Photo: Downwell Group
Thameside Nature Discovery Park
Location
Mucking
Know before you go
Dogs
Dogs are permitted on the reserve but, must be kept on a lead at all times.
Assistance dogs only in the Nature Discovery Centre.
When to visit
Opening times
Thameside Nature Discovery Centre is open 7 days a week.Winter opening hours:
10am-4pm, 4 November – 14 Feb
Summer opening hours:
10am – 5pm, 15 February – 3 November
Christmas opening hours:
Christmas Eve 10am – 2pm
Closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day
New Year’s Eve 10am – 2pm
Best time to visit
All year roundAbout the reserve
Thameside Nature Discovery Park is situated on the Thames Estuary and is fantastic for family days out, bird and ship watching, historical interest and getting away from the hustle and bustle.
The views across the Thames Estuary are stunning, especially from our fully accessible rooftop viewing deck which offers 360 degree views of the Nature Park and Thames.
The Nature Discovery Centre has a café with full length windows for viewing the estuary, gift shop, toilets with baby changing and a bird hide with wheelchair access which overlook the SSSI mudflats a short walk away. We have a wonderful natural play and picnic area for families to enjoy. Dogs are welcome on leads and events are held throughout the year with free parking.
The site which was once landfill and has been given back to nature is 120 acres at present and will eventually be 845 acres, it is a tremendous habitat for coastal and wetland wildlife, as well as very important grassland flora and fauna species.
The Nature Park is important for many species including barn owls, short eared owls, water voles, harvest mouse, skylark, cuckoo and shrill carder bee. However, these are not the only beneficiaries, local cattle also graze the grassland during the year.
The area is an avian hotspot and throughout the year there are overwintering and migrant bird species residing at the park and in the River Thames. There are internationally important numbers of ringed plover and avocets and nationally important numbers of grey plover, dunlin, black-tailed godwit, redshank on the adjacent mudflats as well as a treasure trove of butterflies, moths and bees on the Nature Park grasslands.
Footpaths, bridleways and cycle ways access the Nature Park and we are on the Thames Estuary path route which extends to 27 miles from Tilbury town through to Leigh on Sea.
Contact us
How to find us
Directions by road:
Travelling Eastbound on the A13 follow the brown signs to turn off at the Orsett Cock junction, take the third exit signposted Linford on the A1013. After just over a mile, at the first set of Traffic Lights turn right onto Buckingham Hill Road. After approximately 1 and a half miles, before entering Linford, turn left onto Walton’s Hall Road. Follow the Brown sign 1 mile on, turning right onto Mucking Wharf Road. Carry on past the cottages and barns onto the single-track road up to the Nature Discovery Centre where there is a large car park.
Travelling Westbound Turn off the A13 at the Manorway Junction (brown signposted) take the second exit on the A1013. Keep straight on, after a mile turn left at the second set of traffic lights onto Buckingham Hill Road. After approximately 1 and a half miles, before entering Linford, turn left onto Walton’s Hall Road. Follow the Brown sign 1 mile on, turning right onto Mucking Wharf Road. Carry on past the cottages and barns onto the single-track road up to the Nature Discovery Centre where there is a large car park.
Directions by public transport:
Nearest train station is Stanford-le-Hope. Direct trains from London Fenchurch Street take 50 minutes; direct trains from Southend Central take 25 minutes. Stanford-le-Hope is served by buses from both Southend and Grays, please be prepared for approx 3 mile walk to the Nature Park.