The Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill has been named as one of the top free attractions in the UK.

This is not the first time Muddy Stilettos has recognised this museum as it was also crowned best family attraction in the blog’s 2024 awards.

The blogger described the Horniman Museum as a “charming mish-mash of natural history and anthropology” and a place that “never fails to entertain”.

They find that children prefer this museum because it’s smaller and more interactive, having a feel that it was designed by children as opposed to adults imposing on children what they think they should learn.

The Horniman Museum and Gardens has been open since the Victorian era when Frederick John Horniman first opened his house and “extraordinary collection of objects” to visitors.

Since then, the museum has grown and now as collections of anthropology and musical instruments, an aquarium, a butterfly house and a natural history collection.

A spokesperson for the museum said: “The Horniman connects us all with global cultures and the natural environment, encouraging us to shape a positive future for the world we all share.

“Today, the Horniman is London’s only museum where environment, ecology and human cultures can be seen side by side at a global scale.

“In 2022, the Horniman was recognised as Art Fund Museum of the Year.

“Unusually for such an important Museum, you can see our collection up-close and face-to-face.

“You can even pick up, try on and play with some of our objects.”

A spokesperson for Muddy Stilettos said: “Winner of best Family Attraction at year’s London Muddy Stilettos Awards 2024, Horniman Museum in south east London never fails to entertain.

“A charming mish-mash of natural history and anthropology, plus gardens, butterfly house, aquarium and, err, musical instruments, Muddy’s kids have always preferred it to the revered Natural History Museum in South Ken.

“Why? Because it’s smaller, more fun, more interactive and the exhibits feel like they were designed by kids, rather than what adults think kids should learn.

“You can lose an hour watching live bees and mice in the Nature Base or following the sundial trail in the gardens, but this summer it’s all about Dinosaur revolution, where five enormous animatronic dinos (including a seven-metre-long T-Rex) dominate proceedings, plus fossils, skeletons, games and activities.”