Families - Foundling Museum

Art activities for families to enjoy together are available every day at the Foundling Museum, making this a fun place to visit, at any time of year. The Museum is designed with young visitors in mind. They can explore the Collection with a creative activity trail, dress up as characters from the Foundling Hospital's history, or drop in to one of our artist-led workshops. The Museum is FREE for children and all visitors aged 21 and under.

Online art activities

Test out your creative skills at home with our range of art activities, designed especially for families to do together. From printmaking to games, there is lots to discover. Videos guide you through the steps, whilst each activity only needs a few materials. Get creative, let your imagination run wild and most importantly, have fun! You can find the full range of activities here.

Find all our art activities and bedtime stories here. When you’ve built a boat or cooked a cookie, take a photograph of what you’ve made and share it with us on Instagram or Twitter by tagging @foundlingmuseum

Family workshops

If you’re looking for things to do in London with children, we run regular family artist-led workshops during school holidays and half-term breaks. These fun sessions enable children to learn about the Museum and its exhibitions, whilst making something special to take home. FREE for children and up to two accompanying adults, unless otherwise stated. Discover our forthcoming events. Make sure you hear about our future family events, including the Museum’s Hetty Feather Day, by signing up for our family e-newsletters.

Trails & activities

Hetty Feather trail

This trail takes fans of Jacqueline Wilson’s Hetty Feather around the Museum, exploring the Collection and Hetty’s life at the Founding Hospital through a range of art-based activities. Available from the Museum Shop for £1.50 along with exclusive Hetty Feather merchandise.

Art Trolley

Our Art Trolley is packed with creative activities for adults and children to do together as they explore the Museum. FREE throughout the Museum during half-term.

Dressing-up rail

Dress up as a foundling boy or girl using the historical costumes on our dressing-up rail. FREE in the Picture Gallery.

Interactive stations

Build a model of the Foundling Hospital, personalise a bed for a foundling or design a new Foundling Hospital building. FREE in the Introductory Gallery.

Exhibition trails

Check with staff at the entrance to find out if there is a family trail available for our current exhibition.

Watch our activities to do at home

Food & drink

Please note, the Foundling Museum does not have a café on the premises. However, we do have a deal with Leon in the Brunswick Centre where a discount can be used on food and drink purchases – ask the team at reception for full details. During fine weather families can also visit Coram’s Fields – a 5-minute walk away – where there is a café and space to have a picnic.