People talk about the ‘north-south’ divide in terms of culture and economics, but it turns out we should be talking about it in terms of… spiders.
That’s because a certain type of poisonous arachnid has become ‘hugely more abundant in Britain, particularly in the south’, according to Oxford University ecologist Clive Hambler. Now, a Freedom of Information request has revealed that hospital admissions from spider bites have doubled in the UK over the last 10 years. There were 100 NHS hospital admissions related to spider bites in 2025, compared to just 47 in 2015.
The figures actually dipped to 43 in 2021, though scampered back up to 95 the following year. Ilford’s Redbridge Council has even been moved to officially warn residents about the dangers of the eight-legged menaces, with a statement explaining that a group of arachnids known as false widow spiders (so named because they’re often mistaken for black widows) are the ones look out for.
‘[False widows were] generally only found in the south-west but recent mild winters have seen an increase in numbers in London and Kent,’ reads the statement. ‘While these spiders are venomous and their bites can be painful, they’re no more dangerous than a wasp sting and the spiders are non-aggressive.’
Photograph: Shutterstock
Clive Hambler revealed that he’s spotted a false widow in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, adding that they’re more common than people think. He also said that they may carry bacteria that can cause ‘amputation, sepsis and death’, which is probably not the kind of souvenir you had in mind from a day out to His Majesty’s gaff.
While people shouldn’t panic, he added, we should all be more aware of what the creepy crawlies are capable of: ‘I think spiders are wonderful things and they’re very important in ecosystems, but you now need to treat spiders in Britain as you might in many other parts of the world – as something to be very respectful of.’
Indeed, nine Newham schools were closed due to false widow infestations in 2018.
However, University of Galway zoologist Dr. Michel Dugon has attempted to quell concerns, suggesting that the increase in media reports on False Widows may have led people to misattribute bites to the group. Even then, though, he admitted: ‘We know that those species indeed can actually bite, that they do have a preference to live in and around houses rather than in natural habitats, at least in the UK and Ireland.’
So, let’s all err on the side of caution, shall we?
Remember when giant fish-eating spiders were spotted in Britain?
Plus: the ultimate guide to Buckingham Palace (not featuring spiders)
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