Hobbledown Children’s Farm

2467 Reviews

Star Travel Rating

4/5

Review type

Things to do

Location

Date of travel

2013

Product name

Product country

Product city

Travelled with

Family including children under 16

Reasons for trip

Hobbledown-perfect for children & adults alike-great place to take grandchildren!

I visited Hobbledown (Epsom area) in May when my niece & children came to stay for a few days. (The children were around 2 years and 5 months old at the time.)

Previously this place had been called Horton Childrens Farm and I had visited it many times with various members of the family over the years .It had become quite ramshackle over time but it had always provided lots of fun & pleasure with a real family feel.

I was pleased to see that although the reputed £5 million(?) refit had vastly improved many of the amenities (and with many new ones added) yet it seems to have retained the character & friendliness of a family run business as before which was a relief. There was so much to see and do … the meercats were my favourites amongst the animals … and the indoor & outdoor activity centres were a hit with 2 year old Josh (see photos). There were plenty for every age group and some were suitable for parents to accompany their offspring too! (see photo). For 5 month old Lilia there was a “sensory” area within the indoor centre (see photo). The indoor activity centre also housed the excellent catering facilities which we took advantage of. There was lots of variety & the food was reasonably priced. It goes without saying that toilet facilities were excellent too.

Every member of staff we came into contact with were really friendly & helpful whether in the cafe (they took time to interact with Josh asking what he would like to eat) or the animal centres. One of the staff, Matthew was great with Josh when he wanted to stroke one of the rabbits in the handling area (see photo). It was a great way to spend an afternoon and to be honest the amenities are so varied and plentiful you could easily spend the whole day there. You are welcome to take a picnic and there are plenty of outdoor seating areas .

They have their own Facebook page and the main website is www.hobbledown.com. Prices are varied with reductions midweek after 3pm and concessions & special passes are available.(see website for details. They have a strict policy of only admitting adults accompanied by children & vice versa-they state that activities are suitable for children up to the age of 14. There is plentiful parking and it is easily accessed with good signage in the area. Although I didn't see anyone in wheelchairs etc during our visit there were plenty of parents with pushchairs etc.

I am already looking forward to my next visit.

Silver Travel Advisor

Join the club

Become a member to receive exclusive benefits

Our community is the heart of Silver Travel Advisor, we love nothing more than sharing ideas, inspiration, hints and tips between us.

Come feel the love on a Princess cruise. You’ll enjoy the MedallionClass experience others simply can’t, and it’s exclusively for everyone. Visit incredible destinations and be involved in the best experiences around each one of them.

Experience more with Princess and connect effortlessly with the world around you, spend time away with loved ones, take a moment for yourself, and fall in love with your holiday of a lifetime, every time.

With over 20 years of experience, Wendy Wu Tours has mastered the art of creating exceptional, fully inclusive tours which showcase the very best of each destination.

Each tour is led by a world-class guide, who will highlight the very best of their homeland, and includes authentic cultural experiences so you are not just seeing the sights, but truly immersing yourself in local life.

Say hello to ease at sea. Ambassador’s purpose is simple: they want to inspire every guest to experience authentic cruising, effortlessly and sustainably. Passionate about protecting our oceans and destinations, their ships comply with the highest industry emission standards and there is no single-use plastic on board.

On your voyage, you will receive the warmest of welcomes from the Ambassador community as you sail upon the friendliest ships afloat.

This is a global co-operative co-owned by local partners using real local experts and guides, which supports local communities, environments and wildlife. It offers travellers quirky places to stay, activity holidays and learning experiences. Not In The Guidebooks gets travellers off the beaten track into local culture with day experiences and longer, immersive adventures.

From wild wellness breaks in Wales to painting in Portugal, sustainable adventures in Mauritius to food safaris in Brazil, this is immersive, exciting travel.

Seabourn’s five intimate ships carry guests to the heart of great cities, exclusive yacht harbours and secluded coves around the world, while two new purpose-built expedition ships will combine exhilarating adventures in remote destinations with the sophisticated amenities of the world’s finest resorts at sea.

From the luxury of all suite accommodations to complimentary fine wines and spirits, and a no tipping policy, Seabourn exemplifies the definition of travelling well.