Quick facts
- Common indoor species
- Giant house spider, cellar spider (daddy long-legs spider) and false widow spiders
- When you see them
- Most often from late August to October, when males wander looking for mates
- Bites
- Rare; most UK spiders cannot pierce human skin, and bites from false widows are usually like a bee sting
- Where they hide
- Window frames, sheds, garages, behind furniture and in quiet corners
- Food
- Other insects, which is why spider numbers follow fly and moth numbers
How to identify common spiders
The giant house spider is the large, fast, long-legged brown spider that runs across the floor in early autumn. Cellar spiders are pale, with very long thin legs, and hang in loose webs in corners. The noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis) is about the size of a fingernail, with a bulbous, glossy dark brown abdomen marked with cream patterns, and builds tangled webs around window frames, porches, sheds and garden furniture.
Are false widow spiders dangerous?
False widows have become common in London. They can bite if trapped against the skin, and the bite is usually painful for a short time, with local swelling, much like a wasp sting. Serious reactions are rare. Clean any bite, use a cold compress and seek medical advice if the swelling spreads, you feel unwell or there are signs of infection.
Signs of a spider problem
- Many webs around window frames, door frames and outside lights
- Spiders appearing in the same rooms night after night in autumn
- Webs with egg sacs in sheds, garages and lofts
- Large numbers of flies, moths or other insects that are feeding the spiders
Professional spider control
Treatment focuses on the places spiders shelter and enter: a residual treatment around window and door frames, skirting boards, air bricks and outbuildings, with removal of webs and egg sacs. Because spiders follow their food, we also look at what is attracting other insects, such as outside lighting, damp or a fly problem.
Prevention
- Vacuum webs and egg sacs regularly, especially behind furniture and in corners
- Fit brush strips to doors and seal gaps around window frames and pipes
- Switch to warm or yellow outside lighting, which attracts fewer insects
- Keep sheds and garages tidy, and store garden cushions in sealed boxes
Spider control across Southwark and London
We deal with spider problems in homes and businesses across South London. We cover South London, Central London (the City, the West End and Westminster), East London out to Stratford and Newham, and nearby parts of Kent, from our base at South Dock Marina in SE16. A standard visit is £90, and you can book online or call 020 8050 2022.
- Southwark
- Bermondsey
- Peckham
- Camberwell
- Rotherhithe
- Lambeth
- Brixton
- Lewisham
- Greenwich
- Bromley
- Bexley
- Kent
- Central London
- City of London
- Westminster
- East London
- Tower Hamlets
- Hackney
- Newham
- All areas
Spider control: questions and answers
Why do I see so many spiders in September?
Male house spiders wander in late summer and autumn looking for mates, so you notice them more. Numbers drop again by winter.
Can you get rid of false widow spiders?
Yes. We treat the window frames, porches and outbuildings where they build webs and remove egg sacs.
Do conkers or peppermint keep spiders away?
There is no good evidence that conkers work. Peppermint oil may deter some spiders briefly, but sealing gaps and removing webs is more effective.
Are spider bites common in the UK?
No. Most UK spiders cannot bite through human skin. False widow bites happen occasionally and are usually mild.
Related pages
This page is general information, last reviewed on 19 October 2026. It is not a substitute for an on-site inspection.