Contact information
WWT Washington Wetland Centre
Pattinson, Washington
Tyne and Wear
NE38 8LE
T: 0191 416 5454
F: 0191 416 5801
E: info.washington@wwt.org.uk
Opening times 2010
Because there's always something new to see or do throughout the changing seasons, WWT Washington is open 7 days a week, 364 days a year (only closed 25 December)
Winter (November to March)
9.30am to 4.30pm (last admission 4pm)
Summer (April to October)
9.30am to 5.30pm (last admission 5pm)
Members and visitors please note that the side exit gate is now permanently locked and can't be used after hours. Please make sure that you're back at the visitor centre in time for closing. Thank you.
Gift Aid admission prices 2010
Adult: £7.95
Concession: £6.15 (over 65 years, full-time students, unemployed)
Child: £4.00 (4-16 years)
Family: £21.70 (2 adults & 2 children, 4-16 years)
Children (under 4 years): Free
Essential helpers assisting disabled visitors: Free
Under 16's must be accompanied by an adult
WWT members get unlimited access to all of our centres year round. Membership prices start from £35 (£48 for families).
Join now for free entry on your next visit!
The Gift Aid admission price includes a voluntary donation, which enables us to claim the tax back as part of the Government's Gift Aid scheme. Further information on Gift Aid click here.
If you choose not to pay the Gift Aid price, these are the prices excluding the voluntary donation.
Adult: £7.23
Concession: £5.59 (over 65 years, full-time students, unemployed)
Child: £3.64 (4 -16 years)
Family: £19.73 (2 adults & 2 children, 4 - 16 years)
Facilities
Eating and drinking
Tuck into a delicious selection of hot and cold food at Waterside Cafe as you gaze at our graceful eurasian cranes; strutting and preening in the stream area beneath the cafe windows. They are joined by goldeneye, wigeon, a flock of barnacle geese and Florence, our resident hunting sparrowhawk. Fairtrade speciality coffees, teas and fruit juices are on sale alongside mouthwatering home-made cakes and cookies. Picnic areas are on site too.
Shopping
The gift shop stocks a variety of wildlife books, bird feeders/boxes, postcards and stationery, children’s gifts and souvenirs. A unique range of products based on the artwork of WWT founder Sir Peter Scott is available, including a beautiful book published to mark his centenary year in 2009. Fairtrade instruments and jewellery, as well as recycled goods, are also on sale.
There are monthly visits from binocular and telescope specialists in focus, whose staff are on hand with friendly advice and sell everything you need to watch wildlife. Binoculars are available to hire from our shop at a cost of £5, plus a returnable £20 deposit.
WWT Washington Walkabout Guides are also on sale for £2.50, with details of various routes around our grounds. Please allow around three hours for a typical visit.
Terms of entry
Visitors are asked to respect the habitats and wildlife of WWT Washington Wetland Centre by not causing undue noise or stress to the birds or animals. It is especially important to remain quiet in the bird viewing hides.
Photography is permitted on site providing it is for personal use only. All commercial/stock library photography must be agreed in advance with the centre and is subject to a fee.
No dogs are permitted on site, other than trained assistance dogs (i.e. Guide Dogs).
You can buy corn from WWT Washington to feed to the birds. Please don’t feed them bread – they will eat it but, in time, it will make them poorly.
Unfortunately we do not allow any pond dipping in our wildlife reserve ponds. This is to stop the spread of the deadly chytridiomycosis disease amongst amphibians in the region. This disease can wipe out entire populations of frogs, toads and newts, and is easily spread by nets that have come into contact with it. Not allowing visitors to bring in their own nets also stops the spreading of crassula, a non-native invasive aquatic plant that out-competes native species, takes up all of the oxygen and cuts out the sunlight (by creating a 'blanket' on the pond surface), and which ultimately kills a majority of pond life.
Accessibility
- The centre has level access and hard-surfaced paths with tarmac on its main routes (and compacted gravel on minor paths)
- Some bird hides are suitable for wheelchairs
- Free wheelchair hire, including electric buggies (which are not in use during wet weather for health and safety reasons. Prior booking recommended)
- Trained assistance dogs only (i.e. guide dogs). No other dogs permitted
- Accessible toilets in the visitor centre
- Free car parking on site. Tarmac surface and reserved bays for disabled visitors
- Regular buses every day of the week direct to the centre from Washington town centre, Sunderland, Newcastle, Durham, Chester-le-Street and South Shields
- Download details of the centre's Access Statement here
Accommodation
Listed below are email contacts to local tourist information centres, which can provide details of accommodation:
- tourist.Info@sunderland.gov.uk
- tourist.Info@newcastle.gov.uk
- tourism@gateshead.gov.uk
- museum.tic@southtyneside.gov.uk
- Touristinfo@durhamcity.gov.uk
North East England Small Visitor Attraction of the Year gold award winner 2009.
North East England Sustainable Tourism bronze award winner 2009.
Useful links:
WWT Washington is passionate about the wetlands and wildlife in North East England. Find out more about our fantastic region by clicking here.
Members of The Journal's Culture Club and Sunderland Empire's Live Card scheme are eligible for discounted entry to our centre, along with many more associated special offers around the North East. Join by clicking here and here.
WWT Washington is proud to be part of the city of Sunderland. Find out more about other things to see and do while visiting the area by clicking here and here.
WWT Washington is part of Tourism Tyne and Wear's Discover Pass scheme, which offers fantastic discounts at quality attractions across the region. For further details and to purchase a card online, visit here.
Sunderland Astronomical Society has its Cygnus Observatory on site at WWT Washington and holds regular public events. For further information, click here.
While visiting WWT Washington, why not indulge in a spot of retail therapy at Dalton Park outlet shopping centre? Click here for details.
WWT Washington is an accredited member of the Green Tourism Business Scheme. Click here to find out more.
Our site is conveniently located on the Sustrans Coast 2 Coast cycle route. A detailed guide to completing the route can be found here.