Feeling brave? Come face to face with some of Hatton’s most mysterious, misunderstood, and marvellously weird creatures in our Scales & Tails – Halloween Edition animal handling experience! From bearded dragons and chinchillas, to snakes and other slithering surprises, this hands-on session brings a spooky twist to your half-term adventure.
But beware… you never know which creature might be waiting for you!
Meet Our Exotic Residents – From the scaly to the soft, including reptiles, mammals, and more
Spooky Halloween Theming – Creepy decor, mysterious lighting, and spine-tingling facts
Guided Handling Sessions – Our expert team ensures a safe, animal-friendly experience
Surprise Guests Each Day – We rotate which animals come out daily to keep them happy, healthy, and stress-free
Handling time – 11:00am – 4:00pm
Is this suitable for young children?
Yes – staff will assist with gentle handling and there’s no pressure to touch anything if your child prefers to watch.
Will there be snakes?
Possibly! We rotate animals daily for their welfare, so we can’t confirm specific creatures in advance.
Is it too scary for toddlers?
Not at all – it’s spooky-themed but family-friendly. No loud sounds or jump scares.
Can we take photos?
Yes – it’s the perfect chance for a “look what I touched!” moment.
Is hand washing available?
Yes – we ask all guests to wash hands after handling animals. Sinks can be found in both Scales & tails and at the front of Farmyard favourites.
At Hatton, the wellbeing of our animals is our top priority:
We rotate species daily to avoid over-handling
Animals in moult or rest periods will not be handled
Our team is trained in animal behaviour and welfare
We keep handling sessions short and supervised, with rest breaks for the animals
That means we can’t guarantee specific animals will be available on any given day — but we can guarantee you’ll meet something weird, wonderful, and possibly a little spooky!