SUMMER FAMILY EVENTS AT THE HORNIMAN MUSEUM
Summer Family Events July & August
A World of Summer Stories
Every Monday from 27 July to 31 August
11-11.45am, 12.15-1pm
Lose yourself in a wonderful tale or two with some of the best storytellers in London. Their stories, inspired by the Horniman’s varied collections, festivals and exhibitions, will whisk you away to faraway places and different times. Suitable for families with children aged 5+.
Free
Discovery for All
Every Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, from 22 July to 28 August, 2pm – 3.30pm
Come and visit our Hands On Base and explore its thousands of real objects from around the world from shark’s teeth to a West African thumb piano.
Free. Everyone welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Summer Family Art Fun
Every Monday, Tuesday, Friday, 21 July to 31 August, 11am – 2.45pm
Join free and fabulous Horniman craft activities inspired by Africa and our temporary family exhibition Plantastic. See website for full listings. Suitable for ages 3+.
Free
Tue 21, Fri 24 July African Wildlife Headdresses
Mon 27, Tues 28, Fri 31 July Ndebele Houses
Mon 3, Tue 4, Fri 7 Aug Egyptian Scarab Collars
Mon 10, Tues 11, Fri 14 Aug African Lion Puppets
Mon 17, Tues 18, Fri 21 Aug Carnival Crowns
Mon 24, Tues 25, Fri 28, Mon 31 Aug Twirling Carnival Puppets
Big Wednesday: Big Butterfly Count
Wednesday 22 July, 11am to 3.30pm
Join us for a day celebrating beautiful butterflies! Take part in the Big Butterfly Count with entomologist (bug expert!) Richard Jones, make butterfly art and craft and see some of Mr Horniman’s butterfly collection. See the website for the full programme.
Free
Nature Explorers – Pond Dipping
Every Thursday, 23 July to 27 August
11am, 12pm, 2pm & 3pm
Try your hand at pond dipping in our Nature Trail Pond and discover a spring environment bursting with life on the Nature Trail. All equipment is provided. This activity is not suitable for prams or pushchairs. Please dress for the weather. An alternative indoor event will be run in the event of very bad weather.
Suitable for families with children aged 5+.
Tickets: Child £2. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Nature Notebooks
Every Thursday, 23 July to 27 August
11am – 2pm
Make your very own Nature Notebook and use it to explore our Gardens and record the things you find with our staff.
Suitable for families with children aged 3+.
Free
Take a Tour with Mr Horniman
Friday 24 July, Friday 7 August 11.30am, 1.15pm and 3pm
Mr Horniman has stepped out of his time machine in his top hat and tails to give you a special tour of the Museum. He has some fantastic stories to tell and loves an audience!
Free
Nature Explorers – Minibeast Safari
Every Monday, 27 July to 24 August
11am-12pm, 12pm – 1pm, 2pm – 3pm & 3pm – 4pm
A fun family session exploring the summer environment in the Nature Trail’s meadow and log pile habitats. Search for creepy crawlies, bugs and other insects! Not accessible for prams or pushchairs. Suitable for ages 3+. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets: Child £2. Buy on the day 30 minutes before the session.
Nature Trail Discovery
Every Wednesday, 29 July to 26 August, 2-3.30pm
Discover the oldest Nature Trail in London which is carefully managed to encourage wildlife and includes pond, meadow and log pile habitats. The half mile Horniman Nature Trail occupies a stretch of the original Crystal Palace and South London Junction Railway. This activity is not suitable for prams or pushchairs. Children must be aged 3+ and accompanied by an adult.
Free but ticketed on the day.
Up the Garden Path with Miss Horniman
Friday 31 Jul and Friday 28 August &, 11.30am, 1.15pm, 3pm
Miss Horniman leads you on a story telling tour of the Gardens to discover its stories and secrets.
Free
Big Wednesday: Play Day
Wednesday 5 August, 11am – 3.30pm
Join us for a day of our most popular Horniman summer activities for Play Day 2015! Watch Punch and Judy, see Jambs Owls, play giant board games, take part in art and craft and explore our wildlife garden. See the website for full details.
Free. Everyone welcome.
Cordelia’s Windrush Stories
Friday 14 August, 11.30am, 1.15pm and 3pm
Let Cordelia, a passenger on the Empire Windrush which sailed from Jamaica in 1948, take you on a tour of the Horniman and hear of her search for her brother and a new life in South London.
Free. Everyone welcome.
The Wonderful Adventures of Mary Seacole
Friday 21 August, 11.30am, 1.15pm, 3pm
Let 1800s war nurse Mary Seacole take you on a tour of the Horniman to tell her amazing story and show you the Museum and Gardens.
Free
Family Bat Walk
Friday 21 August, 7-9pm
Join our resident bat expert Rhianna Dix for a family friendly bat walk using real bat detectors to find bats in the Horniman Gardens. See a bat skeleton up close and learn how to identify different types of bat. Bat costumes encouraged!
This event is for families with children age 7+.
Tickets: Adult £5, Child £3 (Source: Horniman museum press release)