Abbotsbury Swannery
Abbotsbury Swannery is one of Dorset’s most loved attractions and the only place in the world where you can walk through the heart of a colony of nesting mute swans. Set on the sheltered Fleet Lagoon behind Chesil Beach, it is home to a herd of more than 600 free-flying mute swans and has been cared for, in one form or another, for over 600 years.
Highlights
- The only managed colony of nesting mute swans in the world
- Daily mass swan feeds at noon and 4pm — join in and help feed the swans
- Spring nesting, fluffy grey cygnets in early summer, and the autumn moult
- The largest willow maze in Dorset, plus a play area, café and gift shop
- Free parking; set within the Chesil & Fleet Nature Reserve
A little history
The Swannery was established by Benedictine monks who built St Peter’s monastery at Abbotsbury in the 1040s and farmed the swans for their banquets. After the monastery was dissolved in 1539 the Swannery passed to the Ilchester Estates, who steward it to this day under a Swanherd.
Plan your visit
The Swannery is open seasonally (roughly mid-March to the end of October). For the latest opening times, ticket prices and the dual-ticket discount with the Subtropical Gardens, see the official site — it opens in a new tab so you keep this page.
Book Swannery tickets ↗ Opens in a new tab — this page stays open.