Voyage to the Deep – Underwater Adventures is one of the most immersive children’s exhibitions currently in London, running from 13 February to 1 November 2026 at the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill.
Inspired by Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas, families are invited to “board” the legendary Nautilus submarine and explore an imaginative underwater world filled with sea creatures, hands-on activities and beautifully designed spaces.
And honestly? For the price, it’s absolutely fantastic.
Location & Getting There
📍 Horniman Museum, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3PQ
🚆 Nearest station: Forest Hill (Overground and National Rail)
It’s an easy South London day out and works brilliantly alongside the aquarium and gardens if you want to make a full day of it.
Ticket prices
Adult: £9.80 Child: £7 Family of 3 (1 adult): £20.20 Family of 4 (up to 2 adults): £27 Universal Credit: £2 Under 3s: Free Access companion: Free
For a fully immersive exhibition with no strict time limit, I genuinely think the value is excellent!
What to Expect Inside
This is not a “look but don’t touch” exhibition. It’s immersive, interactive and designed for children to fully explore.
There are opportunities to:
- Climb and slide
- Take part in arts and crafts
- Dress up and role play Touch and explore interactive elements
- Use imagination-led play zones
- See real-life fish in the mini aquarium
- Step inside beautifully themed underwater environments
It’s brilliantly done and incredibly engaging. Children can move, explore and play rather than just walk through displays. It truly feels like stepping into an underwater adventure story.
It’s easily one of my favourite children’s exhibitions I’ve seen this year.
Is It Busy?
We visited at 10am on a Sunday, and by 10:30am it was already quite busy.
So while my photos may look calm and spacious, don’t assume it will be quiet when you visit — this exhibition is popular.
There’s currently no obvious mention of timed limits once inside (though always double-check before booking), which is fantastic for families who want to explore at their own pace. That said, because there’s no time pressure, it can start to feel crowded as numbers build up.
It may be worth the museum considering SEND-friendly sessions and maybe putting a time limit on all the fun.
Is Voyage to the Deep Worth It?
If you’re looking for:
- An immersive kids exhibition in London
- A February half term activity
- An affordable family day out in 2026
- A hands-on museum experience
- Something different from the usual soft play or trampoline park
Then yes — absolutely.
For the ticket price, the creativity, the scale and the level of interaction on offer, this is a standout exhibition for children in London this year.
