There's nothing quite like watching wild animals live, knowing that what you're seeing is happening right now: an owl bringing in a vole at midnight, osprey chicks being fed on a Scottish loch, or a badger snuffling past a camera in the Peak District. Here are 20 of the best live wildlife streams in the UK, all free to watch.
I'll be honest: I've put my own channel first. I'm biased, of course, but I genuinely believe it's the best, and I'll tell you why below. The other 19 are streams I'd happily recommend to anyone.
1. Barn Owl Live, Peak District
Barn Owl Live streams wildlife cameras 24 hours a day from the Peak District National Park, and there are always four or more cameras live at any one time. I don't think you'll find a more varied set of wildlife cameras on a single UK channel.
What you can watch:
- Barn owls. Our resident male, Buster, has raised a successful brood every year so far: with Bella in his first year, Mia in his second, and Roxy this year. Roxy hasn't been seen for a few months, but she could still return, and a new female has been spotted nearby, so Buster may well have a new partner for the 2027 season. Watch this space! In the breeding season you can watch the eggs being laid and the owlets growing up.
- Tawny owls in their own nest box.
- Badgers and foxes most nights, plus deer and small mammals.
- Daytime visitors such as squirrels, red deer and all sorts of birds.
Why it's different: Barn Owl Live is a non-commercial channel. It isn't a business and it isn't here to sell you anything. It's my hobby. I spent my career working in CCTV, and running these cameras keeps me involved in something I love. The rest of the reward is the pleasure it gives the people who watch.
That's what makes it special for me: the community. We have a lovely, friendly live chat, regulars who log every wildlife sighting, helpful moderators, and even a wildlife quiz hosted by Buster the barn owl.
The other 19 at a glance
| Stream | What you'll see | Where | When to watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somerset Barn Owl Live | Barn owls | Somerset Levels | All year |
| Robert Fuller | Owls, stoats, foxes, badgers | North Yorkshire | All year |
| WildlifeKate | Garden birds, mammals, nest boxes | Midlands | All year |
| The Wildlife Trusts | Ospreys, peregrines, owls and more | Across the UK | Mostly spring and summer |
| Essex Wildlife Trust | Badgers, barn owls, bats, swallows | Essex | Mostly spring and summer |
| Loch of the Lowes | Ospreys | Perthshire | Spring and summer |
| Rutland Ospreys | Ospreys | Rutland Water | Spring and summer |
| Dyfi Osprey Project | Ospreys | Mid Wales | Spring and summer |
| Poole Harbour Ospreys | Ospreys | Dorset | Spring and summer |
| Foulshaw Moss | Ospreys | Cumbria | Spring and summer |
| Lake District Osprey Project | Ospreys | Cumbria | Spring and summer |
| Derby Cathedral Peregrines | Peregrine falcons | Derby | Late winter to summer |
| Norwich Cathedral Peregrines | Peregrine falcons | Norwich | Spring and summer |
| More cathedral peregrines | Peregrine falcons | Across England | Spring and summer |
| Wildlife Aid Foundation | Rescued fox and badger cubs | Surrey | Spring and summer |
| Hornbeam Wood Hedgehogs | Rescued hedgehogs | Hertfordshire | Evenings and nights |
| Edinburgh Zoo | Penguins, tigers, giraffes | Edinburgh | Daytime |
| Scottish Wildlife Trust | Scottish wildlife | Scotland | Varies |
| WildEarth | Live safaris | Africa | Mornings and evenings |
Good to know: many wildlife cameras are seasonal. Ospreys spend the winter in Africa and are usually back from late March until late summer, and peregrine cams are busiest from late winter to early summer. If a camera looks empty, check back in spring.
Owls, badgers and garden wildlife
2. Somerset Barn Owl Live
Another lovely barn owl channel, following a pair on the Somerset Levels. The owls have bred in the same nest box for years and raised plenty of chicks. The box was provided by the Hawk and Owl Trust's Adopt a Box scheme.
3. Robert Fuller
Robert Fuller is a wildlife artist and filmmaker in North Yorkshire, and his cameras are superb. Expect owls, stoats, weasels, foxes and badgers, often filmed at incredibly close range.
