Face Your Fears - Arachnophobia

In the lead up to this year's Phobophobia, we thought we'd take a look at the biggest fears, frights and phobias that make your skin crawl. Spiders, small spaces, big spaces, lifts, darkness… its time to face your fears.

And to kick-start our face your fears season here at The London Bridge Experience and London Tombs, we thought we'd cover one of the world's greatest fears - spiders.

According the National Institute of Mental Health, phobias affect 10% of all adults. Topping this list is arachnophobia — the extreme or irrational fear of spiders.

Of all the 63,000 different species of arachnid in the world, only 2% are actually considered dangerous. The rest simply fall into the category of 'EWWW - it's a spider!'

So why are we scared of something so easily squashed by a slipper?

Here are just three reasons:

The Brazilian wandering spider is perhaps the most dangerous arachnid in the world. At just five inches long, this nomadic spider is known for its deadly bite. The venom released acts as a calcium channel blocker, which causes loss of muscle control, breathing problems, paralysis and asphyxiation.

The lethal black widow spider's venom is reported as being 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake's. It too has been known to cause a paralysis of the diaphragm which can kill young children, the elderly and the infirm.

A third spider to steer well clear of is the Sydney funnel-web. It not only commands one of the deadliest venoms known to man, but its aggressive nature means you'll be lucky to escape with just one bite. They are known to strike repeatedly, which will almost certainly lead to a slow and painful death.

Now, imagine being left in a room full of these frightful creatures; each one waiting to sink their fangs into your flesh… Still think you're not afraid of eight-legged insects?

Come to The London Bridge Experience and London Tombs and face your fears. The Spider Nest has a vile infestation of arachnids of all shapes and sizes that are bound to send shivers down your spine. Just watch out for that web...