Thameside
Thameside Nature Discovery Park near Thurrock is located on the Thames Estuary and is one of the best day trips in Essex, offering something for everyone to enjoy. Visitors can experience birdwatching, ship watching, explore the area’s fascinating history, or take a wildlife walk through the Thameside Nature Reserve while enjoying the peaceful surroundings and estuary views.
The Nature Discovery Centre features a café with full length windows overlooking the estuary, a gift shop, toilets with baby changing facilities, and a meeting room. The reserve also offers wheelchair accessible walks and a wheelchair accessible bird hide, allowing visitors of all abilities to enjoy the natural landscape and discover the wildlife. Once a transformed landfill site, the area has been turned into a thriving nature reserve, creating a valuable wildlife habitat and one of the most beautiful places to visit in Essex.
Plan your visit
Opening times
Open all year round open 7 days a week.
Winter opening hours:
10am-4pm, 1 November – 15 Feb
Summer opening hours:
10am – 4.30pm, 14 February – 31 October
Christmas opening hours:
Christmas Eve 10am – 2pm
Closed Christmas Day & Boxing Day
New Year’s Eve 10am – 2pm
Where to find us?
Address:
Mucking Wharf Road, Mucking, Stanford-Le-Hope, Essex, SS17 0RN
Telephone:
01375 643342
What3words:
///equal.shares.supporter
Directions:
Facilities and access
Car parking and entry
Car parking is available at the Nature Discovery Centre but in order to keep us running, we suggest a donation of £5 per car. Continuous support of the Trust enables us to do amazing work for wildlife here at Thameside and across the county. Our members are incredibly important to us and make a real difference to wildlife in Essex. You can join Essex Wildlife Trust at Thameside or online.
There is a coach drop-off space, if you are planning on bringing a group, please ensure you have pre-booked your visit.
Cafe
We serve a selection of hot items, sandwiches, wraps, paninis, toasties, soups, a selection of salads, iced coffee, smoothies, packaged snacks, ice creams and delicious handmade cakes; including gluten & dairy free, toasted teacakes and seasonal homemade bakes.
Vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are available daily.
Shop
The Nature Discovery Centre has a well-stocked shop including binoculars, wildlife books, bird food and feeders, gifts, greetings cards, children’s activities, local honey and jams.
Accessibility
Disabled parking. There is a toilet within the centre for disabled visitors which is fully accessible. Some walking trails are wheelchair friendly. Ramp access to the viewing area on the roof.
Visitors with dogs
Please stay on the permitted trails on the nature reserve and keep your dog on a lead where required. Assistance dogs only in the Nature Discovery Centre.
Nature Trails
Walking Trails
Various routes around the reserve and reservoir, please call in to the centre and ask for details or purchase a trail guide.
Adders are on the reserve and they are the UKs only venomous snake. please stick to the paths and wear suitable footwear. Please do not touch them, they are shy creatures and will only bite if they feel they are in danger.
Site map
Photo: Downwell Group
What to do
Explore
With nature trails to explore and a sheltered bird hide overlooking the estuary, Thameside Nature Discovery Park is a wonderful destination to visit throughout the year. It’s perfect for getting away from it all, watching wildlife, enjoying peaceful surroundings, and discovering some of the best walks by the River Thames.
Events and activities
Throughout the year, we offer a wide range of nature events, adult courses, children’s wildlife activities, school holiday events, and educational visits for schools and community groups. If you’re looking for things to do in Thurrock, the Nature Discovery Centre is a great place to explore wildlife, enjoy the outdoors, and take part in activities suitable for all ages, making it an ideal choice for family days out in Essex.
What to see
The site, which was once landfill and has now been transformed back into a thriving natural landscape, currently covers 120 acres and will eventually extend to 845 acres. It provides a valuable habitat for coastal and wetland wildlife, as well as important grassland flora and fauna species. Its location along the River Thames also makes it a fantastic destination for birdwatching by the River Thames and one of the best birdwatching spots in Essex.
The Nature Park supports a wide range of species, including barn owls, short-eared owls, water voles, harvest mice, skylarks, cuckoos, and shrill carder bees. The grasslands also provide valuable grazing areas for local cattle throughout the year, helping to maintain the diverse habitats found across the site.
The area is an important avian hotspot, with overwintering and migrant bird species present throughout the year both within the park and along the River Thames. Internationally important numbers of ringed plover and avocets can be found here, alongside nationally important numbers of grey plover, dunlin, black-tailed godwit, and redshank on the nearby mudflats. The Nature Park’s grasslands are also home to a wealth of butterflies, moths, and bees, making it a remarkable place to discover Essex’s rich wildlife.
Volunteering at Thameside
We are looking for enthusiastic people to help promote the work of Essex Wildlife Trust at Thameside.
Types of volunteering could include: office, shop, cafe, education or work parties.
Birthday parties
We offer a variety of fabulous themed birthday parties set in beautiful outdoor locations at our Nature Discovery Centres.
Schools and colleges
We believe in nurturing a lifelong love of nature at every age and stage of life. Our Wilder Learning programme offers opportunities for children, educators, adults and families to connect with the natural world. Designed to inspire curiosity and conservation, our programs are suitable for all ages.
Venue hire
Thameside Nature Discovery Centre offers a flexible space for meetings, workshops, and small events. The room accommodates up to around 40 people and is equipped with tables, chairs, WiFi, and an HD screen with HDMI connectivity. It can be arranged in theatre or table layouts, making it suitable for small group sessions and workshops.
