• Language
    Language

To build your own Itinerary, click Add to Excursion to add an item to your Itinerary basket.

Already saved an Itinerary?

WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre

Type:Animal Collection

Fish Lane, Burscough, Nr Ormskirk, Lancashire, L40 0TA

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating - 1070 reviews1070 reviews

Tel: 01704 895 181

Add WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre to your Itinerary

Check availability for WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre (opens in a new window)

WWT Martin Mere Wetland Centre

There’s a fantastic day ahead of you at Martin Mere Wetland Centre.  Enjoy splashing, dipping, playing, paddling and getting up-close-and-personal with some of nature’s most wonderful wildlife.

800 acres of adventure to flutter hearts, home to thousands of rare birds; a cheeky family of otters; an all-star cast of pretty pink flamingos and a group of white storks to mention a few.

Living collection:
Martin Mere has over 70 wetland species from across the globe that you can see all year round.  Take a walk around the amazing scenery and see flamingos, inca terns, spoonbills, common cranes, southern screamers, and a wide variety of ducks, geese and swans.

Canoe Safari and guided boat tours:
Grab a paddle and take to the water in this award-winning canoe safari or guided boat tour.  Embark on the canoe via a self-service jetty and set off on your watery adventure, searching for moorhens, mallards, fish, water voles and the elusive kingfisher.  Open April – September daily (11:00 – 16:00), and weekends and half term in October (11:00 – 15:00).  £10.00 per canoe, or £3.00 per seat on the guided boat.  Guided boat tours can be booked in advance via the Martin Mere website, canoes are bookable on the day of your visit.

Wildlife hides and spotting:
There are 12 hides and a reedbed to give your senses a treat.  Each season offers new life, with summer being a great time to discover wetland wildlife.  The reedbed comes alive in the summer as all of the warblers that have been over wintering in Africa return and fill the reedbed with song.

Play areas:
From zip wire screams and scramble net laughs and treehouse trailblazing, the huge adventure playground is a total rush for ages three to 12.  For a new adventure, visit the Wild Walk for the newly installed play area.  Test your balance on the balance weaver and balance beam, take on the swinging steps, and brave the rickety bridge.  ​​​​​In addition, balance on the popular stepping stones, and have a go at den building.

Pond dipping:
Delve into the ponds and see what creatures are lurking beneath.  Can you find the slippery newts or dinosaur-like dragonfly nymphs in this free activity?  No booking is required to take part but it is recommended to come later in the session to avoid the initial queue.  Open weekends and school holidays April - September, 13:00 - 16:00.
​​​​​​​
Craft room:
The family craft room is the perfect activity come rain or shine. Let your kid's creativity run wild with activities for all ages, including free and paid activities. Open weekends and school holidays, 13:00 - 16:00.

Eat, drink, shop
A selection of hot and cold food is available from the Mere Side Café and outdoor kiosks so you can take a break from your wetland adventure. There is also a selection of drinks and snacks including tea and coffee, soft drinks, ice cream, and homemade cakes.  The café also has a range of vegan and gluten-free options available.  Want to bring your own picnic?  No problem.  Take a seat at one of the picnic tables, or head to the picnic room (open weekends and school holidays).

Browse through the wide range of items in the retail shop.  There are gifts, fun toys, books, accessories, and good-value bird food and feeding accessories.  And every penny you spend goes to support the vital conservation work of WWT.

Book Tickets

Prices

Ticket TypeTicket Tariff
Adult£16.50 per ticket
Adult/universal credit recipients£5.00 per ticket
Child/universal credit recipient£3.00 per ticket
Concession (over 65 years, disabled, unemployed, FT student)£14.81 per ticket
Family (two adults & two children aged 4 - 17 years)£46.22 per ticket
Junior (4 - 17 years)£10.72 per ticket
MemberFree

If you are visiting Martin Mere Wetland Centre as a group consisting of 12 or move individuals you can ring through in advance and receive a group rate admission upon arrival.
All admission prices exclude Gift Aid contribution.

Opening Times

Open New Year

* • Open 364 days a year – that’s every day except Christmas Day
• Car park closes at 18:00 in the summer and 16.30 in winter
• You can visit between 9.30 - 18:00 (16:30 in winter and 15:00 on Christmas Eve) and last admission is one hour before closing.
• Buggy and wheelchair friendly

Events

Monday, 1st January 2024 - Monday, 30th December 2024

Craft Room at WWT Martin MereLet your kid's creativity run wild with activities for all ages, including free and paid activities.
more info

Saturday, 30th November 2024 - Sunday, 22nd December 2024

Monday, 23rd December 2024 - Monday, 23rd December 2024

Sail to Santa at WWT Martin MereSail across to Santa's Island, meet Santa and his elves and get busy in the Elves' workshop.
more info

