Falconry Experiences at Bird on the Hand, Leicestershire.
Experience Falconry in the Heart of the Midlands
Welcome to Bird on the Hand, Leicestershire’s original falconry experience centre.
Set in open countryside near Market Harborough, our hands-on sessions let you fly and handle magnificent birds of prey — hawks, owls, and falcons — under the guidance of expert falconers.
Whether you’re fulfilling a lifelong wish, treating someone special, or simply curious about the art of falconry, every visit offers a calm, inspiring encounter with nature.
Bird on the Hand & Falconry Adventure
Our Signature Falconry Experiences in Leicestershire
Step into the world of falconry with our flagship experiences — Bird on the Hand (half-day) and Falconry Adventure (full-day).
Both are hands-on sessions led by our experienced falconers, giving you the chance to meet, handle and fly a range of our magnificent birds of prey in the beautiful Leicestershire countryside.
Whether you’re a lifelong bird lover or completely new to falconry, you’ll enjoy an unforgettable encounter with hawks, owls and falcons — guided at a gentle pace.
Bird on the Hand – Half-Day Experience
Our most popular session, Bird on the Hand, offers a perfect introduction to falconry.
Over three engaging hours, you’ll learn about the training and care of birds of prey, handle several species, and experience the thrill of flying hawks free in the open countryside.
This session makes a wonderful gift for anyone who loves wildlife, nature or photography.
No previous experience is required, and our falconers ensure every participant enjoys a safe, personal encounter.
Bird on the Hand – Gift Voucher & Book
Our most popular falconry experience is the half day “Bird on the Hand” experience. During this 3 hour adventure you’ll meet a selection of different species, including small owls, big owls, a falcon, a hawk, and a red kite. You will get to meet these birds up close; the first time they fly to your glove is a truly unforgettable experience. It is an unrivalled, up close to nature, adventure that is not to be missed.
Our experienced falconers will teach you all about these facinating birds and the art of falconry. We encourage lots of questions, and you will have lots of amazing photo opportunities.
Whether you are a nature enthusiast, a thrill seeker, or simply curious about birds of prey; our Bird on the Hand half day falconry experience will leave you with a deeper appreciation for these incredible creatures.
Suitable for adults and children 7+
Price £89.99 – Spectator £35
Full Experience Details
Falconry Experience – Market Harborough
A fantastic and memorable opportunity to get up close to hawks, falcons, owls—and even eagles.
This experience is a brilliant introduction to birds of prey and makes a wonderful gift for both the young and the young at heart.
You’ll witness the grace and power of these magnificent birds as they fly to your glove in beautiful countryside surroundings. This half-day session is packed with hands-on opportunities and fascinating insight into the ancient and noble art of falconry. You’ll handle and fly a variety of birds, including several species of falcons, hawks, and owls.
This remains our most popular experience for all ages.
Child Friendly
Youngsters from age seven can participate in this event and they can bring along their chauffeurre and supervisor free of charge. They get to watch and take photos of their star of the day. Any additional spectators are welcome but need to pay the spectator charge.
Location
This event takes place near Market Harborough:
Barn Owl Hollow, Stonton Road, Church Langton, Market Harborough, LE16 7SZ
Companions / Spectators
You’re welcome to bring family and friends to share the day with you. Spectators are fully involved—they stay by your side, can ask questions, take photos, and soak up the experience. While they won’t handle the birds, they’ll still enjoy learning about them up close.
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Select the number of spectators during booking to see pricing.
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Children under 16 may spectate for free when accompanied by a paying adult spectator.
Experience Details
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Duration: Approximately 3 hours
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Group Size: Usually up to 6 participants
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Times: Morning (10am–1pm) or afternoon (2pm–5pm)
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Voucher Validity: 12 months from purchase date
Important Information
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Weather: This experience is weather dependent and may be postponed in wet or extreme conditions. You’ll have ample opportunity to rebook if needed.
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Booking Calendar: Online bookings are available up to 4 months ahead. If you’re planning for a special occasion beyond that, please call us to discuss options.
- Tea and Coffee available here.
- Toilet Accesible for wheelchairs
What to Wear
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Dress appropriately for the weather. On colder days, you won’t be moving much—layers are important.
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The ground is rarely muddy, so walking boots or sturdy shoes are usually sufficient.
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Avoid bright dayglo colours, as these can disturb some birds.
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In summer, sunscreen and a bottle of water are sensible.
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If you suffer from hay fever, bring antihistamines—you’ll be outdoors in a grassy field
Gifting Options
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Upgrade to our Deluxe Presentation Pack to add:
- Your printed voucher
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A smart gift box with gold bow (Picture in the galley)
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A real leather mini falconer’s gauntlet and falconry bell keyfob (various colours)
Falconry Adventure – Full-Day Experience
The Falconry Adventure is our most popular and immersive full-day experience — a true outdoor adventure and an unforgettable introduction to the art of falconry.
This action-packed, hands-on day takes you deep into the countryside to fly as many of our birds as possible — including some of the larger species once your glove arm has warmed up!
The morning follows a similar programme to our Bird on the Hand half-day experience, introducing you to a variety of hawks, falcons, and owls. After a hearty ploughman’s lunch, you’ll head out for a walk with a Harris Hawk before meeting and flying more of our amazing birds in open countryside.
With around 25 birds in total, you might encounter several species of falcon, a dozen owls (including British Tawny and Barn Owls), two cheeky Burrowing Owls who will eat from your hand, and even our magnificent eagles. (Eagle Owls aren’t actually eagles — come and find out why!)
