Home Education Day Summer 2026

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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, as well as drop-in craft and outdoor learning activities for you to join in with. There’s also the chance to go behind-the-scenes at our Aquarium and pond dipping on our Nature Trail.

Buy a ticket for our exciting drop-in activities only or book onto one of 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, eat lunch and chill out.

On the day, home educating families will be able to buy reduced educational rate tickets for our Voyage to the Deep exhibition, Aquarium and Butterfly House.

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).

Drop-in tickets

Drop-in tickets (£7) include: 

  • Drop-in activities
  • All-day Education Centre access (exclusively for home ed families)

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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

Pond, River, Sea

10.30am – 11.15am | Recommended age range: 5 – 7 years old

Come on an interactive, imaginary journey with the Horniman walrus as we search for a seahorse in a pond, the Amazon river, and the sea. Along the way, we’ll meet some amazing aquatic creatures, from a frog to a fish, learn about their amazing bodies, and even sing about them.

Travel to the Amazon rainforest, bravely touch a stuffed caiman and learn about colour and camouflage. At the seaside, listen to the waves, feel sea spray on your face and go diving in search of aquatic creatures.

When we return, dress as your favourite animal from our journey and explore the amazing objects hidden around the room: touch a real shark’s jaw; feel an enormous Nile crocodile’s scaly skin; and see a frog’s skeleton up-close.

Animals and their habitats

12pm – 1pm | Recommended age range: 6 – 12 years old

How have animals adapted to their homes? Discover for yourself as you get hands on with taxidermy animals from different habitats.

Identify animals that live in a range of extreme environments, explore the features of real taxidermy animals to discover their amazing adaptations, and discuss some of the challenges these creatures face in our changing world… and what we can do to help.

Pond Dipping and Outdoor Habitats

1.15pm – 2.30pm | Recommended age range: 6 – 12 years old

Dip nets in the Horniman’s pond and explore outdoor habitats on our wild Nature Trail. Use scientific equipment to collect animals and first-hand observation to learn more about them. Reconnect with nature and enhance your Science learning.

This session will run outdoors on the Horniman’s Nature trail and will go ahead unless in the event of extreme weather. Please ensure your child(ren) are dressed appropriately for the weather. In the event of extreme weather, the session will be replaced with our indoor taxidermy-based session Animal Classification.

The Nature Trail and pond are about a 15-minute walk from our Museum building, along an unpaved path. Please let us know when booking if you or your child(ren) have physical access needs, so we can make arrangements for step-free access to the trail.

Please note that younger siblings and babies are unable to attend this session, due to safety considerations on the Nature Trail and pond dipping platform.

Behind the Scenes at the Aquarium

10.30am – 11am, 11am – 11.30am, 11.30am – 12pm | 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.

Drop-in activities

Family Craft

10.30am  – 12.30pm, drop-in Pavilion

All ages welcome

Join our brilliant volunteer team for a hands‑on craft inspired by the Voyage to the Deep exhibition.

Drop in and make your very own paper squid, complete with twisting tentacles and ocean‑bright colours. This simple, creative activity is perfect for families who love cutting, sticking, and bringing imaginative creatures to life. Come along, get crafty, and let your creativity swim!

Minibeasts

11am – 3pm, drop-in, Wildlife Garden

All ages welcome

Stop by the Horniman’s Wildlife Garden to discover the wonderful world of minibeasts with members of our fantastic volunteer team. Use equipment to find, identify and draw minibeasts, and closely investigate their habitats.

Please note that this is an outdoor activity; in the event of extreme weather, it will be cancelled.

Nature Detectives

11am – 3pm, drop-in, Gardens

All ages welcome

Join our volunteer team for nature-based activities in the Gardens and have fun looking for different flowers, plants and creatures.  Pick up a Nature Detective activity sheet, borrow a magnifying glass and see how many different wonders of nature you can find.

Please note that this is an outdoor activity; in the event of extreme weather, it will be cancelled.

Explore and Connect – Meet our Community Engagement Team

11.30m – 2.30pm, drop-in, Music Gallery Performance Space

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.

Wildlife Camera Wander

11.45am – 12.45pm, drop-in, 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.

Please note that this is an outdoor activity; in the event of extreme weather, the session will be replaced with an indoor talk about the wildlife cameras.

Art Portfolio

2pm – 3pm, drop-in, Rear Education Centre

Recommended age 6+, but all ages welcome

Spend some afternoon time developing your observation and still-life sketching skills, drawing some of the amazing objects from our Handling Collection. Explore patterns and shapes in nature, and discover amazing textiles crafted around the world. Bring your own sketchbook – or borrow paper and pencils from us.