Is the capybara experience suitable as a gift?

Yes - all of our animal experience prices include admission to Hobbledown Heath.

The Capybara feeding experience is not wheelchair accessible, as it takes place within the enclosures. If you are in a wheelchair, please contact us prior to booking your experience to discuss any reasonable adjustments that can be made.

If your enquiry is about an animal experience taking place today and you’re running late, please travel safely. When you arrive, a member of our team will be happy to help you.

Please note that all of our experiences are planned around the natural rhythms and needs of the animals. Because of this, arriving late may mean your experience is shortened or, in some cases, unable to go ahead.

Capybaras are calm and gentle giants, so Feed the Capybaras is suitable for even the youngest of hobblers, at age 6+!
Please bring wellies! Participants will be taken into the capybara enclosure, so footwear suited to muck and mud is required.
The experience lasts 15 - 20 minutes and includes your park entry
Participants will be given some browse, cos lettuce or other type of feed, and an animal team member will take you into the enclosure and teach you how to feed the capybara safely
Meet the keepers! Q&A with the capybara caretakers will be available throughout the session, along with plenty of educational facts
Bring your camera! There will be plenty of great photo opportunities...

Yes you can! We have some additional information for you to review with regarding to to zoonotic disease for the over 65's which is detailed in our H&S Document. Please review this on our website prior to booking. 

For all zookeeper experiences, children must be supervised by an adult. The price of the Zookeeper experience includes admission for one adult to accompany/supervisor any participant under 18.

You must wear wellies for the experience. These will be disinfected thoroughly after the experience. If you are planning on staying in the park, before using any play areas you must change into different footwear and place your wellies into a closed bag.
You must bring a clean set of clothing if you intend to stay and enjoy the rest of our facilities after your experience, or to wear when travelling home
Please click HERE to complete the mandatory waiver for your experience. Please sign this before you arrive.

One grown up spectating the participant of the zookeeper experiences under the age of 18 is included in the price of the experience.

All other experiences require the accompanying adult to purchase a general admission ticket. If the participant is over 18 and would like an additional spectator a general admission park ticket should be purchased. Please note, only one spectator per participant is allowed to accompany the experience.

Animal experiences typically include interactive sessions where participants can meet and feed various animals, learn about their habitats, and engage with qualified animal keepers. Some examples of animal experiences include:

Capybara Feeding : Get up close and personal with capybaras and learn about their care.
Meet the Lemurs : An opportunity to interact with lemurs in a safe environment.
Meet the Meerkats : Engage with meerkats and learn about their behavior and habitat.
Pony Pals : A chance to meet and interact with ponies.
Each experience usually has specific age requirements, supervision rules, and duration. If you have a particular experience in mind or need more details, feel free to ask!

We have animal experiences which are suitable for younger children. Our Pony Pals experience is from aged 5-9; Feed the Capybara, Junior Zookeeper, Meet the Meerkats and Meet the Lemurs all start from aged 6 + years. Please visit the website for further information. 

For the animal experience, it's recommended that participants wear comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor activities. Here are some clothing suggestions:

Long Sleeve Tops : To protect against scratches and sun exposure.
Trousers : Comfortable trousers are ideal for moving around.
Trainers or Full Shoes : Closed-toe shoes are necessary for safety.
Weather-Appropriate Gear : Depending on the weather, consider bringing sun cream, wellies for wet conditions, or raincoats if it's likely to rain.

In line with the weather forecast for the day please wear suitable clothing. Our animal experience go ahead in all 4 seasons. For the animal experience, it's recommended that participants wear comfortable clothing suitable for outdoor activities. Here are some clothing suggestions:

Long Sleeve Tops : To protect against scratches and sun exposure.
Trousers : Comfortable trousers are ideal for moving around.
Trainers or Full Shoes : Closed-toe shoes are necessary for safety.
Weather-Appropriate Gear : Depending on the weather, consider bringing sun cream, wellies for wet conditions, or raincoats if it's likely to rain.

Yes of course - all animal experiences include a general admission ticket for you to enjoy Hobbledown before or after your experience takes place. 

Yes, adults can participate in the animal experiences! There are various experiences available that are suitable for adults, and they can also accompany children during their experiences. Just be sure to check if any specific age or supervision requirements apply, especially if children are involved.

Thank you for your interest, but we only rehome animals that come from another BIAZA registered business.

We have a variety of farm and zoo animals at Hobbledown Heath. These include Macaws, Meerkats, Highland Cattle, Capybaras, Giant Rabbits, Ponies, Yaks, Goats, Alpacas, Prairie Dogs, Giant Tortoises,  Ring-tailed and Black-and-White Ruffed Lemurs. We also offer a range of animals experiences that can be pre booked via the website.

No, you cannot wear shorts for the animal experiences. It is recommended to wear long trousers for all animal experiences. If the weather is hot, please bring more comfortable wear or shorts for the remainder of your day with us, and wear long trousers for the animal experiences.

The highland cow experience is priced from £45 per person, plus a £2.50 booking fee per transaction. Full general admission to Hobbledown Heath is included in the price - so you get a full day out as well as your experience with the herd.

Your session lasts approximately 30 minutes, led by one of our expert animal keepers. After that, the whole of Hobbledown Heath is yours to explore - your admission is included in the booking.

Very close! You'll be right alongside the enclosure, hand-feeding the herd under the guidance of your keeper. It's a genuine, up-close encounter - not a distant viewing experience.

The experience is designed for ages 8 and above. Younger children are very welcome at Hobbledown Heath and can see our Highland herd from the viewing areas around the park - they're hard to miss!

No - it's a separately bookable add-on experience. However, your full park admission is included in the price of the highland cow experience booking, so there's no need to buy a separate ticket.

Yes - and we really do recommend it. This experience sells out regularly, especially during school holidays, half terms and weekends. Book online before your visit to avoid disappointment.

Closed-toe shoes are required for the experience. As it takes place outdoors, we'd also recommend dressing for the weather - layers are always a good idea! Participants will be provided with nitrile gloves and will need to wash their hands after the session.

The experience runs throughout the year on selected dates, subject to the animals' wellbeing and availability. We always do our best to accommodate everyone, but please note that on occasion the experience may need to be adjusted on the day. Check our booking calendar for available dates and times.

Absolutely - it makes a brilliant present for animal lovers of all ages. Our gift vouchers are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase and can be redeemed against the highland cow experience when booking online.

Hobbledown Heath in Hounslow, West London is one of the only places in the UK where you can step inside a capybara enclosure and feed them by hand. We also offer the capybara experience at Hobbledown Epsom in Surrey.

It's even better - our experience puts you inside the enclosure with a dedicated keeper. It's hands-on, personal, and limited to just 4 guests per session.

The experience is suitable for ages 6 and above. Participants must be able to follow keeper instructions to ensure safety and animal welfare.

Yes. The experience includes full park entry for the participant.