The Magic of Life Butterfly House

Name: The Magic of Life Butterfly House
Address: CwmRheidol, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3NB, GB

The Magic of Life Butterfly House in Cwm Rheidol, near Aberystwyth, is a lush indoor tropical house where you can walk among hundreds of free-flying butterflies from around the world. Alongside the butterflies, you’ll spot giant caterpillars, stick insects, mantids and huge breeding beetles, plus a tropical coral reef display home to Bumblebee Dart Frogs and Copperband Butterflyfish.

The venue is run by a registered biodiversity charity, with over 700 species of plants on site and an outdoor butterfly garden holding the largest collection of Buddlejas in Wales. It’s a brilliant spot for hands-on learning, from watching butterflies emerge from their chrysalises to discovering how rainforest insects survive. The venue is dog friendly and wheelchair accessible, and set in the beautiful Rheidol Valley, with woodland walks and waterfalls nearby.

About The Magic of Life Butterfly House

The Magic of Life Butterfly House is a tropical indoor attraction in Cwm Rheidol, run round the back of the Rheidol Visitor Centre, with free parking next door and full wheelchair access.

Prices

Admission is paid on arrival. Adults pay £12, with concessions at £10 and under 16s at £8, while under 3s go free. Gift Aiding your entrance fee helps the charity claim back an extra £5 for every £20 spent, so it’s worth adding if you’re able to. Butterflies are naturally short-lived and cost around £12,000 a season to source sustainably, which is why ticket prices reflect a proper day out rather than a quick visit.

FAQs

Are dogs allowed? ▼

Yes, well-behaved dogs are welcome to visit alongside their owners.

Is there a café on site? ▼

The Statkraft café at the Visitor Centre only opens from 1st May to 30th September. Outside of that, you're welcome to bring your own flask of coffee.

How do we find the entrance? ▼

Some satnavs and Google Maps can direct you two miles past the venue, so look out for the brown road sign and car park near the reservoir. The postcode is SY23 3NB, or use What3words code ///major.score.tortoises for the exact spot.

When's the best time to visit? ▼

Butterflies tend to fly best in the morning, and it's generally quieter on sunny days, even during school holidays.

If The Magic of Life Butterfly House sounds like your kind of place, we’ve plenty more suggestions to add to your family days bucket list, take a look at our full guide to animal attractions in West Wales for more family friendly options across the region. Don’t forget to add it to your calendar, and check our What’s On West Wales guide for more days out ideas.