Horniman Museum

The Horniman is an anthropoligical museum contained within an eccentric-looking art nouveau building with extensive gardens. The Natural History Gallery is dominated by an ancient walrus (overstuffed by Victorian taxidermists, who thought they ought to get the wrinkles out of the animal’s skin) and ringed by glass cabinets containing pickled animals, stuffed birds and insect models. There's also a permanent gallery dedicated to African, Afro-Caribbean and Brazilian art, and a collection of around 1,600 musical instruments, whose sounds can be unleashed via touch-screen tables. The museum’s popular showpiece aquarium is a series of tanks and rock pools covering seven distinct aquatic ecosystems. It provides extensive activities for families, including a nature trail, weekend workshops and a hands-on base where children can touch museum objects.

Read about our favourite exhibits at the Horniman or see more great museums for kids in the capital