4. WildlifeKate
Kate MacRae's cameras cover garden birds, nest boxes, mammals and even insects, with the kind of close-up views you'd never get with your own eyes. Kate is also brilliant at explaining what you're seeing.
5. The Wildlife Trusts
The Wildlife Trusts gather webcams from nature reserves around the UK in one place, including ospreys, peregrines, owls, puffins and more. It's a great starting point for finding a camera near you.
Some cameras only run in the breeding season.
6. Essex Wildlife Trust
Essex Wildlife Trust streams badgers, barn owls, bats and swallows from its nature reserves, with some fascinating views of nesting and feeding.
Not every camera is live all year round.
Ospreys
7. Loch of the Lowes, Scottish Wildlife Trust
One of the best-known osprey nests in the UK, on a beautiful loch in Highland Perthshire. It's an emotional watch as the pair raise their chicks each summer.
8. Rutland Ospreys
Ospreys returned to breed in England at Rutland Water thanks to a reintroduction project, and the Manton Bay nest camera has become a favourite with viewers.
Visit Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
9. Dyfi Osprey Project
Set in the Dyfi valley in mid Wales, this is one of the UK's most popular osprey cameras, with excellent picture quality and a very engaged community.
10. Poole Harbour Ospreys
Ospreys have been brought back to the south coast of England through a translocation project in Poole Harbour, and you can follow the nest live.
11. Foulshaw Moss, Cumbria Wildlife Trust
A lovely osprey nest in the middle of a lowland raised bog in south Cumbria, with a great view of the birds coming and going.
12. Lake District Osprey Project
Follow the ospreys that nest in the northern Lake District, with news and updates through the season.
Peregrine falcons
13. Derby Cathedral Peregrines
Not far from us in the Peak District, the peregrines on Derby Cathedral are one of the UK's longest-running peregrine projects. There are two cameras, and the project was the first to share live footage of a peregrine hunting at night.
14. Norwich Cathedral Peregrines
Streamed by the Hawk and Owl Trust, this camera follows the peregrines nesting high on Norwich Cathedral's spire each spring.
15. More cathedral peregrines
Peregrines nest on cathedrals all over England, including Chichester, Leicester, Salisbury, Wakefield, Winchester and Worcester. The Association of English Cathedrals keeps a handy list of all the live cameras each season.
See all cathedral peregrine cams
Wildlife rescue cameras
16. Wildlife Aid Foundation
Watch rescued wildlife recovering before release, often orphaned fox cubs and badgers. It's heart-warming, and a reminder of the brilliant work wildlife hospitals do.
The cameras don't run in winter.
17. Hornbeam Wood Hedgehog Sanctuary
This family-run charity in Hertfordshire streams wild hedgehogs being cared for before they're released. It's best in the evenings, when the hedgehogs wake up.
Something a bit different
18. Edinburgh Zoo
Not wild, but great fun, especially for children. Edinburgh Zoo streams its penguin colony, Sumatran tigers and giraffes, and the penguin cam is a real favourite.
19. Scottish Wildlife Trust
As well as Loch of the Lowes, the Scottish Wildlife Trust shares other cameras from its reserves, with some wonderful Scottish wildlife.
See Scottish Wildlife Trust webcams
20. WildEarth
A bonus from further afield. WildEarth broadcasts live safaris from Africa, with guides talking you through lions, leopards and elephants as they find them.
Questions people ask
Are these wildlife webcams free to watch?
Yes, every stream on this list is free. Many are run by charities, so if you enjoy one, a donation helps keep the cameras running.
When is the best time to watch live wildlife cameras?
Spring and early summer are the busiest, with eggs, chicks and cubs. Owls, badgers and foxes are most active from dusk and through the night, so that's when night-vision cameras like ours come alive.
Can I watch wildlife webcams on my TV?
Yes. Streams on YouTube, including Barn Owl Live, can be watched on most smart TVs through the YouTube app.
Why is the camera empty?
Many wildlife cameras are seasonal. Ospreys migrate to Africa for the winter, and some trusts switch their cameras off outside the breeding season. It's always worth checking back in spring.
Fancy starting a camera of your own? I've written guides on how to live stream your wildlife cameras to YouTube, and you can even embed our barn owl stream on your own website for free.
Hope to see you in the chat soon!
Paul