centre (Manchester, England)
• Slimbridge wetland centre (Gloucestershire, England)
• Steart Marshes wetland centre (Bridgwater, England) – no need for a free ticket, it’s always free to enter 
• Washington wetland centre (Tyne and Wear, England) – tickets now sold out
• Welney wetland centre (Ely, England).

What is there to do and see at WWT wetland centres?

It varies by location. At Arundel, for instance, you can visit Pelican Cove to hear the keeper talk about the Dalmatian pelican – the largest and rarest of the pelican species, or hop on a boat safari through the wetlands. 

At Castle Espie, you can feed wild birds. In London, kids can participate in pond dipping or whizz along the play area’s zip wire. Meanwhile in Llanelli, you can catch a glimpse of Caribbean flamingoes.

Why is WWT offering free tickets?

It's offering this freebie to mark World Wetlands Day on Sunday 2 February.

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