Please note that the visitor centre including the shop and cafe will be closed on Wednesday 1st October.
The toilets and reserve will be open as normal.
Mike Andrews
View from Double Decker viewpoint at Lackford Lakes
By Steve Aylward
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre
Location
OS Map Reference
TL 801706View on What3Words
Know before you go
Dogs
Dogs on a lead are only permitted on the red Sayers Breck path.
When to visit
Opening times
Visitor Centre 10am - 5pm (cafe open til 4pm)Car park 9am - 5pm
Nature reserve open dawn til dusk
Best time to visit
All year roundAbout the reserve
Listen to the sound of singing birds in spring with the arrival of nightingales and warblers from Africa. The first bees and butterflies start to make appearances on bright spring days.
Later in summer, the reserve is alive with damselflies and dragonflies. Swallows and martins sweep over the water's surface feeding on small flies. The lakesides are busy with nesting great-crested grebe, kingfisher, tufted duck and water rail. Bright stems of purple-loosestrife, common fleabane and gipsywort create colour at the water's edge.
Gold and red colours mark the coming of autumn with the arrival of a wide range of wildfowl. Birds including shoveler, lapwing, goosander, bittern and goldeneye depend on the lakes during the winter months.
Open seven days a week, there is always someone in the visitor centre to help you plan your visit, identify anything you've spotted or chat to you about the work we do and how you can support us.
The coffee shop sells barista coffee and a range of snacks including toasties, soup, scones, local ice creams and delicious locally-made cakes. Vegan and Gluten-free options are available, chat to the team to find out more.
Contact us
Environmental designation
What's On at Lackford Lakes
Connect: For adults with a learning disability
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Binocular Demo Day
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Young Wardens at Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Autumn Wildlife Discovery Day
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Wild Tots at Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Volunteer Recruitment Day - Lackford Lakes
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Young Naturalists: Tremendous trees
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , Suffolk
Clay Workshop: The Green Man
Lackford Lakes Nature Reserve & Visitor Centre,
Bury St Edmunds , SuffolkWildlife update – 25th Sept 2025
It is now feeling a bit like Autumn around the lakes. The ducks are building up, a few waders are appearing and late butterflies can be seen.
In the last few weeks, we have seen a slow build up of ducks on some of our lakes. Shoveler numbers seem particularly high with over 30 counted recently. Look out for teal, pochard, tufted duck and gadwall as well. The sailing lake and the slough areas, are particularly good places to look for them.
Wader wise, green sandpiper and common sandpiper are seen most days on the slough. Lapwing visit occasionally and snipe numbers are slowly building up.
Other water birds include, little egrets, grey heron and great white egret. Kingfishers have been seen daily and water rail is reported regularly from Bernard's viewpoint.
This time of year, you can still see some late butterflies like red admiral, peacock and small copper.
Dragonflies to look out for include migrant hawker and common darter.
Paul Harris/2020VISION
Activities & binocular hire
Hire our discovery pack - £6
Packed with ideas and kit to get you out closer to nature, all in our handy carry bag.
Seasonal spotter sheet - £2
Look out for seasonal visitors and resident wildlife that call Lackford home.
Binocular hire - £4
Get a closer look at Lackford's wildlife. Different sizes available for big or small hands.
Green Snape Community Group visiting Martlesham Wilds. Image credit: Lesley Walduck
Group visits
We welcome groups of all sizes at Lackford Lakes and can provide guided walks, introductory walks and refreshments. If you are looking to arrange a group visit, please email us and we will help you get the most from your visit:
Kingfisher © Malcolm Brown
Become a member
The support of our members helps us care for wildlife-rich landscapes such as Lackford Lakes. Join today, or renew your membership, and help protect and restore Suffolk's wildlife and wild places.