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    This is Durham Blog

You are here > Home > Things to Do > RSPB Saltholme

RSPB Saltholme

Seaton Carew Road
Middlesbrough
Tees Valley
TS2 1TU

Tel: +44 (0)1642 546625

Email

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Add RSPB Saltholme to your Itinerary

Girl looking through a magnifying glass into a bug pot
  • Girl looking through a magnifying glass into a bug pot
  • Avocet walking through water and behind the grass
  • Mum and daughter on wood platform next to a pond. Daughter is holding a net in the water to pond dip for creatures.
  • Blue and black bodied dragonfly with a blue head (Southern Migrant Hawker) resting on a reed.
  • Girl and boy sat at a hide window looking out through binoculars
  • Egret landing on grass with pool of water behind

About

RSPB Saltholme is the perfect place if you’re new to birdwatching or want to get out in nature. Our family-friendly wetlands have a helpful visitor's centre and hides which let you get up close to water rail, avocet and terns, plus a cafe, play area and accessible trails and also offer a range of activities allowing people to explore the wonderful wildlife, with everything from family pond dipping sessions to out-of-hours birdwatching tours.

We’re home to a breeding colony of Common Terns, Avocet and Lapwing over the summer, have murmurations of 10,000 – 20,000 Starlings in the winter, and flocks of wildfowl and waders over winter here too. There’s also a resident Harbour Seal colony at Greatham Creek, 1.5 miles from our main site.

The café will offers lunches, snacks and drinks between 9.30 and 3.15 daily. Our shop is open from 10.00am to 4.00pm selling our range of birdfood, bird care, binoculars and gifts.

View our Accessibility Guide here.

Book Tickets

Awards

  • Visit EnglandVAQAS VAQAS 2021
  • Regional and MiscellaneousVisitEngland Gold Accolade VisitEngland Gold Accolade 2023

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Traveller Rating:

4.7 of 5 stars
494 reviews
    • Excellent
      352
    • Very Good
      124
    • Average
      13
    • Poor
      3
    • Terrible
      2

    Recent Reviews:

    • Steve D
      Nice reserve, personnel less so…
      4 of 5 stars
      Sunday, 22nd June 2025
      We visited on a Friday when the reserve was not busy. The lady who greeted us was friendly and pleasant. We then had a less friendly welcome from the staff member inside the centre; maybe he was... Read full review
    • wiz1964
      cleveland, england
      Salthome a fabulous experience
      5 of 5 stars
      Saturday, 26th July 2025
      Wonderful place to visit for any age, right on my own doorstep i took my mum who is 89 and my grandson who is 6 and we had a fabulous time, all the staff were extremely helpful and friendly. we... Read full review
    • ALFRED99
      Yarm, United Kingdom
      Very Expensive.
      2 of 5 stars
      Saturday, 2nd August 2025
      We have visited Saltholme a number of times over the years and it is certainly an extensive area and the conservation objectives are to be applauded however it has become very expensive. Visiting for... Read full review
    Write a review
    © TripAdvisor 2025

    Facilities

    Accessibility

    • Access Statement - Read our Access Statement here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/saltholme/accessibility/

    Parking & Transport

    • Coach Drop Off / Pick Up Point
    • Coach Parking Onsite
    • On site parking

    Provider Features

    • WiFi Available

    Tours and Demonstrations

    • Educational Visits Accepted

    Access Information

    Opening Times

    Spring/Summer (1 Apr 2025 - 31 Oct 2025)
    DayTimes
    Monday - Sunday09:30 - 17:00
    Autumn/Winter (1 Nov 2025 - 31 Mar 2026)
    DayTimes
    Monday - Sunday09:30 - 16:00

    * Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
    New Year’s Eve 9.30am-3pm and New Year's Day 10.30am-4pm

    facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SaltholmeRSPB

    Map & Directions

    Map Link

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