WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, near Stroud, is celebrating its 80th birthday with free admission on Tuesday 10 November 2026. The centre was founded in 1946 by the naturalist Sir Peter Scott, and the anniversary is marking eight decades of wetland conservation on the banks of the River Severn.
Free entry on Tuesday 10 November
Admission is free to all visitors on the day. The online allocation of free tickets has already sold out, but a limited number of free tickets will be available on a first come, first served basis at the admissions desk on Tuesday 10 November. Arriving early is the best way to get one.
Birthday week events
Anniversary events run from 10 to 15 November. The programme includes:
- Heritage Afternoon Tea, with objects from the archives and tea overlooking the Rushy lake
- Scott House Museum open days, showing the life of Sir Peter Scott and the home he lived in
- A Walk Through Time: 1946 to 2026, a guided walk through the history of the site
A site with a long history
The reserve covers more than 800 acres of wetland and now welcomes over 250,000 visitors a year. Sir Peter Scott’s work there included hand-rearing Hawaiian nene geese, which were brought back from the edge of extinction. Slimbridge is also known for its Bewick’s swans, which return from the Russian Arctic each winter.
Practical information
Check the full events list and any admission updates before you travel, as numbers for the free allocation are limited. More details, including the anniversary events and the Heritage Afternoon Tea, are on the WWT website at wwt.org.uk. The page is useful if you want to book a place at one of the events.
