Spiders are a large group of invertebrates with approximately 650 British species, nearly half of which are known from Greater London. None are dangerous, whatever the popular press would have you believe. These are some of the most familiar species.
Why are there big spiders in London?
Dr Geoff Oxford has been a spider enthusiast for 15 years and works for the British Arachnological Society. 'The reason we get really big webs at this time of year is because the females get large because they've mated and are full of eggs,' Oxford told us.
“Due to the temperate conditions a lot of people have been out working in their gardens and spending time outdoors. “They are therefore noticing the spiders more, as they are larger and therefore more visible at present.”Oct 7, 2021
Are there big spiders in London?
Giant house spiders, or Eratigena atrica, are one of the biggest spiders in Central and Northern Europe. These spiders are dark brown in appearance, often with a lighter marking on their sternum. They can grow as big as 12cm in length, and as the weather cools down will be increasingly more visible in UK homes.Oct 7, 2021