Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre Logo

See our birds hover,
swoop and soar!

Sponsor our birds

Find out when
you can visit

Donate

Three amazing flying
displays each day!

Sponsor our birds

Find out when
you can visit

Sponsor our birds

See our birds hover,
swoop and soar!

Donate

Three amazing flying
displays each day!

Sponsor our birds

Get up close
see our birds in action

Experience days

Welcome to Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre

🌿 A Visit to Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre

Inspiring • Uplifting • Unforgettable

📍 Beautiful Yorkshire Countryside
Home to one of the largest collections of flying birds in the North, with around 100 birds from over 50 species from across the world — including owls, vultures, eagles and kites.

🦅 Daily Free-Flight Displays
Enjoy an incredible variety of birds in our daily flying displays, with a full and varied timetable running each day. Our programme changes throughout the year and includes special themed flying displays, so there’s always something new to experience.

🌬️ Get Remarkably Close
Our 35–40 minute displays bring you thrillingly close as birds swoop, dive and soar overhead. Watch the heaviest eagle in the world take to the sky, marvel at the silent flight of the barn owl, and discover the beauty and importance of vultures.

🎤 Expert Commentary
Our passionate and knowledgeable bird team provide a light-hearted yet informative commentary, sharing fascinating facts and insights into how your visit supports our vital conservation projects.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family-Friendly 
Families are catered for, with free children’s activity sheets, including the chance to win a small prize — making your visit both educational, fun and engaging for the whole family.

⭐ Experience Days & Specialist Encounters
Looking for more? Our small-group experience days let you fly and learn about a wider range of birds. We also offer pre-booked specialist experiences focusing on owls, vultures or eagles.

🗺️ Plan Your Visit
👉 Click here to find out more about what’s included in a visit to TBOPC and start planning your day.

🗓️ View Current Timetables
Please select the seasonal timetable below to plan your visit.

🌸 Spring Timetable
April, May & June

☀️ Summer Timetable
July, August & September

🍂 Autumn Timetable
October

⚠️ Please note: All displays are weather permitting and timetables may be subject to change.

🎟️ Entrance Fees

 Adults (16 years+) £10.95

Concessions (65 years+) £9.95

Children £8.95 (under 3s go FREE)

Family Ticket £37.00 (2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 3 children)

ℹ️ Visitor Information

✔️ No need to pre-book for general admission
🌦️ Flying displays are weather permitting

📸 Photography
Please view our latest photography policy click here

👉 Click here for full visitor information and to plan your visit. 

African Adventure Display

 African Adventure Display : 1:30pm

(see planned closure dates & weather permitting)

Where conservation, theatre and breathtaking flight come together.
It’s not just a show… it’s an unforgettable experience.

Step onto the savannah and experience an unforgettable journey into a world of survival, resilience and life.

 This breathtaking display features 20–25 spectacular African birds, including:
• Elegant White Storks
• The lightning-fast Lanner Falcon
• The majestic African Fish Eagle
• Our awe-inspiring White-Headed Vulture, with a wingspan of nearly 8 feet

Watch as these incredible birds swoop, stoop and dive almost within touching distance, showcasing their natural behaviours in an immersive experience like no other.

Blending music, theatre and dramatic props, this powerful display delivers a vital conservation message — highlighting how we can all help protect some of the world’s most threatened species.

The atmospheric grand finale is guaranteed to raise the hairs on the back of your neck — and may even bring a tear to your eye.

Click here for more information: Summer timetable

Experience Days in Beautiful North Yorkshire

Give the gift of special memories and magical moments with our incredible hands-on experience days. Join us at Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre — an award-winning attraction with over 30 years of experience, proudly featured on The Yorkshire Vet.

We deliver high-quality, five-star experiences in a fun and friendly environment, with plenty of hands-on opportunities alongside a wide variety of amazing birds. Our experience days are highly recommended, brilliantly reviewed, and truly hard to beat.

 Come and enjoy a five-star experience you’ll never forget.

Click here for more information.
  1. Gift Vouchers are valid from 1st March 2026 till 31st October 2026. *
  2. Spectator Tickets are available for £20 or £25 depending on which experience is purchased.
  3. Gift Vouchers will be processed and posted within 24hrs.
  4. We run these experiences most days of the week including weekends. *
  5. Vouchers can be purchased through our website or over the phone by calling 01845 587522
Buying gifts from us will help support our conservation work, breeding programs and help towards the upkeep and longevity of TBOPC and all the feathered residents.

