Abbotsbury Swannery closes for winter on 1 November and reopens in mid-March. Cygnets hatch from early May; swan feeds are at noon and 4pm. Tickets and rules.
Abbotsbury Swannery closes for the winter today, Sunday 1 November 2026, at the end of a season that began on Saturday 14 March. It is closed to the public from November until mid-March, and the 2027 reopening date has not been announced yet. If you are planning ahead, the time to go is May and June, when the cygnets hatch, and the moment to be there on any day is the mass swan feed at midday or 4pm.
The Swannery sits on the edge of the Fleet Lagoon behind Chesil Beach, at the western end of Abbotsbury village. It says it is the only managed colony of nesting Mute Swans in the world: more than 600 swans living together, with over 100 breeding pairs nesting close to each other in spring. This page covers when to visit, the feeds, tickets, the dog rule and getting there. Everything was checked on the Swannery’s own site on 1 November 2026.
When to go
| Month | What you see |
|---|---|
| Mid-March to April | Pairs build nests side by side; first eggs by the end of March, most incubation in April |
| Early May to late June | Cygnets hatch; the Swannery says hatching is complete by late June |
| June and July | Adults moult their flight feathers and cannot fly for about six weeks |
| August to October | Cygnets grow fast; by late September they are almost adult size, with a 2 metre wingspan |
| November to mid-March | Closed to visitors |
For cygnets, go in late May or early June. The Swannery’s own pages put the first hatchings anywhere from early to mid-May, and hatching runs well into June, so by the last week of May there are cygnets at every stage, from just hatched to finding their feet. Weekends and the May half term are busiest.
For a quieter visit, go in September or October, when the young swans are nearly grown and the site is calmer. The Swannery says swans from around Dorset and neighbouring counties gather on the Fleet in autumn, so numbers rise as the season ends.
The mass swan feeds
The feeds happen every day the Swannery is open, at midday and 4pm. The team arrive with wheelbarrows and scoops and ask visitors to help scatter the feed, while the Swannery’s staff give a commentary on the colony. Hundreds of swans come in at once. Children can often join in, so be at the feeding area a few minutes early if yours want a turn.
If you can only fit in one, the midday feed is the easier one to plan a day around: it leaves time for the walks before and the café or the Subtropical Gardens after. The 4pm feed falls at the end of the day, with last entry at 4pm.
What else is there
- Two walks on gravel paths through the colony and along the edge of the Fleet, with the Swannery’s history along the way.
- The living willow swan maze, planted in 2008 in the shape of a giant swan, with a three-metre woven willow egg at its centre.
- A café open from 10am to 4.30pm, with gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options, plus a gift shop, a playground and pedal go-karts in good weather.
- A Barnes Wallis bouncing bomb. Wallis tested his bouncing bomb on the Fleet in 1943, and one of the recovered bombs is on display.
Nearly a thousand years of swans
Benedictine monks founded the monastery of St Peter at Abbotsbury around 1040 and farmed the swans of the Fleet for food. The earliest record of a swanherd dates from 1393. After the monastery was dissolved in 1539, Sir Giles Strangways bought the manor, including the Swannery, in 1543, and the same family still owns it. Abbotsbury swans carry a white plastic ring if they hatched here; a yellow ring marks a swan that hatched elsewhere and belongs to the Crown.
Tickets and opening hours
When it is open, the Swannery is open daily from 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm. The 2026 prices on its prices and opening times page, checked on 1 November 2026, were:
| Ticket | 2026 price |
|---|---|
| Adult | £15.00 |
| Child, 5 to 15 | £7.50 |
| Under 5 | Free |
| Adult passport (Swannery plus Subtropical Gardens) | £20.00 |
| Child passport | £10.00 |
| Adult season ticket (12 months, both attractions) | £45.00 |
Prices for 2027 may change. A few things worth knowing:
- The passport ticket covers the Swannery and the Subtropical Gardens, and you do not have to visit both on the same day. The gardens stay open in winter, and run Abbotsbury Illuminate on selected evenings until 31 December.
- Disabled visitors and their carers pay half the standard entry.
- Armed Forces: free entry for up to two adults and three children, including the serving member, who must be present with a valid warrant card; only available in person, not online.
- Tesco Clubcard vouchers can be exchanged for adult and child tickets.
- Download your QR code before you arrive if you book online.
No dogs, including assistance dogs
Dogs are not allowed in the Swannery, and the rule includes assistance dogs. The Swannery says this is because of the sensitive nature of the site and how close visitors are to a wild colony. If you have a dog with you, Chesil Beach and the coast path are nearby; our Chesil Beach guide covers where you can walk.
Getting there and parking
The Swannery is at New Barn Road, Abbotsbury, DT3 4JG, on the B3157 coast road between Weymouth and Bridport. Follow the signs through the village. Parking is free. The paths are gravel and the Swannery describes them as suitable for all-terrain wheelchairs; there is disabled parking and an accessible toilet.
For tickets and enquiries, call 01305 871130.
Frequently asked questions
Is Abbotsbury Swannery open in winter? No. It is open daily from mid-March to the end of October, and in 2026 it closed on Sunday 1 November. The 2027 reopening date has not been announced, but the Swannery usually reopens in mid-March.
When can you see cygnets at Abbotsbury Swannery? Cygnets hatch from early to mid-May, and the Swannery says hatching is finished by late June. Late May and early June give the best chance of seeing lots of newly hatched cygnets.
What time is the swan feeding at Abbotsbury? There are two mass feeds every day the Swannery is open, at midday and 4pm. Visitors, including children, can help scatter the feed.
Can you take dogs to Abbotsbury Swannery? No. Dogs, including assistance dogs, are not allowed, because visitors walk very close to the nesting colony.
How much does Abbotsbury Swannery cost? In 2026 an adult ticket was £15 and a child ticket (5 to 15) £7.50, with under-fives free. A passport ticket adding the Subtropical Gardens was £20 for adults and £10 for children. Check the Swannery’s site for 2027 prices.
Is parking free at Abbotsbury Swannery? Yes, the car park at the Swannery is free.
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