Book your free visit!

It is essential to book a ticket as visitor numbers are limited for the welfare of our animals, and to provide a better visitor experience.

Book your visit
The area around the lakes and the dog walk are currently closed due to the Project Terrapin construction.

Aviaries close at 2pm every day for the welfare of our birds.

Read more about Project Terrapin
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Contact us Peaceways Pet Crematorium

Book your visit

Entry is FREE but it is essential to book a ticket. Visitor numbers are limited for the welfare of our nervous rescue animals and to provide a better visitor experience.

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

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.

Please note, the Sanctuary area and dog walk around the lakes is closed from until the Autumn due to the Project Terrapin construction work. This is a unique sanctuary designed to help and care for injured and abandoned terrapins in the South East of England. Find out more about Project Terrapin here.

There is a daily guided tour at 11.30am.

Dogs on leads welcome.

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

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

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.

Please note, the Sanctuary area and dog walk around the lakes is closed from until the Autumn due to the Project Terrapin construction work. This is a unique sanctuary designed to help and care for injured and abandoned terrapins in the South East of England. Find out more about Project Terrapin here.

There is a daily guided tour at 11.30am.

Dogs on leads welcome.

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

Book 4th December to 10th December
Arrive any time from 10am to 3.30pm. You can stay until we close at 4.00pm More Info
Book 11th December to 17th December
More Info
Book 18th December to 23rd December
Arrive any time from 10am to 3.30pm. You can stay until we close at 4.00pm More Info
Book 24th December
Arrive any time from 10am to 1.00pm. You can stay until we close at 2.00pm More Info
Book 27th December to 31st December
Arrive any time from 10am to 1pm. You can stay until we close at 2.00pm More Info
Book 2nd January to 7th January
Arrive any time from 10am to 3.30pm. You can stay until we close at 4.00pm More Info
Visitor FAQs
All your questions answered before you book your visit More Info

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.

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.

Part of the Lakes area is closed due to the Avian Flu restrictions.

Enjoy your visit!