Guests love how the two parts of the day complement each other — learning and handling in the morning, adventure and flying in the afternoon — making this our most in-demand experience.
This full-day session gives you a fascinating window into the noble art of falconry and the lives of these extraordinary birds.
Due to the length of this experience, we recommend a minimum age of 11. However, if you have a dedicated younger child, please call to discuss.
Falconry Adventure – Gift Voucher & Book
Our full-day Falconry Adventure is the ultimate experience for anyone who wants to spend a day living the life of a falconer. During this immersive experience, you’ll meet and fly a wide variety of birds — from hawks and falcons to majestic eagles and charming owls.
The morning follows a similar pace to our half-day experience, building your skills and confidence as you fly and handle several species. After a hearty ploughman’s lunch, you’ll join us for a walk with a Harris Hawk before spending the afternoon flying more of our incredible birds in beautiful countryside surroundings.
The day offers wonderful opportunities for photography and plenty of time to ask questions and learn more about the art of falconry. It’s a truly hands-on, up-close-to-nature experience — an unforgettable day out or a remarkable gift.
Suitable for adults and children aged 11+.
All gift vouchers are valid for 12 months.
Price £165.00 pp – Spectator £65.00
Full Experience Details
Ultimate Full-Day Falconry Experience
Our Most Popular Experience – A True Outdoor Adventure!
This action-packed, hands-on day takes you deep into the countryside for the ultimate falconry immersion. Spend the morning getting to know our incredible birds—feeding, handling, and flying some of our favourite stars up close.
After a relaxed lunch, the afternoon unfolds out in the fields, where you’ll fly hawks and owls in a natural setting. Guests love how the two parts of the day complement each other—making this our most in-demand experience.
Children
Due to the lenghth of this experience we recomend a minimum age of eleven but you may have a dedicated younger child. Please call to discuss.
Companions & Spectators
Bring along friends or family to share the day with you! Spectators are fully involved, staying with you throughout the experience. They can ask questions, take photos, and enjoy the action—though they won’t handle the birds themselves. Lunch is included.
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Select the number of spectators during booking to view prices.
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Children under 16 may spectate for free if accompanied by a paying adult spectator.
Location
This event takes place near Market Harborough:
Barn Owl Hollow, Stonton Road, Church Langton, Market Harborough, LE16 7SZ
Experience Details
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Duration: Full day (two sessions with lunch break)
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Morning Session: Handling, feeding, and flying a variety of birds
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Afternoon Session: Flying owls and hawks in open countryside
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Group Size: Typically up to six
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Voucher Validity: 12 months from the date of purchase
Good To Know
-
Weather: This experience is weather dependent and may be postponed in wet or extreme conditions. You’ll have ample opportunity to rebook if needed.
-
Booking Calendar: Online bookings are available up to 4 months ahead. If you’re planning for a special occasion beyond that, please call us to discuss options.
- Tea and Coffee available here.
- Toilet Accesible for wheelchairs
What to Wear
-
Dress appropriately for the weather. On colder days, you won’t be moving much—layers are important.
-
The ground is rarely muddy, so walking boots or sturdy shoes are usually sufficient.
-
Avoid bright dayglo colours, as these can disturb some birds.
-
In summer, sunscreen and a bottle of water are sensible.
-
If you suffer from hay fever, bring antihistamines—you’ll be outdoors in a grassy field
Gifting Options
-
Upgrade to our Deluxe Presentation Pack to add:
- Your printed voucher
-
A smart gift box with gold bow (Picture in the galley)
-
A real leather mini falconer’s gauntlet and falconry bell keyfob (various colours)
Love Owls? Discover Our Owl Handling Experiences
Many of our guests also fall in love with our owls during their falconry day.
If you’d like to spend more time with these incredible birds, take a look at our dedicated Owl Handling Experiences, including Owl on the Hand and our 30 minutes Have a Hoot sessions — perfect for families and anyone who has a special fascination for owls.
Private Sessions
Looking for an exclusive day for two, a family, or small group?
We also offer Private Falconry Experiences, including 90-minute, half-day and full-day options — a perfect way to enjoy falconry with just your group and one of our professional falconers.
A True Bird on the Hand Experience
All of our falconry sessions can be taken at Barn Owl Hollow, our Market Harborough base — a countryside setting where you can experience falconry as it should be: calm, authentic and close to nature.
Most sessions are suitable for ages 7 and above, and can be tailored to your interests and confidence level.
Outreach, Displays & Private Events
Falconry isn’t only something to experience at our centre — we also bring the magic of birds of prey to schools, care homes, and private events across the region.
Our team can create a calm and uplifting encounter for residents and pupils, or a truly memorable display for shows, family gatherings and corporate days.
Each visit is tailored to your audience and setting, ensuring a safe and engaging experience for everyone.
Bird of Prey Experience Day at it’s best – The Most special gift for any lover of birds
I have always dreamed of having a falconry experience and my dream came true as I was gifted a full bird of prey experience day for my 50th Birthday.
The groups for the experience are limited to 6people to handle the birds with the opportunity of having a guest to stand close by (for a small fee) to take any photographs and video of the event. Due to the small size of the groups then we could hold each bird at least 3 times. We flew owls of various sizes from either post to glove or glove to glove and various different raptors. I will not go into details as I do not wish to spoil the surprise.
Both Andrew and his Son Duncan provided expert knowledge of each of the birds and welcomed any questions that you may have. The location is perfect for falconry with plenty of green fields. In fact you will see wild raptors in the air high above the site! The variety of different raptors available means that another visit will be on the cards to experience the other birds.
A very special up-close and personal bird of prey experience day which will be imprinted as a memory.
Stephen