Top of main content

Beckton Creekside Nature Reserve

A peaceful wildlife haven, Beckton Creekside Nature Reserve is home to barn owls, buzzards, sparrowhawks, goldfinches and many more species. It’s a bird watcher's paradise.

  • Beckton is a nature reserve and riverside walk in one
  • A viewing station allows you to observe but not disturb
  • The mini-beast area lets you to discover life from the undergrowth
  • The bird feeding station attracts long-tailed tits, goldfinches and other small birds
  • You can join volunteer activities to support the wildlife on show

A banner showing the message live wild with thames in white on the left with a picture of a couple walking through woodland on the right.

What to see

Beckton Creekside Nature Reserve may be small, but it attracts a surprisingly diverse range of wildlife – from migrating birds such as cuckoos, warblers, and whitethroats, to resident barn owls, bats, and goldfinches.

Grass snakes and other small reptiles stalk through the undergrowth hunting insects, and if you visit at the right time of year you might spot newts returning to the ponds.

With so much on show you’ll never leave disappointed by your visit.

A montage of a bird house, two different birds, and a duck.

A montage of a woman with binoculars, a bird on the side of a wall, a sea bird among the rocks, and a bug hotel.

Things to do

Get closer to nature
Watch undisturbed nature from the wildlife viewing screen, and take a peek into the lives of our tiniest creatures in their natural habitat of the mini-beast area. Venture as far as the Thames River outflow, and you may be lucky enough to see grey and harbour seals bathing on the banks.

Stretch your legs
The flat and fully accessible footpath takes you along the River Roding, where you can join a footpath through the reserve. For a longer visit, continue your walk along the riverside path to Barking Creek, a feeding and refuge area for birds and fish.

Good to know

  • Opening times: dawn to dusk, 365 days a year
  • Dogs must be kept on a lead
  • Beckton is accessible for buggies and wheelchairs

How to find us



You will find pedestrian access from Jenkins Lane, Essex, IG11 0AD.