Meet The Minnies Handling Experience

Meet the Minnies Handling Experience

Get up close to some of our smaller feathered friends with our popular Meet the Minnies Handling Experience at Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre.

Running daily at 1:00pm and 3:00pm, this hands-on experience gives you the opportunity to handle two beautiful birds under the guidance of our experienced team. There will be plenty of opportunities to take photographs, and each session lasts approximately 10–20 minutes.

To avoid disappointment, we recommend booking your place at reception on arrival, as spaces are limited and this experience is extremely popular.

Birds you may meet

Our birds vary depending on the day’s flying schedule and centre commitments, but may include:

  • American Kestrel
  • White-Faced Owl
  • Red-Backed Hawk
  • African Barn Owl
  • Tawny Owl
  • Hobby Falcon

Price: £10 per person (subject to availability)

Important Information

  • Tickets must be purchased at reception.
  • Tickets are non-refundable.
  • Please arrive at the meeting point 5–10 minutes before your session begins.
  • Recommended for children aged 4 years and over.
  • This handling experience does not include admission to Thirsk Birds of Prey Centre, which must be purchased separately.
If you’re planning a visit with us soon, here’s a reminder of our summer timetable:
  • 10:30am – TBOPC opens (arrive 15-20mins before the display)
  • 11:30am – Warriors of The Sky Flying Display
  • 12:15pm – Ideal Lunch Time (Snack bar offering sandwiches, crisps,cakes, hot and cold drinks and ice creams. Picnics are also welcome.)
  • 1.00pm – Meet the Minnie’s  Experience*
  • 1:30pm – African Adventure Display (the main display of the day hosting up to 30 birds)
  • 3:00pm – Meet the Minnie’s Experience*
  • 3:30pm – Training Flying Display*
  • 5:00pm – TBOPC Closes 🕣
PLUS don’t forget to complete our free Vulture Scavenger Hunt for a treat on completion and our Owl Scavenger Hunt to enter a prize draw worth £100!
*Book your Meet the Minnie’s Handling Experience at reception. £10pp in addition to the day admission fee.
* After watching our two main displays of the day feel free to join us for our training display where some of our young and new birds will be learning the ropes.
*Displays are weather permitting
  1. Please Arrive 15-20 minutes before our 11:30am display to really make the most of your visit and then watch the 1:30pm flying display. After the displays there will be a chance to ask the handlers any questions you may have.
  2. Explore the other 100+ birds on display.
  3. If your feeling peckish then don’t worry we have you covered, in our snack bar we over sandwiches, crisp, cakes, plus hot and cold drinks are also available or try an ice cream to cool down on a hot day.
  4. Picnics are also welcome, after all who wouldn’t want to have a picnic surrounded by some of the most beautiful birds from around the world.
  5. For more information and our latest photography policy please click here.

Planned Closure Dates

Reminder of planned closure dates.

TBOPC will be CLOSED on Thursday 27th August, but we are OPEN as usual on Wednesday 26th August.
After this week, we will be closed every Wednesday until the end of our display season, along with the following additional dates:
Thursday 3rd September
 Monday 7th September
 Saturday 19th September
Thank you for your understanding.
 DON’T MISS OUR SUMMER TIMETABLE!
Our Summer Timetable runs until Saturday 12th September, so there’s still time to join us for our spectacular African Adventure Display– it’s not just a show, it’s an experience!

Photography Policy

We are delighted for you to take photographs of our birds during your visit. Our birds are important ambassadors for their species, helping to inspire people to appreciate, protect and conserve wildlife around the world.

They also play a vital role in supporting our education programmes, research and conservation projects.

To ensure the welfare of our birds and the enjoyment of all visitors, we kindly ask that you follow our photography guidelines during your visit.

For full details, pleaseclick here to read our Photography Policy.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Sponsor a Bird of Prey – A Truly Meaningful Gift

Looking for a unique and memorable gift? Sponsor one of our incredible birds of prey and give a present that truly soars.

From cute owls and majestic eagles to fascinating vultures, there’s a feathered friend to suit every bird lover.

Who will you choose?

• Gordon the Great Grey Owl
• Mr Wick the Aplomado Falcon
• Ethel the White-Headed Vulture
• Toruk the Steller’s Sea Eagle

 What’s included:

 A personalised sponsorship pack
The chance to meet your sponsored bird
Direct support for vital bird care and conservation work

With 40+ birds to choose from, why not browse our collection and find your perfect match?

 A gift that supports conservation — and creates a lasting connection.