Premium Falconry & Bird of Prey Experience near Lincoln
When booking a once-in-a-lifetime gift, the experience has to be perfect. Just a straightforward drive from Lincoln, our private Market Harborough centre offers an exclusive, countryside escape away from crowded tourist attractions. Guests regularly make the short trip to visit us because we guarantee a truly authentic, 100% hands-on encounter. Here, you fly the birds to your own glove, rather than just standing in a large crowd watching a public demonstration.
Established in 2006, we specialise in intimate, high-quality encounters with a diverse collection of magnificent hawks, owls, and falcons. Whether you choose a one-hour Raptor Rapture or a comprehensive 3-hour half-day, our expert falconers ensure maximum flying time. We offer flexible booking with sessions running across both weekdays and weekends.
Book with total confidence: Every experience is protected by our unique 'Fair & Sensible' Money Back Value Guarantee." [Learn More]
Raptor Rapture
One Hour Falconry Experience
Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves" - Lucinda
- Perfect introduction to falconry: A hands-on taster session, ideal for first-time visitors.
- Fly 3+ species: Hawks, falcons and owls, all flown to the glove.
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Ages 6+: great for families and younger enthusiasts
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Small groups: for plenty of 1:1 flying time
Bird on the Hand
3 Hour Experience.
Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Super informative and relaxed" - Lucinda
- Our signature experience: Handle and fly 5+ species including owls, hawks and falcons.
- Fully hands-on falconry experience: Not a demonstration.
- Small groups: Usually max 6 for personal tuition.
- Private woodland setting: In the Leicestershire countryside.
- 3 immersive hours: Plenty of time to learn, handle and fly multiple birds.
Falconry Adventure
Full Day Falconry Experience
Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Truly special experience, emotive and exciting" - Andrew
- 7 full hours: The ultimate deep dive into the art of falconry.
- Fly our full collection: Hawks, owls, falcons and buzzards.
- Woodland hawk walk: Experience a hawk following you through the trees.
- Lunch included: A generous lunch at our private venue.
- Ages 12+: Suited to adults and mature young enthusias
Why Book with the Experts at Bird on the Hand?
- A Lifetime of Experience: Our team brings together over 80 years of combined expertise in falconry and bird welfare. Led by a master falconer with over five decades of personal experience, we provide a level of insight and professional handling that is rare in the UK.
- Pure, Hands-on Interaction: We don't just "show" you the birds; we teach you the art. From the correct stance to the thrill of a hawk landing on your glove, every session is designed to be an active, immersive encounter.
- The Private Collection: Our sessions feature a spectacular range of raptors at our private Market Harborough centre.
- You will personally fly and handle a spectacular range of raptors at our private Market Harborough centre. Under expert guidance, you’ll witness the incredible power and precision of Harris Hawks, Falcons, and Eagle Owls as they launch from the treeline directly to your glove.
- Authentic Setting: We fly our birds in the natural Leicestershire countryside, providing an uninterrupted, "back-to-nature" escape that is perfect for photography and enthusiasts alike.
Not found your perfect experience?
Explore our other experiences or specialised sessions. We will have something to suit. Get in touch if you want to talk.
🦉 The Owl Lover:
If you want to focus purely on the magic of owls, we have dedicated handling and flying sessions just for you.
🧒 The Young Falconer:
Safe, fun, and highly educational sessions designed specifically for children and families (Ages 6+).
🏢 Private & Group Events:
From bespoke family days to corporate team building and weddings, we can tailor a day to your needs.
Need a hand? 📞 Give us a call on 07868 243490 — we’re always happy to help.
Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Super informative and relaxed - Nora Janossy
We had an amazing day with Duncan and his team.
The whole event was well organised, super informative, relaxed and given everyone plenty of opportunities to handle and get to know these beautiful birds. We have learned a lot in a casual way, and have left with huge smiles, amazing photos and some nice pub recommendations.
*****
Nora Janossy
Heartfelt thanks to Charlotte and Terri - Liz Dodds
My wife Liz had a wonderful day on Sunday. She really enjoyed her experience and it was made even more special because not only did she get to handle owls but she also got to handle a couple of raptors.
Please give my wifes and my own heartfelt thanks to Charlotte and Terri for making it such a special day for her and also the other participants.
She's already had good comments about the photos/videos that she posted on Facebook and a couple of people have already asked where she had been. She was only too happy to let them know.
Hopefully you will have a few extra people booking experiences with you.
Absolutely Amazing! - Maribel
Charlotte was just brilliant so knowledgeable and engaging can’t believe how much I learnt. The birds were fantastic. Thoroughly enjoyed every minute even though it was freezing!
