The Hawk Conservancy Trust shuts 16 November to 11 December, then reopens for Christmas owl evenings, carols and a present hunt. Shut 5 January to 12 February.

The Hawk Conservancy Trust, four miles west of Andover off the A303, is Test Valley’s biggest winter day out, but it is closed for two long spells: from Monday 16 November to Friday 11 December 2026, and from Tuesday 5 January to Friday 12 February 2027. In between it runs a Christmas season of evening owl flights, carols and a present hunt for children. Everything below is from the Trust’s own pages, checked on 25 September 2026.

The quick answer

  • Closed: 16 November to 11 December 2026, 25 and 26 December, and 5 January to 12 February 2027.
  • Christmas events: Owls by Moonlight at Christmas (4, 5, 11, 12 Dec, £23.50), Carols and Owls (18 to 21 Dec, £24.95), and the Big Christmas Present Hunt, included in a day ticket.
  • Day tickets: adult £24.50, child 4 to 15 £17.65, under 4s free. Book ahead in the school holidays.

Opening dates, autumn 2026 to spring 2027

From the Trust’s opening times page:

Period Status
Until Sun 1 Nov 2026 Open daily, summer hours: park 10am to 5.30pm, last entry 4.30pm
Mon 2 Nov to Sun 15 Nov Open
Mon 16 Nov to Fri 11 Dec Closed
Sat 12 Dec to Thu 24 Dec Open
Fri 25 and Sat 26 Dec Closed
Sun 27 Dec to Mon 4 Jan 2027 Open
Tue 5 Jan to Fri 12 Feb 2027 Closed
From Sat 13 Feb 2027 Open

The Trust has not yet posted its opening hours for the November and December weeks. Last winter season, from 14 February to 27 March 2026, the park was open 10am to 4.30pm with last admission at 3.30pm. It may also close, or change its timetable, if the weather is dangerous for the birds, staff or visitors.

Christmas events

Owls by Moonlight at Christmas: Friday 4, Saturday 5, Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December. Feathers Restaurant opens at 5.30pm and the first flying display is at 7pm. Tickets are £23.50 and include after-hours access to meet the owls. These first two evenings fall while the park is closed to day visitors.

Christmas Carols and Owls: Friday 18 to Monday 21 December. Food from 4.30pm, flying display at 7pm, with carols and live music under the night sky and mulled wine and a mince pie in the interval. Tickets are £24.95.

The Big Christmas Present Hunt: 12 and 13 December, then every open day from Saturday 19 December to Sunday 3 January 2027. Children follow clues round the grounds to find Santa’s missing sack of presents. It is included in normal admission, along with the flying displays and talks.

Christmas Market: Thursday 26 to Sunday 29 November, with more than 80 stalls, while the park itself is closed. £3.50 online, £4 on the door. Full details on our Andover Christmas market page.

Evening events are outdoors: the Trust lends padded mats, allows small torches switched off during displays, and asks for warm clothes and sensible shoes.

Before Christmas: October half term

The Trust’s autumn run finishes with Spooky Owl Week over half term, 24 October to 1 November, included in a day ticket, and Owl-O-Ween evenings on 29 and 30 October at £23. The last autumn Owls by Moonlight is on Saturday 24 October. More on our Andover October half term page.

Prices and booking

The Trust’s ticket prices, which include a 10% voluntary Gift Aid donation:

Ticket Price
Adult £24.50
Child, 4 to 15 £17.65
Child under 4 Free
Student £21.50
Senior, 60 plus £23.45

Without the donation the prices are £22.27, £16.05, £19.55 and £21.32. The Trust caps numbers, so it advises booking in advance for a chosen date; you can still pay at reception if there is space. Discounted tickets, including Tesco vouchers, cannot be pre-booked.

Getting there: Hawk Conservancy Trust, Visitor Centre, Weyhill, Andover SP11 8DY, signed from the A303. Parking is free. Andover station is about 4.2 miles away.

Still to be confirmed

  • Opening hours for 2 to 15 November and the December and New Year open days.
  • The 2027 reopening season, from 13 February.

For other things on in December, see our Santa’s grotto and Christmas lights switch-on pages.