Helping you enjoy your visit - whatever your needs may be
The hobblers want everyone to enjoy their visit to Hobbledown Heath. It should be an adventure full of fun and discovery! Play is at the heart of what we do, and we are always willing to provide extra support to those who need it - we want to ensure you can get the most enjoyment out of what we have to offer.
If you think you will need additional support during your visit or wish to contact us to discuss your needs, please do so at hounslowinfo@hobbledown.com, or on 0203 885 0074.
Before your visit
For full details on how to reach us please see the directions section our website, found here: https://www.hobbledown.com/hounslow/plan-your-visit/location/
Hobbledown Heath is built mostly on flat ground, with gravel pathways to get you across the park.
There is a short uphill pathed walkway to get to the entrance from the car park.
Admission
If you require a carer to accompany you on your visit, we will offer an admission ticket free of charge for them. This will be provided for you at the entrance once the team have checked the necessary paperwork. This could be any of the following: Evidence of DLA/PIP payments, Access Card, a National Disability Card or Carers Card, or a valid Blue Badge dated within the last 12 months.
Car Park and Arrival
There are disabled parking bays located on site. Please go straight on at the roundabout and the disabled parking spaces are located on the left-hand side.
Car Parking is charged at £1 per hour, via a third party, even for blue badge holders.
Reception and Shop
Access to the park for everyone, including wheelchair users, is via our reception and shop. There is a lower desk for people in wheelchairs.
Guests with disabilities are required to pay full price for their entry ticket, however their carers are permitted to enter for free. To qualify for your free carer ticket, you must bring one of the following: Evidence of DLA/PIP payments, an Access Card, or a valid Blue Badge dated within the last 12 months.
The Indoor Playbarn
Our indoor restaurant facilities are easily accessible and there is plenty of seating and shaded areas available.
There is a lift within the indoor playbarn, meaning guests can access the upstairs party spaces without having to use the stairs.
Disabled toilet facilities are available within the play barn, as are low level hand-washing stations throughout the park.
Party Balcony and Lift
Our party balcony can be accessed by stairs inside or outside the Great Barn, or alternatively by the lift underneath the stairs inside. The lift is big enough to fit a wheelchair as well as a carer. The party balcony is split into 8 party zones and can get very busy at peak times. If you are attending a party, a table closer to the lift can be requested in advance, however we cannot always guarantee that this request can be fulfilled.
Exterior Site
Most of the outside areas at Hobbledown Heath are gravel. This may make it difficult for some wheelchair users or buggies with small wheels. The outdoor play area flooring mostly consists of sand or woodchip which may also be difficult for some wheelchair users.
The Play Areas
Due to the nature of our outdoor play areas, some of our activities may not be suitable for certain types of disabilities. All our team are trained to be as understanding and helpful as possible in these situations.
Many of our play areas are designed to test the imagination and invite everyone to explore the objects: under, over, below and through the various elements. They may require some physical (and mental) stamina. This presents some challenges to anyone with prosthetic limbs or other physical impairments. And for this reason, adult supervision is also required when using the play activities.
Other restrictions apply for certain courses or activities. These are in place to ensure your safety.
All our buildings outside, including the toilets, are a single story. This is excluding the towers in the play areas, which can only be accessed by climbing through the play structures. The soft play and hard play in the Great Barn are multi-story, with a lift to the upstairs for those which accessibility issues.
Seating is available throughout the entire site.
We have low level hand washing at all our animal walkthroughs.
The soft play area in the Great Barn contains a sensory area within the toddler section.
All our signs are easy to read, well maintained and plentiful.
Zorbing
Maximum age 13. Socks must be on, shoes must be off. Participants must be supervised by an adult at all times whilst using the zorbs, on a one adult to one child ratio. Participants remain the responsibility of the accompanying adult at all times.
Gripped Net Park
Available to everyone aged 4 and above. For children aged between 4 and 6, adult supervision is required. Suitable footwear must also be worn: closed toe with secure back straps. Trainers are ideal, flip flops most definitely not!
Gripped Zip Trekking and High Ropes
Available to everyone above the height of 1.4m. Maximum weight 120kg. Under 15s require a ticket-holding adult to participate with them. Participants must wear comfortable, moveable clothing and closed-toe shoes. No skirts permitted. Long hair must be tied back. No loose belongings or valuables allowed.
