There are many excellent sites in Greater London
where bats can often be seen feeding on Summer evenings. Usually the best spots to see bats are over and near ponds, lakes, rivers
and canals etc. and in the sheltered glades and edges of wooded areas. Please note that some sites may only be accessible with permission, or on arranged
visits, so watch out for arranged bat walks there.
| Borough |
Site |
Location |
Description |
Nearest Transport |
| Richmond |
Bushy Park |
Access via footpath from Sandy Lane (B358)
TQ160698 |
Look for Daubenton's over the ponds, and brown long-eared bats along the
tree lined avenues. A very good site for bats. |
Teddington (BR) |
|
Hounslow |
Osterley Park |
Watch out for publicised summer bat walks, no access otherwise at dusk.
TQ147780 |
Pipistrelle, noctule and Daubenton's bats. |
Osterley (Piccadilly Line) |
|
Hillingdon |
Grand Union Canal |
Access from Western Ave (A40) north along the towpath on west side of canal.
TQ053858 |
Pipistrelle, noctule and Daubenton's bats. |
Uxbridge (Piccadilly and Metropolitan Lines) |
|
Barnet & Enfield |
Beech Hill Lake, Monken Hadley Common |
Via Games Rd from Cockfosters Rd (A111).
TQ271970 |
Good numbers of pipistrelles and Daubenton's bats and a small number of
noctules. |
Cockfosters (Piccadilly Line) |
|
Camden |
Hampstead Heath |
Open access from East Heath Rd to Hampstead Ponds (TQ273861) and from
Millfield Lane to Highgate Ponds TQ278867 |
Pipistrelle, noctule and Daubenton's bats. An important bat site near to
central London. If windy visit the sheltered southern ponds in each
complex. |
Hampstead (Northern Line) |
|
Westminster |
Hyde Park |
Access via Bayswater Rd (A40).
TQ275801 |
Pipistrelle and noctule present. |
Bayswater (Central Line) |
|
Redbridge / Newham |
Wanstead Flats |
Access via Aldersbrook Rd (A116) and Forest Drive (A117)
TQ409864 |
Pipistrelle, noctule, Daubentons and Leisler's bats. A very good site for
bats. |
Manor Park (BR) |
|
Barking & Dagenham |
The Chase Nature Reserve |
Access via Chase Rd
TQ514863 |
A large number of pipistrelles and a few serotines are present. Information
available from the London Wildlife Trust warden on 020 8593 8096. |
Dagenham East (District Line) |
|
Havering |
Berwick Ponds |
Via Berwick Pond Rd
TQ540835 |
Large number of pipistrelles and up to 30 noctules can be seen over the
ponds. Smaller numbers of serotines also present enabling comparison between
these two large bats. |
Rainham (BR) |
|
Greenwich |
Oxleas Wood |
Access via Shooters Hill, SE9
TQ444760 |
Pipistrelle and noctule can be seen along the woodland edge and central
rides. |
Falconwood (BR) |
|
Croydon |
South Norwood Country Park |
Access via Elmers End Road (A214)
TQ355685 |
Pipistrelles, noctules and Daubenton's present, particularly over the
lake. |
Birkbeck and Elmers End BR,
Tramlink |
|
Sutton |
Beddington Park |
Access via London Rd (A237) to the west or Croydon Rd (A232) to the south
TQ291654 |
Pipistrelle, noctule and serotine bats. A very good site. |
Hackbridge or Wallington (BR) |
|
Merton / Wandsworth |
Wimbledon Common |
Access via Parkside (A219)
TQ225715 |
Pipistrelles, noctules, Daubenton's, brown long-eared and serotines
present. Look for Daubenton's over Kingsmere and Queensmere. |
Wimbledon (BR & LT) 93 Bus to Parkside |
