Book your visit - Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare

Booking your FREE ticket is easy

Just click on the date you want to come below and complete the booking form. You will receive an email confirmation - please check this and read the attached information about your visit.

Please book a ticket for all adults. Children under 3 years old do not require a ticket.

Please note – the Raystede site is closed to the public on Saturday 23 November. We apologise for any inconvenience.

If you need help with booking, please call our Visitor Information Team on 01825 840252.

You can arrive any time from 10am until 3.30pm and stay until we close at 4pm.

The Aviary walkway closes at 2pm every day for the welfare of our birds.

Dogs welcome, please ensure they are on a lead at all times.

Read on for further information to help you enjoy your visit to Raystede and our FAQs.

If you need help with booking, please call our Visitor Information Team on 01825 840252.

You can arrive any time from 10am until 3.30pm and stay until we close at 4pm.

The Aviary walkway closes at 2pm every day for the welfare of our birds.

Dogs welcome, please ensure they are on a lead at all times.

Read on for further information to help you enjoy your visit to Raystede and our FAQs.

Opening hours

Raystede is open every day from 10am until 4pm, apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.

How to find us

We are located on the B2192, between Ringmer and Halland, opposite the East Sussex Gliding Club. For directions and contact details, please visit our Contact Us page.

Please consider car sharing where possible.

On arrival

There is plenty of free parking, including disabled parking bays.

Please go to the welcome cabin to be greeted by our Welcome Volunteers and to show your ticket.

Pick up a map to help you find your way around and make the most of your visit.

Our volunteers are always happy to help with any questions and directions.

Our animals

Many of our animals are with us for rehabilitation and are very shy or nervous so you may not see all of them. We really appreciate it – and so do our animals – if visitors stay calm and quiet.

Our Kennels and Cattery are not open to visitors as some of our animals are nervous. If you are interested in adopting, complete an online application form or call 01825 840252 to arrange assistance.

Our Aviaries

We provide our birds with plenty of enrichment and spacious aviaries so they can behave as naturally as possible. Some of our birds love seeing visitors but others find it stressful and display negative behaviours. The welfare of our animals is our top priority so the Aviaries area closes at 2pm to ensure that all our birds have time each day to relax and unwind.

Please walk quietly and calmly through the Aviaries. Thank you.

We are dog friendly

Raystede welcomes dogs on leads in most areas, including the shops and café, and there are a couple of dog walk trails around the perimeter of our site.

Please note that dogs are not allowed in the Small Animals and Rabbitry areas.

Daily tour

Join our free guided tour every day at 11.30am. Head to the meeting point outside Visitor Information where you will find your personal tour guide.

Make the most of your visit

Please read our ‘Visit Us’ page and FAQs to find out more about visiting Raystede, what to see and do.

Please note

Please do not feed our animals. Many of them are on special diets and can become very ill if they are fed anything other than their own food.

We ask that visitors do not bring picnics so as not to tempt our birds and also to reduce the risk of litter blowing around the site and potentially harming our animals.

Enjoy your visit!