Gripped Speed Slides and Bag Jump
Available to everyone above the height of 1.4m. Maximum weight 120kg. Participants under the age of 15 require an adult to supervise them whilst on the activity. 1 adult can supervise up to 4 children on the Speed Slides. This supervising adult does not require a ticket unless they also wish to participate. Participants must wear comfortable, moveable clothing and closed-toe shoes. No skirts permitted. Long hair must be tied back. No loose belongings or valuables allowed.
All Gripped activities are not suitable for non-ambulant guests. All guests must be able to walk unaided in order to experience Gripped. Otherwise, disabled guests must have a minimum of 1 helper and a maximum of 3 helpers with them.
Animal Walkthroughs
We have 2 animal walkthroughs: Giant animals and Lemurs. The flooring in the walkthroughs is the same as the general Hobbledown Heath grounds, therefore can be accessed by wheelchair users. However, the lemur walkthrough is not recommended for wheelchair users as the lemurs could react to the wheelchair, possibly compromising the safety of the guest and or the animal.
We also do not recommend buggies enter the animal walkthroughs due to the risk of cross contamination of animal excrement on the wheels. Therefore, the use of wheelchairs in these experiences is at the guest's discretion and wheels MUST be cleaned prior to reentering the Great Barn.
Animal Experiences
We offer 6 animal experiences: Meet the Meerkats, Pony Pals, Feed the Capybara, Feed the Highland Cows, Feed the Reindeer and Meet the Lemurs. The following experiences are not wheelchair accessible: Capybara, Meet the Meerkats, and Pony Pals, as the experiences take place within the enclosures.
The Reindeer experience is also not recommended for non-ambulant wheelchair users; there is a ramp to access the feeding area, but the ramp is very steep. If the wheelchair user can walk up the railed ramp and re-enter the wheelchair at the top of the ramp, then this would be an experience to consider.
The Meet the Lemur experiences are accessible for wheelchair users, however, not recommended as the lemurs could react to the wheelchair, possibly compromising the safety of the guest and or the animal.
We also do not recommend buggies enter the animal walkthroughs due to the risk of cross contamination of animal excrement on the wheels. Therefore, the use of wheelchairs in these experiences is at the guest's discretion and wheels MUST be cleaned prior to reentering the Great Barn.
If you are in a wheelchair then please contact us prior to booking your experience, to discuss any reasonable adjustments that can be made.
Our animal experiences may not be suitable for people with allergies due to the presences of allergens during feeding and feed preparation. If you have any allergies, then you must contact the company prior to attending your experience. We will provide you with all the information to allow you to make an informed decision whether to go ahead with the experience or not.
We are happy to discuss your requirements and make reasonable adjustments to the experience. The company reserves the right to cancel an experience for Health and Safety reasons as guest safety is our number one priority.
Whilst every effort is made to accommodate everyone, due to the nature of the experience, unfortunately, at the present time the experience is not suitable for pregnant guests, or those who are suffering from an immune suppressant illness. To ensure the safety of both humans and animals, participants must be able to clearly communicate with and follow instructions from the animal keeper. This does mean that this experience may not be suitable for some visitors with learning difficulties.
Hearing Loops
We do not have a hearing loop installed, but the Birds of Prey shows are broadcast using a microphone and speakers.
Restaurants
The Hobnosh restaurant is wheelchair accessible, and the outdoor seating area is also fully accessible.
The Hobnosh Snack Shack, when open on busy days, is accessible with seating areas next door. However, the flooring is graveled.
Public Toilets
Hobbledown Heath has 5 disabled toilets. These are at the following locations: before you enter reception, beside to Hobnosh restaurant, upstairs in the Great Barn, next to the Hobnosh Snack Shack, and at Gripped. A key is not required to unlock any of the doors. They are all big enough for a wheelchair and a carer.
The sinks in all the toilets are push down to activate and turn themselves off. There are hand dryers located in all toilets.
All the toilets in the Great barn have baby changing facilities.
We do not currently have adult changing facilities or a hoist.
Additional Information
Assistance dogs are welcome, and water can be provided on request. We do ask that dogs are always kept on leads and cleared up after, and they are not permitted through any of our animal walkthroughs.
Water refill stations are available, or members of the team will refill your bottles for you.
All our team have been provided with basic disability awareness training.
We pride ourselves on having many qualified first aiders on site, with access to first aid boxes around the site.
