Horniman Museum Lates

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Free
Struggle to visit the Horniman in the day? Enjoy an evening after hours at the Museum with our monthly late opening.

On the first Thursday of each month the Horniman will be open to visitors until 9pm.

Explore the collections after hours, enjoy the galleries, see our current displays and grab a drink with friends.

Our Horniman Museum Late in May gives you the opportunity to see our 茶, चाय, Tea (Cha, Chai, Tea) exhibition, Adolescent Wonderland, and explore the World and Music Galleries.

You can also take advantage of discounted tickets to see undersea worlds in the Aquarium and join the roaring animatronics in Dinosaur rEvolution. Discounted tickets will be available at the Ticket Desk during the evening.

The cafe will be open throughout the evening for drinks and snacks.

Please note: The Natural History Gallery is closed until 2026 for refurbishment. There will be no Horniman Late in December 2024 or January 2025.

Cantonese guided tour

There will also be a Cantonese guided tour of the 茶, चाय, Tea (Chá, Chai, Tea) exhibition at 6.30pm, delivered by Calvin Tatara, a Hongkongese milk tea barista and historian.

Tea tasting and talk

The tea trade has a long history, a wide global reach and is still very present with us today – it is the most popular drink in the world after water. And millions of people are working to meet that need. Those women and men – and their families – depend on tea for their livelihoods.

Join Sabita Banerji of THIRST and Rui Liu of Grass People Tree for a talk in the 茶, चाय, Tea (Chá, Chai, Tea) exhibition  at 7.30pm.

They will share stories of some of those people in China, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Malawi and Tanzania. They will explore why the lives of the people producing this globally loved beverage can be such a struggle, and what we can do to help. Afterwards there will be a tea tasting session at which you will get a chance to explore – with your taste buds! – the different teas they produce.

Shola introduces: Life’s Secrets

Enjoy music from Lewisham based producer Shola, who blends enticing mid-tempo rhythms with vibrant dance tracks. She will be showcasing her work as a Horniman Musician in Resident, with DJ Blvck Navy setting the scene throughout the night.

The performances will take place at 7pm and 8.30pm.

Dino rEvolution and Aquarium

  • Entrance to Horniman Lates is free.
  • You can purchase a £5 combined entry ticket to the Horniman Aquarium and our temporary exhibition Dinosaur rEvolution
  • Child tickets for the Aquarium and Dinosaur rEvolution will be charged at the standard rate of £3 for the Aquarium and £6 for Dinosaur rEvolution
  • Child and Universal Credit tickets can only be booked in person at the ticket desk

Bloomberg Connects

Take a trail, find out more about objects in the collection, and watch exclusive behind the scenes content on our guide on Bloomberg Connects. Bloomberg Connects is the free arts and culture app powered by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Filming and photography may take place at these events. For more information or if you do not wish to be photographed/filmed, please speak to a member of staff.

A man and woman play with an interactive display at the Horniman Museum
Photo by Sara Shevlin
Adults gather at the balcony and look at a display beneath at the Horniman Museum
Photo by Sara Shevlin
Audience members clap and smile as they watch a performance at the Horniman Museum
Horniman Museum lates

Horniman Museum Lates prize draw

We are offering all Horniman Museum Lates visitors the chance to win a £50 voucher to spend in the Horniman Shop.

Full terms and conditions are below.

  • Entries can only be made by accessing the Horniman Museum Lates survey online via the QR code at the Museum, or via a paper form at the Museum.
  • One prize winner will be drawn at random after every three Horniman Museum Lates openings. Only entries from those three openings will be eligible for the draw.
  • The winner will be notified by email. They must each claim their prize within two weeks or it will be considered forfeit. Further prize winners will then be drawn at random and notified by email, with the same response terms. This process will continue until the prize has been claimed.
  • The decision is final and non-negotiable.
  • Entry is limited to one per person per draw.
  • The prize for each draw is one £50 voucher for the Horniman Shop. The voucher is valid for one redemption only.
  • No cash alternative. Not transferable and non-refundable.
  • The Horniman Museum and Gardens reserves the right to substitute the prize with a prize of similar value at its own discretion.
  • The Horniman Museum and Gardens reserves the right to withdraw or amend the competition as necessary due to circumstances outside its control.
  • By entering the competition, all entrants will be deemed to have accepted and agreed to be bound by these rules.
  • Employees of the Horniman Museum and Gardens and their families, agents or anyone else connected with the competition are not permitted to enter.
  • The competition is run by the Horniman Museum and Gardens Marketing Department.
  • The Horniman is situated at 100 London Road, London SE23 3PQ, 020 8699 1872.