Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre

Hauxley WDC hall - John Faulkner

Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre. Image by: John Faulkner.

VISITOR CENTRES

Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre

Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, Image by Lauren Brough

Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, Image by Lauren Brough

#ThanksToYou

Our offer

We’re taking part in The National Lottery Open Week, to say a huge thanks to #NationalLottery players for their support. #ThanksToYou

Between 9th - 17th March 2024, we’re offering a regular tea or filter coffee from the Lookout café and free parking at Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre for people who show a National Lottery ticket or scratch card to the team.

We are really grateful to National Lottery players for their support in making the work we do possible.

Terms and Conditions apply (see below)

#ThanksToYou terms and conditions

  • The National Lottery Open Week #ThanksToYou 9th-17th March 2024.
  • During 9th-17th March 2024 Northumberland Wildlife Trust (NWT) is offering a regular tea or filter coffee from the Lookout café and free parking at Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre for people who show a National Lottery ticket or scratch card to the team.
  • These terms and conditions govern NWT’s National Lottery Open Week #ThanksToYou 9-17 March 2024
  • The organisers reserve the right to modify these terms and conditions without notice.
  • The offer opens on Saturday 9th March 2024 at 9am and closes on Sunday 17th March 2024 at 5pm.
  • Please see our website for further information, directions and opening hours. www.nwt.org.uk/hauxley.
  • The offer is open to anyone visiting Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre during 9th March and 17th March 2024 and shows a National Lottery ticket or scratchcard to the team.
  • Entitles you to one free regular tea or filter coffee per ticket from the Lookout Café at Hauxley.
  • Parking is per car please show ticket to reception team in return for a parking pass for the visit.
  • The organiser’s decision on eligibility is final.

UPDATED 06/02/24: Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre and reserve is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Please note we will lock the car park at 17:00. The Lookout Café is open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 15:30, hot food stops at 14:30.

Hauxley Wildlife Discovery centre is one of the best wildlife watching spots in the North East. It's a great place for birds and butterflies and probably the easiest place in Northumberland to see red squirrels and tree sparrows. Wildlife changes with the seasons so there’s something to see all year round. Right next to the beach, it offers fantastic views across the length of Druridge Bay and is internationally renowned for its birds.

The eco-friendly Visitor Centre, constructed by an army of dedicated volunteers has been a labour of love. It’s a straw-bale building and has a number of other highly innovative ‘green’ features that make it an appropriate home for a Wildlife Trust team. 

Visitors can enjoy the walks and nature trails around the reserve, the tranquillity of the hides, and of course a tasty something from The Lookout Café. The café offers a range of hot and cold refreshments including freshly brewed coffee, a selection of scones baked freshly each day, locally sourced cakes and biscuits as well as sandwiches, toasties and soup. Look out for the daily menu specials!

There is also a range of shop items on offer, from Trust branded merchandise, wildlife books, binoculars, local produced goodies, pocket money momentos and turned wooden bowls and ornaments created from wood sourced from the NWT reserves.

There is an interactive wildlife-rubbing disc trail available for children through the woodland adjacent to the Centre. Trail materials are available from the Café for a small charge. We also have a natural play area, great for under 10s. 

Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre runs a packed programme of activities and events throughout the year including bird walks, bat evenings, optical equipment sale weekends and much more. Click here for specific information on events running at Hauxley.

Please visit our reserves page here for more information on Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre, the reserve and the wildlife on site.

Download a copy of the Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre information leaflet and map.

Upcoming events

Young volunteers - Paul Harris/2020VISION

Image by: Paul Harris/2020VISION.

Volunteer

We’re always looking for extra help at the Wildlife Discovery Centre, from site welcomers, to serving in the café, to supporting our events and activities. So if you are interested, please visit our volunteering page.

Find out more
School group at Hauxley - Simon Greener

Image by: Simon Greener.

Discover and learn

We offer schools a range of hands-on activities which are enjoyable, memorable and designed to get students closer to the natural environment. We also run sessions for after-school groups, such as wildlife clubs or scouting/guiding groups. For further information please contact us via email mail@northwt.org.uk

Hauxley WDC meadow - Simon Greener

Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre. Image by: Simon Greener.

Hire our facilities

Our classroom 'The Tynan Room' can be hired for your events, for further information please contact us via email mail@northwt.org.uk

Planning your visit

Winter opening hours from Monday 5th February:

  • Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre and reserve is open daily from 09:00 to 17:00. Please note we will lock the car park 17:00.
  • The Lookout Café is open Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 15:30, hot food stops at 14:30.

Near Low Hauxley village, at the northern end of Druridge Bay
Low Hauxley
Northumberland
NE65 0JR

For all enquiries please contact our main reception team on 0191 284 6884 or  via email to mail@northwt.org.uk

Please do not follow a sat nav into Low Hauxley – we share an access road with Silver Carrs Caraven Park.

We are sorry but no dogs other than assistance dogs are permitted at the Wildlife Discovery centre or on Hauxley nature reserve. If you wish to walk your dog, please use the path to the beach.

There is no entry charge to visit the centre.

Please contact the site if you are planning a group or school visit so that we can confirm staff and parking availability for a larger vehicle such as a mini bus or coach. 

Access
There is an accessible car park, most paths are level and wide, and entrances are ramped or level with extra width especially created to ensure that everyone is able to enjoy the Wildlife Discovery Centre. There is an accessible toilet on site. Please contact the site directly for any specific access requirements.

View the Accessibility Guide for Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre & Nature Reserve

Car parking
NWT does not receive any direct government funding and the car parking charges will help us maintain our, road, car park and other facilities at Hauxley, as well as support our crucial conservation work on Druridge Bay.

  • Cars £2
  • Mini bus £5
  • Coach £10

For more information or to purchase an Annual Parking Permit click here.

Awards

North East tourism award logo web small
RIBA award logo web small
RICS award logo web small
LABC award logo web small
Green Apple award logo web small
Heritage Fund logo web small