Tickets
Opening times

The Friendly Spider Programme is fully booked for 2023 and 2024

Type of place
Indoor
Area
Orange zone
Status
Bookings suspended
Facilities

This experience is wheelchair accessible. 

Thank you to our supporters who expressed interest in our 2024 Friendly Spider Programme sessions. Tickets are now sold out. Please scroll down to express interest to receive an email when our 2025 dates become available.

 

 

Do you have a spider phobia? 

Millions of perfectly rational people are terrified of spiders. No matter how much they try to calm themselves, the response remains the same: sweating, nausea, panic, rapid heartbeat and worse. But spiders are harmless and extremely beneficial invertebrates whose survival depends on avoiding such large, lumbering threats as ourselves. Join us for a session with a hynotherapist and zookeeper, and let us help you overcome your fears.

Curing spider phobia: what's involved

  • An afternoon course designed to ease or eliminate the condition of arachnophobia.
  • The course is a combination of cognitive behavioural therapy and hypnotherapy.
  • Opportunity to speak to our spider expert and an expert hypnotherapist.

The course takes place in our meeting rooms. No animals, photographs or illustrations are used until the end part of the course.

Download our guest pack for full details:

Download Guest Pack

Register your interest

The 2023 and 2024 dates for the Friendly Spider Programme are fully booked.

Please register your interest to be notified when dates for 2025 are available:

 

 

Testimonials from Past Participants

  • I came all the way from Belgium to attend the friendly spider course on June 4. People who saw my picture of me holding a tarantula at the London zoo claim I must have not been THAT scared. But omg are they wrong! I was struggling with my phobia ever since I was little. This course has changed my life for good. I realised that the mind is such a powerful tool and that I can pretty much conquer everything. I want to tackle other fears now. I wish I did this course sooner!!
    - Samantha F, June 2022
  • I genuinely consider this to be a miracle, and the thing I’m proudest of in my whole life so far. I’d heard the programme was good, but it completely surpassed any hopes I had.
    - Sarah H, May 2022
  • Thank you so much for this wonderful and successful course. Like many others I believe this has changed my life.
    - Ross O, April 2022
  • All the team who were so professional and put everyone at ease.
    - Seiji L, June 2022
  • Since the course, I can honestly say I feel like a new person. It has changed my life... I have a 9-year-old daughter... and I have been able to show her what I achieved on the day at the Zoo and how I have been before. I know she will now grow up to be calm and OK around spiders... Once again, thank you!
    - Sam W, 2018
  • The best money I have ever spent having my life-long fear cured, and I can now go on my holiday to Australia fear free - thank you ZSL!
    - Liberty L, Sept 2017
  • The Friendly Spider Programme has honestly been one of the best things I've ever done...There aren't many experiences in one's life when you can say that they are truly 'life changing' but this is one of them.
    - Julia W, Sept 2017
  • I cannot believe how relaxed I am when I see a spider now. The results have been amazing, and completely life changing.
    - Chloe D, June 2017
  • Can’t thank you enough, it’s been 35+ years of being terrified, gone in an afternoon.
    - Kate M, June 2017
  • It has truly changed my life. I feel in control and at ease for the first time in my life and will be forever grateful to you and the team for your hard work and commitment to the course.
    - Sam L, 2016

Price and dates

  • £150 per person.
  • A 30% concession rate is available for senior citizens, registered students, persons on income support and under 16s.
  • 3 pm on selected Saturdays from April to September.
  • If you wish to visit the Zoo during the day, admission tickets must be purchased separately here.

Know Before You Book

  • Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult. Adult guardians must sign the consent form included in the guest pack. Accompanying adults do not need to pay for a place.
  • One non-participating support person allowed free entry.
  • General admission to London Zoo, if you wish to visit before the Programme commences, is not included and must be purchased seperately
  • We recommend wearing loose comfortable clothing
  • Please arrive on time, we advise guests to arrive at least 15 minutes before the programme begins
  • Please see our full terms and conditions for more information

Friendly spider programme availability 

Manage your booking

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