The Tale of Hobbledown Heath: Where Stories Come to Life

The Philosophy
The World of Hobbledown Heath
How It All Began
The Mind Behind The Mischief

A Magical Adventure Park Like No Other

Discover Our World

Hobbledown Heath isn’t just a farm or an adventure playground - it’s a living storybook world.

Every tower, tunnel and village you explore is part of that story.

Inspired by a magical children’s book written and illustrated by E.B Davies, Hobbledown Heath brings together adventure play, animals and imagination into one immersive experience where stories come to life around you.

As you explore, you're stepping into the world of the Hobblers - a lively, brave (and sometimes mischievous!) group of characters who live throughout the park. From Wormwood the Wise in the treetops of Wilderness Wood to Robin the birdkeeper and his fluffy, extremely noisy companion Screechbeak, and Stella the apprentice blacksmith forever hammering and tinkering away at Cribble Creek - every play area, tower and tunnel is part of their story. Keep an eye out for Butternut careering past on his rabbit sled (pulled, rather chaotically, by Hopper, Stompit and Bounce), and watch your step around Panpan - that naughty little kid has mischief on his mind, whether he knows it or not!

Children don’t just visit Hobbledown Heath… they become part of the adventure - climbing through villages, discovering hidden corners and even encountering characters as the story unfolds around them.

Discover the characters and their world.

Plan Your Visit

Explore The Characters & Books

How the Magic Began

The Founders’ Vision

Hobbledown Heath was brought to life by founders Nick de Candole and Richard Farley, whose passion was to create something different from traditional attractions.

It comes from a simple idea - to create places people genuinely enjoy spending time in. Places where children can be active and imaginative, and where families can spend real time together.

That thinking sits behind everything we do.

"We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing"

George Bernard Shaw

Nick de Candole

Co-Founder of Hobbledown Heath and The Escapade Group
Richard 'Charlie' Farley

Co-Founder of Hobbledown Heath and The Escapade Group

A note from our founders:

Welcome to Escapade. Before anything else, we want you to know one important thing: this business was built on friendship, trust, and the belief that great things happen when people who care about each other work toward a shared purpose.

We’ve been friends since we were about fifteen years old. Long before Escapade existed, we spent years working together in property development, and while it paid the bills, it didn’t give us that sense of meaning or fulfilment we were looking for.

The coin flip

In 2005, we sat down with two big ideas in front of us: a high-quality children’s attraction, and a stylish men’s gym-wear brand. We couldn’t pick between them… so we tossed a coin.

That coin flip led to Kidspace Romford, our first site, and it set us on a journey that became far bigger than either of us expected.

Since then, Escapade has grown into a group of attractions that hundreds of thousands of families visit every year. What started as two friends wanting to build something better has become a team of passionate people creating memorable experiences for guests every single day.

And now you’re part of that story.

Our mission and values aren’t just words on a page, they’re the principles that guided us from that first coin toss to where we are today.

If this sense of adventure and imagination resonates with you, you’ll feel right at home at Hobbledown Heath.

We’re delighted to welcome you. Every visit is part of the story - and we can’t wait for you to discover, explore and create unforgettable memories with us.

Ivy-covered fantasy castle adventure play structure with children and families exploring at Hobbledown Heath, Hounslow, West London

Bringing Back the Joy of Real Childhood

Charlie and I hope Hobbledown Heath becomes your families place - somewhere children can run, climb, explore, and lose themselves in play that doesn’t feel like exercise, but quietly is. In a world where screens compete for attention more than ever, we believe children need space to switch off, get muddy, take risks, and use their imagination. A scraped knee or a bumped head? We see those as small badges of honour in a life of adventurous play.

We feel incredibly grateful to have grown up in the 70s, when that kind of freedom was simply part of everyday life. Hobbledown Heath is our small way of trying to bring a bit of that adventure back - a place where childhood can still feel wild, active, and full of possibility.

We also obsess over how Hobbledown Heath looks and feels, because we know great play starts with great environments. Every tower, tunnel, and pathway is designed to feel like it’s been discovered rather than built - full of texture, character, and small details that reward curiosity. We use natural materials, layered landscapes, and storytelling in the design so it doesn’t feel like a typical play area, but a world waiting to be explored.

Just as importantly, we design it for grown-ups too. We want parents to feel that same spark - the urge to climb a little higher, peer through a doorway, or see what’s hidden around the next corner. Because when adults are drawn in, something shifts: play becomes shared, not supervised. And those are the moments families tend to remember.

Charlie & Nick

The Mind Behind The Mischief

E.B Davies

Author & Illustrator of Hobbledown Heath✒️

Explore The Characters & Books

The Hobblers are waiting…

Meet the Hobblers

At the heart of Hobbledown Heath are the Hobblers - a cast of curious, brave and mischievous characters who bring the world to life.

From magical creatures to adventurous explorers, these characters shape the stories that unfold throughout the park.

Meet the characters and explore their world

Start Your Own Adventure

The tale of Hobbledown Heath is waiting for its next character - you! Whether you’re scaling the wooden towers, meeting our curious animals, or uncovering the mysteries of the Hobblers, your journey begins the moment you step through the gates.

Are you ready to join the story?

Book Your Journey

What Magic Awaits?

From the bubbles of the Hullabaloo Summer Festival to the glow of Santa’s Secret Village, our world is always transforming. Stay for the festivals, animal discovery weeks, and live storytelling that bring our world to life.

Which chapter will you discover?

Discover your next adventure

About Hobbledown Heath | Our Story