Saturday, 15th February 2025 - Sunday, 23rd February 2025

Mudfest 2025 at WWT Martin Mere Wetland CentreGet stuck in with a mud obstacle course, mud kitchen, wild crafts, and mud kitchen.
more info

Gradings

  • VAQAS VB Attraction
VAQAS VB Attraction

Awards

  • Sub-Regional AwardsBest Visitor Experience of the Year Best Visitor Experience of the Year 2011
  • Green AwardsGreen Tourism Business Scheme (Gold) Green Tourism Business Scheme (Gold) 2014
  • Sub-Regional AwardsSustainable Tourism Award Sustainable Tourism Award 2012
  • Sub-Regional AwardsPartner of Visit Lancashire Partner of Visit Lancashire 2018
  • Sub-Regional AwardsMaking a Difference Award Making a Difference Award 2011
  • Sub-Regional AwardsLancashire Tourism Awards 2016 - Finalist Lancashire Tourism Awards 2016 - Finalist 2016

Directions

Road Directions

Follow A59 towards Preston. Through Burscough Village turn left immediately after the railway bridge onto Red Cat Lane. Follow for 1 mile, Martin Mere is on left.

Public Transport Directions

Nearest railway station is Burscough Bridge station. Martin Mere is 1.5 miles from station. Signposted walk, approximately 30mins, or can get taxi from Burscough Village. Cyclists are always welcome at Martin Mere.

The centre is signposted from Junction 8, M61, Junction 3 on M58 and Junction 27 on M6.

Facilities

Other

  • Concessionary Admission Charges
  • Open All Year
  • Outdoor

Establishment Features

  • Conference Facilities
  • Disabled Access/Toilets

Parking & Transport

  • Car Parking
  • On site parking

Payment Methods

  • Delta accepted
  • MasterCard accepted
  • Special Group Rates
  • Switch accepted
  • Visa accepted

Provider Preferences

  • In countryside

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.5 of 5 stars
    • Excellent
      698
    • Very Good
      271
    • Average
      66
    • Poor
      19
    • Terrible
      16

    Recent Reviews:

      Follow Us

      Video

      • Video

      What's Nearby

      What's Nearby

      What's Nearby

      1. Windmill Animal Farm

        Windmill Animal Farm is a great family day out, offering visitors the chance to…

        0.78 miles away
      2. Lancashire Canal Cruises

        Lancashire Canal Cruises take in the wonderful rural settings of the area. …

        1.22 miles away
      3. Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve

        Nestled amongst the peaceful agricultural landscape of Rufford, Mere Sands Wood is a true…

        1.94 miles away
      1. Platts Lane Lake

        Platts Lane Lake, situated off Platts Lane, Burscough is one of West Lancashire's hidden…

        2.34 miles away
      2. National Trust Rufford Old Hall

        Follow in Shakespeare's footsteps and visit one of Lancashire's finest Tudor buildings…

        2.42 miles away
      3. Hurlston Hall Golf Course

        Hurlston Hall is a superb 18 hole golf course with a par of 72. Set in 135 acres of…

        2.77 miles away
      4. Crook Hall Farm

        Three well stocked fishing ponds which are ideally suited to the pleasure angler using…

        3.83 miles away
      5. Ormskirk Market

        Ormskirk Market is renowned for being one of the UK’s oldest and most traditional outdoor…

        3.88 miles away
      6. Cedar Farm

        Cedar Farm is a unique and exciting creative community hub. It is now home to 33…

        4.3 miles away
      7. The Arts Centre

        The Arts Centre at Edge Hill University offers a full programme of events, from drama and…

        4.3 miles away
      8. Carnes Fine Art

        Carnes Fine Art are proud to be an independent art gallery, specialising in original…

        4.32 miles away
      9. The Mill House Gallery

        This stunning gallery is situated on the banks of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal in the rural…

        4.59 miles away
      10. Bretherton Gardens

        Three contrasting gardens spaced across one-and-a-half miles offer the opportunity to see…

        4.82 miles away
      11. Warbreck Garden Centre

        Warbreck Garden Centre

        Warbreck is a family run garden centre located in Lathom near Ormskirk in Lancashire…

        4.85 miles away
      12. West Lancashire Light Railway

        Lancashire's only narrow gauge railway, A short 2ft operational, narrow gauge steam…

        5.53 miles away
      13. Fairy Glen

        Nestled on the side of Parbold Hill, is a beautiful woodland walk called 'Fairy Glen'…

        5.82 miles away
      Previous Next

      Sign up for e-newsletter

      Don't Miss

      Don't Miss

      Don't Miss

      Don't Miss

      Don't Miss