When I retire I would love to volunteer 😀
Thank you so much!
Maribel
Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves - Lucky Lucinda
Thank you for a fabulous afternoon. We were very lucky to have the session to ourselves. My children throroughly enjoyed themselves, the session was perfectly pitched to keep them engaged and to learn about the beautiful birds they got to fly. Many thanks, we’ll definitely be back! Lucinda
Fabulous day out - Caroline and Lee
Full of hands-on bird demonstrations, lots of information and it was very obvious that the birds are well cared for and loved with staff and owners passionate about giving us the best experience, whilst keeping the birds welfare their priority.
Also small group which made it feel personal.
Thank you for an amazing day, loved every minute.
100% recommend.
Caroline and Lee
Worth every penny - Graham Fuller
Seeing the lovely birds and getting really close to them was great. the team were really knowledgeable.
To actually have a raptor sitting on your hand was truly amazing
Thank you for a lovely day and it was worth every penny.
GRAHAM FULLER
Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
"A truly special experience - both emotive and exciting!" - Andrew
My family and I attended a private session with the birds 🦅 of prey. This was to celebrate my birthday.
Charlotte and Teri looked after us throughout the whole day. They imparted with their knowledge of the birds - where they came from, how they’re looked after etc.
The fun came when we were supported in flying these wonderful species - ranging from owls, falcons, buzzard to name just a few.
The experience of seeing the birds in flight, as well as handling them, was truly special - both emotive and exciting. We fed the birds, and experienced how strong the birds are whilst feeding, cracking through their rewards. Charlotte and Teri were fantastic hosts, and laid on a wonderful lunch - hearty food locally sourced. Our day ended with a perfect sunset and a final feast for the birds.
It was a wonderful experience which I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone wishing to experience and see these wonderful creatures. They are well looked after, and we all had a wonderful day. We will definitely be doing this again, and will be recommending it to friends and family.
Thank you for making my birthday so special.
Andrew.
"A very moving experience" - Angela and Dave
Hi there we had a great visit today. Your birds and Charlotte were amazing. A very moving experience being up close to all the birds. We will be back next year for a full day visit we can’t wait
kind regards
Angela and Dave
"Our second time there and it is unlikely to be our last!" - Oliver
A wonderful day out for our son and 2 spectators . Our second time there and it is unlikely to be our last. This was a gift for our adult son. He enjoyed a half day experience in May so we bought him a full day experience for his birthday. Both Charlotte in May and Duncan on this occasion, were fantastic. They are so willing to share their knowledge and expertise. The birds all have their own characters and are well cared for. Groups are small. On this occasion six people taking part with five spectators. Spectators are included in everything except flying the birds. Lunch was excellent and I'm sure we will be returning again! Thank you for a super day. Oliver
Our No-Nonsense "Great Day" Guarantee
I want you to book with absolute confidence. Our business is built on 20 years of reputation and a genuine passion for these birds. We stand by every session we lead, which is why we offer a straightforward, no-nonsense guarantee:
- 30-Day 'Change of Mind' Return: if a gift isn't quite right for the recipient, return the voucher within 30 days for a full refund.
- The Enjoyment Promise: We personally guarantee that every participant will have a fantastic time on the day or you can have a full refund.
- The Value Promise: If, after your experience, you honestly feel it wasn't worth the price, tell us why and what you feel it was worth. We will refund the difference.
- Total Flexibility: Life happens. If you need to move your date, just talk to us. We don’t believe in re-booking fees; we’ll simply find a new slot that works for you. All we ask is as much notice as possible.
If your child is a little nervous on the day, don’t worry—we go entirely at their pace. We’re experts at making sure every young falconer feels confident and happy.
'We've found that the people we deal with are generally fair and sensible, so we keep our terms exactly the same. If there’s a problem, talk to us and we’ll sort it.' Andrew, Duncan and the Team"
Money Back Guarantee
I want you to book with absolute confidence. Our business is built on 20 years of reputation and a genuine passion for these birds. We stand by every session we lead, which is why we offer a straightforward, no-nonsense guarantee:
- 30-Day 'Change of Mind' Return: if a gift isn't quite right for the recipient, return the voucher within 30 days for a full refund.
- The Enjoyment Promise: We personally guarantee that every participant will have a fantastic time on the day or you can have a full refund.
- The Value Promise: If, after your experience, you honestly feel it wasn't worth the price, tell us why and what you feel it was worth. We will refund the difference.
- Flexible Rebooking: Life happens. If you need to move your date, just talk to us. We don’t believe in re-booking fees; we’ll simply find a new slot that works for you. All we ask is as much notice as possible.