Photo of The Nature Discovery Centre in South East1 / 3
Museums & Landmarks

The Nature Discovery Centre

๐Ÿ“ Thatcham, South East

Is this your venue? Claim this listing โ†’

โ˜…4.6(1,890 Google reviews)๐Ÿ‘ถAll ages

Gentle family nature reserve near Thatcham with lakeside walking trails through woodland, reedbeds, and orchard. Wheelchair-accessible paths, free Tramper mobility vehicle, bird hides, adventure playground, duck feeding, and a lakeside cafe.

โœ“ Lakeside walksโœ“ Wildlife watchingโœ“ Accessible pathsโœ“ Free Tramperโœ“ Good cafeโœ“ Toddler friendly

๐Ÿ† Funzaroo Verdict

Best for families seeking a calm, low-stimulus outdoor day with children of any age. The multiple route lengths make it easy to match the walk to a toddler's stamina or an older child's pace. The free Tramper vehicle makes it one of the most genuinely accessible nature sites in the area.

โ„น๏ธ What to Know Before You Go

๐Ÿ’กBook the free Tramper mobility vehicle in advance if needed
โฐChoose from multiple route lengths to match your group's pace
๐ŸŽŸ๏ธBring duck food for the waterside feeding stations - a favourite with young children
๐Ÿš—Check cafe and toilet closing times before planning your visit

๐Ÿ’ฌ What Families Are Saying

View all reviews โ†’
4.6
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…

1,890 Google reviews

5โ˜…
1,269
4โ˜…
498
3โ˜…
92
2โ˜…
16
1โ˜…
15

G Reviews from Google

K

Kat

10 months ago

โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…

โ€œLovely place to feed all the ducks, swans, geese etc. lovely short gravel path walk around lake and good selection of food and drinks on the cafe. Gift shop and nature centre are nice too! Lots of bits to keep little ones entertainedโ€

B

Barbara Richards

a year ago

โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…

โ€œLast week I accompanied a friend who has mobility problems to the Discovery Centre. We had booked the Tramper vehicle, which enables people like my friend to explore the paths around the lake. It is free to hire. I was able to walk alongside him and we both had great fun. We could hear the birds, see the wild fowl on the lake and the trees coming into blossom. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit. On arrival we were made very welcome and, after some tasty refreshments in the lovely cafe, we were shown how to use the Tramper. The person instructing us was very kind and steady and made sure my friend was happy with everything - then off we went. This is such a great experience. We will definitely be returning. Thankyou everyone.โ€

S

Shafeer Rishad

a year ago

โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…

โ€œWhat an absolute beautiful place filled with wildlife and nature. Having troubled thoughts or something getting you down? A walk around the lake here is sure to alleviate your thoughts and make you feel better. There are also benches if you want to have some food with a group, or perhaps play a game of checkers. Couldn't recommend it enough.โ€

๐Ÿ“Š Commonly mentioned in Google reviews

Based on Google review tags

Cafe

274 reviews

Lake

253 reviews

Walks

137 reviews

Ducks

90 reviews

Wildlife

85 reviews

Overview

The reserve circles a scenic lake with routes of varying length through habitat zones including woodland, orchard, and reedbeds. Bird hides sit at the water's edge, and the duck and swan population makes the feeding stations a consistent hit with young children. A free Tramper all-terrain mobility vehicle is available for visitors with mobility needs - bookable in advance. The lakeside cafe serves good coffee; the adjacent gift shop and nature centre add indoor interest.

๐Ÿ• Opening Hours

MondayClosed
Tuesday10:00-16:00
Wednesday10:00-16:00
Thursday10:00-16:00
Friday10:00-16:00
Saturday10:00-16:00
Sunday10:00-16:00

๐Ÿ“ Similar Activities Nearby

View more in South East โ†’
Free to use

Find more Museums & Landmarks nearby

Explore 3,300+ family-friendly places across the UK, wherever the day takes you.

  • Nearby activities

    Find great places close to you

  • Directions in one tap

    Get there easily with maps & navigation

  • Free to use

    No sign up. No cost. Ever.

Get it on Google PlayDownload on the App Store

Safe, secure and 100% free, no account, no ads. Learn more

Our app, venues near you, sorted by distance
Our app, venue detail with directions, website and call