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. From family workshops and creative trails, to at-home art activities, there is something for everyone.

Family workshops

No plans for the school holidays? Join contemporary artists and makers for our inspiring family workshops to explore art, sculpture, fashion, animation and illustration.

Try something exciting and out of the ordinary, whether building a huge collective structure or making a tiny individual creation in dynamic sessions inspired by the Museum’s story.

Our workshops are open to all families with children aged 5-12 years.

Brilliantly designed task… the workshop leader was the best I have experienced.
Family workshop participant

Foundling Libraries

Join the Museum for creative, fun and free art and music workshops in local London libraries. There is no need to book, just drop-in on the day. We’ll be back in 2024 with more workshops – watch this space or sign up to our families newsletter to keep up to date.

If you have any questions, get in touch with us by email at learning@foundlingmuseum.org.uk

Hetty Feather trail

If you are a Hetty Feather fan, then this is the place for you. Pick up our Hetty trail and have a wander around the Museum using her story as a guide. Ask at the front desk for details.

Art trolley

Come and explore our creative family activities inspired by the story of the Foundling Hospital. Once a month our art trolley will be operated by one of our brilliant Artist Assistants and packed with fun and engaging activities. Create your own work of art in response to our intriguing collection!

Digital family activities

Test out your creative skills at home with our range of digital 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!

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

Animal Riot – Make your own woodland creatures in this fun family activity

Boat Building – Imagine you are a sailor on the high seas, then learn how to make a boat to sail away in

Emoji Badges – Make some fun and colourful fluorescent emoji badges

Emoji Cookies – Bake and decorate some fun emoji cookies

Boat Building – Imagine you are a sailor on the high seas, then how to make a boat to sail away in

Explorer Binoculars – Make a set of binoculars then go on a safari to spot the animals in your local area

Everyday Achievement Medals – Make your own medal to celebrate something you are proud of

Fantastical Figureheads – Explore mythological creatures and create your own mythical sculpture inspired by a ship’s figurehead

Gratitude Paper Chains – Brighten up your home with colourful paper chains

Guerrilla Gardening with Seed Tokens – Spread some garden cheer with these seed tokens

Let’s Write a Letter – Share special memories with friends and loved ones in our latest activity

Letters with a Cause – Watch this video by Emma Crouch about the powerful impact of letter writing

Lockdown Diaries – Make your own diary to record your time in lockdown

Magnet Compass – Navigate your way home with your own handcrafted compass

Message on a Biscuit – Make a biscuit then decorate it with a message to give to someone special

Nature Rave – Get dancing and create friends to rave with, made from items found in nature

Paper Pulp Names – Create a 3D version of your name in this simple art activity

Pinecone Birdfeeder – Create a feast for the birds in your garden by making your own bird feeder

Sailor’s Telescope – Make a telescope so you never get lost

Skittles – Make your own set of skittles for playing at home

Sun Prints – Use the power of the sun and nature to make prints

The Wishing Jar – Explore children’s wishes for the future

The Adventure Jar – Explore your surroundings and store your memories in this activity for young adventurers

Time Capsule – Create your own time capsule to be discovered by your future self

Token Thaumatropes – Make a traditional 19th-century optical toy

Treacherous Treasure Map – Make a map and go on a treasure hunt!

Whirly Beasts – Have fun crafting your own insect-inspired windmill and watch it whirl

Wind Vane – Discover which way the wind blows with your very own wind vane

Christmas Crackers – Have a cracking good time this Christmas by sharing these crackers with your family or friends

Christmas Wreath – Learn how to make a festive wreath to hang on your front door this Christmas

Chocolate Easter Nests – Learn how to make chocolate Easter nests to share with your family this Easter holiday

Easter Egg Bunting – Brighten up your home with this beautiful bunting

Gingerbread Boats – Learn how to make ginger bread boats to eat this Christmas or hang on your tree

Paper Lanterns – Create a paper lantern to spread some joy this Christmas holiday

Spring Chickens – Make your own spring chicken friend for Easter

Spring Pompoms – Bring the cheer of spring to your friends, family and beyond by making pompoms full of love

Christmas Clutter Monsters – Create weird, wonky, wonderful clutter monsters with your family over the Christmas holidays

Comic Cookies – What do superheroes eat? Comic cookies of course!

Comic Cupcakes – Make super tasty cupcakes, and ice them with superhero designs

Comic Strip – Learn how to create your own comic strip

Comic Strip Jubilee Bunting – Create Jubilee bunting with a difference – covered in superheroes!

Comic Plant Pot – Super powers or super flowers!? Decorate a plant pot with comic designs for your plant to grow supersized in!

Marvellous Masks – Make a mask and turn into your favourite flying superhero

Noisy Badges – Make fun badges inspired by comic book sound effects

Superhero Cape – Make a cape to turn yourself into your favourite flying superhero

Superhero Shadow Puppets – Make your own shadow puppet superheroes

Superhero T-Shirts – Design your very own superhero t-shirt

Super Power Props – Transform yourself into a superhero using super power props!

Musical Storytelling: An Artist Called William – This fun musical story introduces young children to the artist William Hogarth, who was a supporter of the Foundling Hospital

Musical Storytelling: Thomas & The King’s Soldiers – This fun musical story introduces young children to Thomas Coram, who set up the Foundling Hospital

Musical Storytelling: Food at the Foundling Hospital – Discover the food the foundling children ate at the Foundling Hospital in this musical storytelling session with artist Paul Rubinstein.

Bedtime stories

Our friends read their favourite children’s stories, including contributions from Dame Prue Leith and Lauren Child. Bedtime Stories was part of our ‘Lauren Child Curates’ series of events, all curated by children’s author and illustrator, Lauren Child CBE.

Cockatoos – Read by Dame Prue Leith, illustrated and written by Quentin Blake, and published by Red Fox

Goodnight Moon – Read by graduate of the Foundling Museum Tracing Our Tales traineeship Sofia Oliviera, written by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd, and published by Two Hoots

John Patrick Norman McHennessy, the boy who was always late – Read by Former Pupil John Caldicot, illustrated and written by John Burningham, and published by Red Fox

Not Now Bernard – Read by Visitor Engagement Manager Tabitha Paterson, written and illustrated by David McKee, and published by Andersen Press

Oh No George  – Read by author and broadcaster Lemn Sissay OBE, written and illustrated by Chris Haughton, and published by Walker Books

Tales for the Perfect Child – Read by children’s author and illustrator Lauren Child CBE,  written by Florence Parry Heide, illustrated by Victoria Chess, and published by Magnet