Hobbledown

A Mythical World in the Surrey Countryside

Hobbledown sits on 50 acres of farmland on Horton Lane in Epsom, three miles from the A3 and five from the M25. What began in 2012 as a farm park with a few play areas has grown into one of the most visited family attractions in the South East, blending a working zoo, large-scale adventure play and an invented mythology into a single day out. The park was created by Nick de Candole and Richard Farley of the Escapade Group, and its storyline is drawn from a children's book by Angela Kecojevi.

The mythology centres on a fictional race called the Hobblers — small, curious creatures who live in underground tunnels beneath the park. Visitors encounter their world through themed play structures, mining stations where children dig for green Crystallite gems, and storytelling sessions at the Thinkery performance space. Characters including Fern the Fairy, Professor Topperpot, Huck, Tipp and Eliza the Hobblers, and Rumpletump the Dragon appear throughout the day. The theming is consistent and well-maintained, giving the park a distinct identity that sets it apart from standard farm parks.

Animals and the Zoo

Over 200 animals live at Hobbledown in spacious, thoughtfully designed enclosures with runs, tunnels and bridges. The collection spans farm favourites and more exotic species. Ring-tailed lemurs swing through their purpose-built enclosure, capybaras lounge by their pool, and meerkats stand sentry on their raised mounds. Bactrian camels, wallabies, prairie dogs, otters, maras, rheas, alpacas, pygmy goats, giant rabbits, sheep and pigs round out the farm and zoo areas.

The Raptor Centre houses 18 birds of prey in spacious aviaries, with flying demonstrations taking place during summer months. Four species of tortoise — Hermann's, Horsfield's, leopard and African spurred — live in dedicated enclosures, some of them impressively large. Animal encounter sessions run throughout the day, and keepers are present at enclosures to answer questions. The animals are a genuine draw rather than an afterthought, and the enclosure design is notably generous for an attraction of this type.

Adventure Play and the Imaginarium

The play offering at Hobbledown is substantial. Fern's Castle is the centrepiece — a towering structure of interconnecting towers, rope bridges, climbing walls and slides with a dragon on top. Underground tunnels run beneath the castle, connecting hidden chambers and emerging at unexpected points. Children navigate the structure in a quest to save Fern the Fairy, giving the climbing and sliding a narrative purpose.

Hobbledown Village extends the play across treehouses, walkways, jumping pillows, sand pits, a hedge maze and zorbing lanes. A high-ropes course provides challenge for older children. Crystallite mining stations are scattered through the village, where children dig through sand and gravel for the green gems central to the Hobblers mythology.

The Imaginarium is the main indoor attraction — a multi-room sensory experience combining a reptile house, water play zone, insectarium and interactive jungle. Children handle insects, watch tropical fish, splash through water features and explore darkened corridors with glowing exhibits. For younger visitors and rainy days, the 14,000 sq ft indoor playbarn houses a multi-storey themed play castle with soft play climbing frames, vertical trampolines and slides suitable for all ages.

Planning Your Visit

Hobbledown is open daily during peak periods — weekends, bank holidays and school holidays — and on selected weekdays during school term time. Opening hours are typically 10am to 5pm, with last entry at 3:30pm. Check the website before visiting, particularly on weekdays outside school holidays, as the park does close on some term-time days.

Tickets are cheaper when booked online in advance, saving £2 per person compared to the gate price. Peak day tickets start from around £22.50 and off-peak from £16.50, with under-twos free. Annual passes are available from £85 and offer good value for families who live locally. The park does not permit child-only entry.

By car, free parking is available on site. If using Google Maps, note that it may direct you to the trade entrance — enter via the road alongside David Lloyd gym to reach the main car park. By public transport, Epsom station is 30 minutes from Waterloo or Victoria, and the E9 bus runs from the station to Hobbledown every 30 minutes with a 12-minute journey time. Allow a full day to make the most of the park, as there is comfortably four to six hours of things to do.