Horniman Museum and Gardens
100 London Road SE23 3PQ
The Museum is open daily, from 10am - 5.30pm. The Butterfly House is open from 10.30am - 4pm.
Train: Forest Hill
2 - 3 hours
0 - 12 years
Wheelchair friendly with accessible toilets
FREE entry excluding Aquarium, Butterfly House, Robot Zoo and some events.
Based on 8 reviews
Great day out; plenty to do for all interests.
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About Horniman Museum and Gardens
If you’re after a proper family day out that’s fun, free and full of surprises, the Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill should be top of your list. This South London gem combines quirky collections, hands-on fun and loads of outdoor space – ideal for curious kids, history-mad teens and grown-ups who need a coffee and a bench.
Inside, you’ll find stuffed animals (including that famous walrus), global cultures, musical instruments you can actually play, and an aquarium that punches well above its size. Outside, there’s an Animal Walk with goats, alpacas and more, plus a Sound Garden where kids can go full rockstar. The Butterfly House and aquarium cost a few quid, but they’re well worth it if you’ve got nature lovers in tow.
It’s easy to reach on the Overground, has stunning views over London, and plenty of trails, workshops and free activities to keep things fresh.
Top tip from the KidRated team:
Don’t miss the Bandstand kiosk if the café queue is too long – the ice cream is spot on and perfect for bribery.
There’s a huge walrus, hands-on musical instruments, colourful cultural exhibits, and taxidermy animals galore. Plus, the aquarium and Butterfly House (extra fee) are a big hit with little nature fans.
Yes! Entry to the main museum and gardens is totally free. The aquarium and Butterfly House have a small entry fee, but still great value.
Absolutely. From nature trails to hands-on art workshops, plus pop-ups like the Llama Library and robotics activities during school holidays – there’s always something going on.
Yes. The quirky exhibits, musical instruments, interactive workshops and Insta-worthy views make it surprisingly cool. It’s low-key educational in the best way.
Yes. There are plenty of picnic spots in the gardens. Just no food inside the galleries, unless you like feeding the moths.
2–3 hours for the free bits. Add an hour or more if you’re doing the aquarium, Butterfly House, or joining a workshop.
Yes. There’s step-free access, lifts inside, and accessible toilets. The gardens have some hilly bits, but nothing too wild.
Yes. The Animal Walk features alpacas, sheep, goats, chickens and more. It’s great for younger kids and totally free.
It’s in Forest Hill, South London. Super easy to reach via Overground or trains from London Bridge.
Yes. The café serves hot meals, snacks and drinks. Or hit the kiosk near the Bandstand for grab-and-go treats and less waiting around.
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This is a hidden gem, when compared to other large museums in London, but it's outside of central London so you'll either need to take a bus or the overground to get there. It's well-worth visiting. It's a relatively compact museum that's perfectly sized for kids to enjoy. There are fun curiosities, such as the giant stuffed walrus which is a must see. There are also a butterfly garden (which isn't free) and an animal walk. There's a great environmental education programme that hosts activities for young visitors and outside there are beautiful gardens to explore. It's a fantastic museum. Recommend.