Where to see bats in Greater London

There are many excellent sites in Greater London where bats can often be seen feeding on Summer evenings. Usually the best spots to see bats are over and near ponds, lakes, rivers and canals etc. and in the sheltered glades and edges of wooded areas. Please note that some sites may only be accessible with permission, or on arranged visits, so watch out for arranged bat walks there. 

A few good bat watching sites in London

Borough Site Location Description Nearest Transport
Richmond Bushy Park Access via footpath from Sandy Lane (B358)
TQ160698		 Look for Daubenton's over the ponds, and brown long-eared bats along the tree lined avenues. A very good site for bats. Teddington (BR)
Hounslow Osterley Park Watch out for publicised summer bat walks, no access otherwise at dusk. TQ147780 Pipistrelle, noctule and Daubenton's bats. Osterley (Piccadilly Line)
Hillingdon Grand Union Canal Access from Western Ave (A40) north along the towpath on west side of canal. TQ053858 Pipistrelle, noctule and Daubenton's bats. Uxbridge (Piccadilly and Metropolitan Lines)
Barnet & Enfield Beech Hill Lake, Monken Hadley Common Via Games Rd from Cockfosters Rd (A111). TQ271970 Good numbers of pipistrelles and Daubenton's bats and a small number of noctules. Cockfosters (Piccadilly Line)
Camden Hampstead Heath Open access from East Heath Rd to Hampstead Ponds (TQ273861) and from Millfield Lane to Highgate Ponds TQ278867 Pipistrelle, noctule and Daubenton's bats. An important bat site near to central London. If windy visit the sheltered southern ponds in each complex. Hampstead (Northern Line)
Westminster Hyde Park Access via Bayswater Rd (A40). TQ275801 Pipistrelle and noctule present. Bayswater (Central Line)
Redbridge / Newham Wanstead Flats Access via Aldersbrook Rd (A116) and Forest Drive (A117) TQ409864 Pipistrelle, noctule, Daubentons and Leisler's bats. A very good site for bats. Manor Park (BR)
Barking & Dagenham The Chase Nature Reserve Access via Chase Rd
TQ514863		 A large number of pipistrelles  Noctules and a few Serotines are present. Information available from the London Wildlife Trust warden on 020 8593 8096. Dagenham East (District Line)
Barking & Dagenham

Barking Park

Longbridge Road, Barking, IG11 8TA, TQ446850

3 species of pipistrelles,
Daubenton's, noctules, serotines, Leisler's. See them alongside the
Lake		Barking Rail & Tube Stations
Havering Berwick Ponds Via Berwick Pond Rd TQ540835 Large number of pipistrelles and up to 30 noctules can be seen over the ponds. Smaller numbers of serotines also present enabling comparison between these two large bats. Rainham (BR)
Greenwich Oxleas Wood Access via Shooters Hill, SE9 TQ444760 Pipistrelle and noctule can be seen along the woodland edge and central rides. Falconwood (BR)
Croydon South Norwood Country Park Access via Elmers End Road (A214) TQ355685 Pipistrelles, noctules and Daubenton's present, particularly over the lake. Birkbeck and Elmers End BR,
Tramlink
Sutton Beddington Park Access via London Rd (A237) to the west or Croydon Rd (A232) to the south TQ291654 Pipistrelle, noctule and serotine bats. A very good site. Hackbridge or Wallington (BR)
Merton / Wandsworth Wimbledon Common Access via Parkside (A219) TQ225715 Pipistrelles, noctules, Daubenton's, brown long-eared and serotines present. Look for Daubenton's over Kingsmere and Queensmere. Wimbledon (BR & LT) 93 Bus to Parkside