Quote from Penny McCarthy on May 28, 2025, 2:25 pm

Visit our free galleries – the World Gallery, Music Gallery and Natural History Pop-up display in The Studio – no advance booking needed. Please note the Natural History Gallery and Nature Base are currently closed for redevelopment until 2026 as part of our Nature + Love project.

To book the Aquarium,  Butterfly House and The Robot Zoo we encourage visitors including Members to book tickets in advance to guarantee entry, particularly during busy periods such as weekends and school holidays.

Special events

 Horniman Museum Late – Coral Thursday 5 June, 5.30-9pm

In honour of World Oceans Day (8 June) and inspired by the Horniman’s world-leading Project Coral research, we’ll be celebrating all things coral at this late opening of the Horniman, with performances, games and experiences presented by students from the Royal College of Art.

Plus explore the collections after hours, enjoy our current displays and exhibitions, and grab a drink with friends.  Free entry. No advance booking required. Some activities are charged for.

 Sunday Market – Second Hand Sunday Sunday 8 June, 10am-3pm

The Horniman’s Second Hand Sunday market is back offering sustainable shopping alongside our regular Sunday market. Come along to give a new home to second hand clothes, books, toys and more, from local sellers. Free entry.

 Midsummer’s Daydream Family Rave with Big Fish Little Fish

Saturday 5 July, 2-6pm

The Big Fish Little Fish family rave is back to transform our Gardens into a mid-summer daydream. Don your floatiest outfit, pop on a flower crown and butterfly wings and join us to dance along to top DJs spinning hypnotic beats.

You’ll enjoy crafts, a bubble show, circus skill workshops and storytelling. You’ll have your pick from some of London’s best street food stalls serving up irresistible flavours and refresh at the Colicci bar with cocktails, mocktails, draft beers and soft drinks. Tickets on sale now: Adult £20, Child (under 16) £15, pre-walking infant free. Advance booking essential. Additional charges apply for Butterfly House (discounted entry).

 Llama Library – Storytelling and Crafts

Wednesday 30 July, 10–10.45am, 11.30am–12.15pm, 1.30–2.15pm, 3-3.45pm 

Join author Holly Ryan and illustrator Ella Bailey for a laugh out loud Llama Library extravaganza.

Craft materials will be provided, and books will be available to buy and have signed and dedicated at the event. All children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the event.  Tickets: Child £7.50 – includes one free adult

 Music Jerk ‘n Tings Saturday 16 August, 1-6pm

Celebrate Caribbean culture with a family-friendly day of food, music n’ tings.

Dance along to a packed line-up of musical talent on the Bandstand. Savour island flavours with a delicious selection of jerk, vegan and vegetarian dishes cooked up by top chefs.

Tickets (on sale by June): Adult £17, over 60s £12, Child £10, under 2s free. 

 Exhibitions and Displays

 The Robot Zoo

Daily until Sunday 2 November 2025, 10am-5.30pm

How do chameleons change colour? What makes grasshoppers leap so high? How do bats see at night? Enter the fascinating world of The Robot Zoo and discover the mechanisms that give animals their amazing abilities.Family-friendly exhibition features larger-than-life animals

Adult £10.75, Child £7.25, Under-3s free, Family of four £28.60, Family of three £21.50, Universal Credit £1. Horniman Members and Benefactors enjoy free, unlimited entry. Advance booking recommended. Book online at horniman.ac.uk.

Butterfly House

Daily, 10.30am-4pm (last entry 3.30pm)

Get up close to hundreds of beautiful butterflies in our tropical indoor garden. The specially planted habitat is the perfect place to experience butterflies free flying all around you and to discover amazing facts about the lifecycle and behaviour of these fascinating creatures.Tickets: Book online at horniman.ac.uk. Members and Benefactors enjoy free, unlimited entry.

 Aquarium Daily, 10.30am-5.30pm (last entry 4.30pm)

Take a magical journey through rivers, seas and oceans in the Horniman’s highly acclaimed Aquarium.Our 15 exhibits showcase aquatic environments from around the globe, ranging from the British pond to Fijian coral reefs.

Tickets: Book online at horniman.ac.uk. Members and Benefactors enjoy free, unlimited entry.

 Regular events and activities

 Family Craft Saturdays  Saturdays, 2-4pm. Last entry 3.30pm

Join in family craft activities inspired by the Horniman’s collections. Learn about some of the 350,000 objects in the Horniman’s collections, and discover more about music, nature, wildlife, and the world around us as you get stuck into some crafts and have fun at these volunteer-run sessions for all the family.

See website for dates Free. Drop in. Suitable for ages 3+.

 Mini Golf by UrbanCrazy Weekends, bank holidays and school holidays until Sunday 31 August, 10.30am-5pm (last entry 4.30pm)

Take on nine holes themed around your favourite Horniman attractions – tee-off from the Clocktower, putt past the walrus, and try for a birdie at the Butterfly House! Perfect for family fun, or for challenging competitive friends.

Tickets: Adult £7, Child £4.50, Family (2 adults + 2 children) £17.50. Wheelchair accessible.

 Cafe

 Horniman Cafe Daily, 10am-5.00pm

Enjoy a delicious range of hot and cold meals, sandwiches, cakes, snacks, fair-trade teas and coffees, cold drinks and ice cream at the Horniman Cafe. Our Cafe operator Colicci partners with local suppliers and producers to offer menus for adults and children, with vegan and vegetarian options, as well as gluten-free foods.

The Horniman Museum is free to visit and open daily, 10am to 5.30pm. Full details plus so much more please go to horniman.ac.uk 100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