Tucked in among the flowerbeds at the top of Bournemouth's Lower Gardens, the aviary is a small, free attraction that's easy to stumble on while walking between the town centre and the seafront, and well worth the stop. It's not a zoo in the usual sense: it's a rescue and rehoming service for pet birds, on view to anyone passing by.
History
There has been an aviary on this stretch of Pine Walk for more than 50 years, originally maintained by Bournemouth Council as part of the town's Victorian pleasure gardens. The old 1980s building was eventually showing its age, and in May 2022 it was replaced by the purpose-built Cooper-Thompson Rescue Aviary, a modern structure designed for better bird welfare, with 360-degree viewing so visitors can see the birds from all sides. Day-to-day care is now in the hands of volunteers.
What to see
Around 200 birds live here, from small finches to large parrots. Almost all of them arrived as rescues, cage birds whose owners could no longer keep them, with some hatched and raised on site. It's a gentle, unhurried stop: no tickets, no turnstiles, just a chance to watch some colourful, noisy residents going about their day.
Visiting
The aviary is free and open to view every day of the year, at any time, there are no set opening hours to work around. There are no toilets on site, though public facilities are a short walk away elsewhere in the Lower Gardens, which are flat and step-free throughout.
It's one of several quiet highlights within the Bournemouth Lower Gardens, alongside crazy golf and summer bandstand concerts. Explore more of the town's green spaces and family-friendly stops in our guide to things to do in Bournemouth.