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Visitor Information

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Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

2012 admission prices

Prices are shown inclusive of Gift Aid and without. 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.

How to find us

WWT Washington Wetland Centre sits on the north bank of the River Wear, overlooked by the region's famous Penshaw Monument. It is easily accessible by public and private transport.

The centre is east of Washington town centre in Pattinson (formerly District 15), four miles from the A1(M), one mile from the A19 and signposted off the A195, A19, A182 and A1231 Washington Highway.

By bus

The centre is served by buses to the Waterview Park government building, which is just a short walk away. The Lime 8 bus (travelling between Stanley and Sunderland) stops at Waterview Park from Monday-Saturday and the 56A runs on a Sunday. Both can be caught as a connection from The Galleries bus station in Washington town centre.

Bus routes and times do change however, so please contact Traveline North East for the latest timetable and fare details on 0870 608 2608 or visit http://www.simplygo.com/

By rail

Sunderland rail station is a 15-minute car/bus ride away, while Newcastle and Durham stations are about 10 minutes further afield.

By Metro

The region’s underground Metro train service has stations with direct bus links to Washington town centre. These can be found in Sunderland (Park Lane Interchange), Newcastle (Haymarket or Eldon Square), Gateshead (Gateshead Interchange) and Heworth.

By bike

Cycling is an environmentally friendly and pleasant way to arrive at the centre, which is on the Sustrans Coast to Coast (C2C) Cycle Route. The River Wear trail also passes by (accessible by bike and on foot). Free cycle racks are available.

By coach

The centre has ample free parking for five large coaches. Please book spaces by prior arrangement.

By car

There is extensive free parking for visitors arriving by car, although where possible we would encourage the use of more environmentally friendly forms of transport.

The centre is located 10 minutes from the A1M (south bound - take junction 65 and follow signs for the A1231 to Sunderland, then follow the brown duck signs; north bound - take junction 64 and do the same) and two minutes from the A19 (take the A1231 exit and follow signs towards Gateshead, then follow the brown duck signs). You can follow the brown duck signs to the centre from the A195, A19, A182 and A1231.

Opening times

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). We recommend allowing three hours for a full visit.

Winter (November to March)
9.30am to 4.30pm (last admission an hour before closing)

Summer (April to October)
9.30am to 5.30pm (last admission an hour before closing)

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.

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 handmade cakes and cookies. Picnic areas are on site too.

Shopping

The gift shop stocks a wide variety of wildlife and children's books, bird feeders and food, postcards and stationery, children’s toys and souvenirs. WWT greetings cards are available, as well as recycled goods. Jigsaws and traditional sweets 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 £1.25, 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 and to help keep them happy and healthy by not causing undue noise or stress to the birds or animals. For this reason, we kindly ask that bikes, scooters and ball games are left with us at reception to look after; while noise levels are kept to a minimum in bird 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
• Arriving by bus: The Lime 8 bus (travelling between Stanley and Sunderland) stops at Waterview Park (just a short walk from WWT Washington) from Monday-Saturday and can be caught as a connection from The Galleries bus station in Washington town centre. The 56A bus stops at the centre on a Sunday. Bus times and routes do change however, so for the latest timetable details please click here.
• Download details of the centre's Access Statement

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