Home Education Day Winter 2026

Back to What’s On
Book tickets
Come and join us for a day of learning for children aged 5+ who are home educated.

The day will feature some of our most popular sessions, showcasing some of the amazing objects in our handling collection. There’s also the chance to go behind-the-scenes at our Aquarium and find out more about the animals at the Animal Walk.

Buy a ticket for our exciting drop-in activities only or book onto our amazing, hands-on workshops, with access to all drop-in activities included.

Home ed families will have exclusive access to our Education Centre, giving you space to meet other families and chill out.

Ticket information

  • For home educated children aged 5+.
  • Ticket price includes 1 child with 1 accompanying adult.
  • Tickets are non-refundable.

Workshop Tickets

Workshop tickets (£9) include:

  • One booked workshop
  • Drop-in activities
  • All-day Education Centre access (exclusively for home ed families)
  • Please ensure you book your child on to an age-appropriate workshop to ensure learners get the most out of the session. Only children booked onto the workshop may attend (with their accompanying adult).

Sign up to our home education newsletter for updates on our programme.

Sibling Policy

  • To help ensure that our learners get the most from their sessions, and as spaces are limited, only children booked on to them may attend (with their accompanying adult).
  • When selecting the workshop to go with your ticket, please ensure that you are booking on to an age-appropriate session for your child(ren).
  • Babies in arms are permitted to all sessions, but we politely ask that you leave the session should they be disruptive to others.

Workshops

Animal Walk Discovery

11am – 11.45am | Recommended age range: 5 – 14 years old

See the Horniman’s much-loved animal residents and meet our expert Animal Walk Keepers, during this special opening for Home Education Day. Find out about our alpacas, sheep, rabbits, and pygmy goats, and learn how we take care of these animals at the Horniman.

Prehistoric Britain

11.30am – 12.30pm | Recommended age range: 7 – 12 years old

Become an archaeologist, handle artefacts from the Stone and Bronze Ages and use them to work out the differences between life in the Palaeolithic and Neolithic. Hold a 300,000-year-old hand axe, examine a real mammoth tooth, and learn about flint knapping. Explore different animal skulls and plants to find out how people got their food in Prehistoric Britain and how this changed over time.

Toys and Puppets Around the World

12pm – 12.45pm | Recommended age range: 5 – 8 years old

Learn and play with some of the amazing toys in our Handling Collection. Children will explore the mechanisms, materials, and uses of toys: from a Zimbabwean push-along drummer to a Russian pendulum toy, to Guatemalan worry dolls, and use a transforming doll to tell the story of Little Red Riding Hood together.

Behind the Scenes at the Aquarium

1.15pm – 2pm | Recommended age range: 10 – 16 years old

Join one of our Aquarists to explore the hidden side of the Aquarium. Discover the out-of-view work and ground-breaking research that goes on behind the scenes. This session includes an Aquarium tour highlighting some of the amazing species.

Animal Classification

2pm – 3pm | Recommended age range: 7 – 12 years old

Why do scientists classify animals? What similarities do all mammals have?

In this session learners will explore and handle a variety of taxidermy animals from around the world to understand how and why scientists sort animals into groups. This session will give a chance to practise using a classification key to sort invertebrates and identify the features of mammals, fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles. Learners will also be challenged to classify some mystery animal specimens in our Handling Collection.

Drop-in activities

Art Portfolio

11am  – 3pm, drop-in | Recommended age range: 6+ but all ages welcome

Explore patterns and shapes in nature, and discover amazing textiles crafted around the world. Learn about cultural significance of patterns and designs, and how they are created. Learners will have a fantastic opportunity to develop their observation and still-life sketching skills. Bring your own sketchbook – or borrow paper and pencils from us.

Big Bird Count

11am – 2pm, drop-in | Recommended age range: All ages welcome

What birds can you spot in the Horniman Gardens? Borrow a pair of binoculars and take part in the RSPB’s Big Bird Count with us. Spend some time watching birds and let us know what you’ve seen. Our self-led Gardens resources will also be available to support you to take some mindful moments outside.

Wildlife Camera Wander

12.30pm – 1.15pm, meet in the Education Centre | Recommended age range: 8+

Join Henry, the Horniman’s Climate Resilience Officer, for a wander down to the Nature Trail. Find out more about the different wildlife in the Horniman Gardens and help us check our new wildlife cameras. The Nature Trail is about a 10-15 minute walk from our Museum building, along an unpaved path. Please let us know when booking if anyone in your group has physical access needs, so we can arrange for step-free access to the trail.

Explore and Connect – Meet our Community Engagement Team

2pm – 3pm, drop-in | Recommended age range: All ages welcome

Our Community Team will guide you through a series of fun and insightful activities to help you explore and connect to some of the amazing objects in our Handling Collection.