Hobbledown Epsom review: is it worth visiting with children?

Animals, enormous playgrounds, indoor adventures and marble runs that our children never seem to tire of. Hobbledown Epsom is one of those days out where we can easily stay until closing (and arrive at opening). We’ve visited as a family of five, and here’s what we love, what costs extra and whether Halloween is a good time to go.

Is Hobbledown worth visiting at Halloween?

Yes, absolutely!! It’s the same great Hobbledown experience with some Halloween extras! Halloween at Hobbledown is beautifully decorated with some great displays, there is deifntely some extra magic in the air. There is a pumpkin patch, plenty of photo opportunities and marshmallow toasting. The ticket price is still the same, so it doesn’t cost extra at Halloween, you will need to buy the pumpkin and marshmallows if you choose to do them. During half term (17th October – 1st November) there is a trick or treat trail but I was too early for that one!

Hobbledown Epsom at a glance

📍 Where	Epsom, Surrey KT19 8PT
🧒 Best for	Children who love climbing, exploring and animals
⏰ Time needed	Allow most of the day if you want to try the indoor and outdoor areas. I’d personally get there for opening.
🗓️Opening hours	Check the online calendar
🚗 Parking	Free on site
🎟️Book ahead?	Advance online tickets can cost less than buying on the day
💷 Cost	Here are the current advertised prices

Is Hobbledown Epsom worth it?

Hobbledown is the sort of place where you can arrive for the animals and discover that the kids want to spend most of the day climbing in the playgrounds. It combines farm and zoo animals with big outdoor play villages, jumping pillows, an indoor play barn and the Imaginarium. Standard admission includes these main areas, which gives you plenty to do without booking an extra activity. We always struggle to fit everything in, even arriving at opening.

For our family of five, the question is always whether there is enough for children of different ages? Here, there really is. The playgrounds are exceptional and big enough to keep our older two active and entertained, while the Imaginarium and water play are firm favourites with our youngest. It works for us come rain or shine.

What is there to do?

Marble runs

This, to me, is what sets Hobbledown apart. Our children love the marble runs dotted around the park. They’re interactive, great fun and give the children another reason to explore every corner.

I’d recommend buying a marble. They are £3 each, and you can bring yours back on another visit, so try not to lose it on the way home!

Tip: Take a few highlighters/pens and colour or mark each child’s marble. It’s easier to tell them apart from the other kids.

The animals and daily schedule

The animals are more varied than you might expect. You’ll find traditional farm animals alongside meerkats, capybaras, parrots, tortoises, lemurs, wallabies and birds of prey. There are talks and displays at different times throughout the day. Our kids love the capybaras and the camels!

Tip: Take a photo of the day’s schedule when you arrive. Then you can fit any talks or displays you want to see around the other activities.

Animal experiences

Hobbledown also offers bookable animal experiences if you want a closer encounter. These cost extra, have different age limits and include park entry for the participant. We haven’t tried one, but I can see one making a lovely birthday or Christmas present for an animal-mad child. Check the individual experience price and what’s included before booking.

Play areas

The outdoor play villages are fantastic. They’re huge, with towers, bridges nets and tunnels that keep the kids entertained for ages. There’s a water pillow too, which gives you a massive workout if you attempt to play tag on it! Our children also love the jumping pillows, and the Playbarn is an excellent indoor option.

There is a big play area with a sand pit, here you can collect small green gems which are hidden within the sand. Collect 5 or 6 green pieces of stone and at the end of the day in the shop when you leave you can exchange this for a lolly/sweet. This is free and we completely missed this on our first visit.

Tip: Collect gems in the sand pit in exchange for a free lolly or sweet in the shop.

High ropes cost extra, operate at selected times and have a minimum height of 1.3 metres. We haven’t done them. There’s already so much to do, and with two of our three children under 1.3 metres, skipping them also saves an argument!

Food: buy lunch or take a picnic?

You can take a picnic and eat it in the outdoor picnic areas. We’re very much a packed-lunch family because it keeps the cost of our days out down. I couldn’t tell you how many packed lunches I made over the summer holidays. I stopped counting when I passed 100! That said, the food at Hobbledown looks good. The pizzas look restaurant-worthy, so that’s what I’d try if we decided to buy lunch there.

Visiting with younger children

Younger children have plenty to investigate, particularly in the indoor Playbarn and Imaginarium. The water play is brilliant, but I’d pack a spare top or a full change of clothes. Both our boys were soaked when we went in the summer!

Most areas can be reached with a pushchair, although some outdoor ground is uneven. There are baby-changing facilities too.

Tip: If you’re visiting with a child under five during term time, look at the special Toddler Day tickets. They can work out cheaper than standard admission on eligible weekdays.

What if it rains?

The Playbarn and Imaginarium give you indoor options, so a passing shower doesn’t have to end the visit. A lot of what makes Hobbledown special is outdoors, though. On a wet day, I’d take waterproofs and wellies and crack on.

Our tips for getting the most from Hobbledown Epsom

Check which Hobbledown you are booking. Epsom and Hobbledown Heath in Hounslow are different parks.
Compare tickets for your date online. Opening hours, prices and selected toddler or afternoon offers vary.
Start with the outdoor areas if the forecast is mixed. You can head inside if the weather turns.
Take a change of clothes for younger children. The Imaginarium includes water play.
Pack a picnic to keep costs down. Eat it in the outdoor picnic areas.
Check extras before mentioning them to the children. High ropes and some animal experiences require separate booking and payment.
Set a meeting point. The play villages are made for exploring, and it helps when children want to head in different directions.

The practical bits

Hobbledown Epsom has free on-site parking. Opening times vary through the year and the park closes on some dates, so check the calendar and book ahead. You can find the current admission options on Hobbledown Epsom’s ticket page and the opening calendar.

Accessible toilets and step-free areas are available, but some natural play areas are not suitable for wheelchairs. If accessibility is important for your family, check Hobbledown’s accessibility information for the areas you want to use.

Yes, we love it here. If we lived closer we would get an annual pass! Hobbledown to us is a full day out, it has amazing marble runs, playgrounds with animals woven into the adventure. The indoor areas make the day more flexible if the weather is bad.

For more family days out around London and the South East, follow @savingandsandcastles on Instagram for practical tips, honest reviews and ways to make days out cost less.