Music, Jerk ‘n Tings at the Horniman Festival: Social Story

Welcome to Music, Jerk 'n Tings at the Horniman. Here’s what you can expect from your visit.

Our gardens events are very fun and there is lots to see and do. It can get busy and noisy throughout the day.

The garden paths are wheelchair friendly but there are lots of sloped inclines, some of which can be steep.

The gardens are big and different activities may be far away from each other.

Group of people dancing in front of the Horniman Bandstand

When you arrive

This is what the London Road entrance gate looks like.

A large black gate in the centre of a wide path, with gaps on either side to enter

You will walk up the Avenue, it is a hill.

A wide path surrounded by trees, and sloping upwards.

If you are coming in a car, you will arrive at the Horniman Drive entrance, and park just next to the Avenue. Please get in touch with us beforehand if you need Blue Badge Parking, as spaces are limited. 

If you are early for the event

If you arrive before the event starts, you can use the facilities inside the museum – it is open from 10am as usual. There are accessible toilets inside. The museum entrance is on the right of the Avenue. 

Entrance to the Horniman Museum, with glass entrance doors and a window to the right. To the left of the glass doors is a white wall with text on it which reads 'Horniman Museum and Gardens Art Fund Museum of the Year 2022'

Ticket gate

When you want to enter the event, you will need to go to the Ticket Gate on the left side of the Avenue. There will be events staff here to welcome you – they all wear hi-vis vests.  

This area will be busy in the first hour of the event. If you arrive after this it will be quieter. 

Illustration of person with hands over their ears

A yellow gazebo surrounded by bushes with a person in his-vis standing in front of it

We operate a fast-track queue for anyone with access needs. 

Find the sign for the Access Queue. Join this queue and wait for a staff member. The staff member can answer questions about the event and will ask for your ticket or name.  

Small board with sign on it reading 'Access Queue a member of staff will be with you as soon as possible' accompanied by a picture of a sunflower and a symbol of a person in a wheelchair

Information point

The Information Point is located below the Bandstand Terrace, next to the Sound Garden (please see our Gardens Map). This is where you go if you need First Aid or want to talk to a member of staff. Our events staff will be happy to chat to you and answer any questions. 

A white gazebo with a banner reading 'information and first aid point' and with a table and chair underneath it

Quiet areas

Our staff can direct you to quiet areas to sit in the gardens. We recommend the Meadow Field and the South Downs Garden. You can find them on our Gardens Map. The steep incline to the South Downs Gardens may be unsuitable for wheelchairs, but you can access a paved upper terrace by following the main path towards Horniman Drive and turning right.  

Garden toilets

The Garden Toilets are located inside the event, at the top of the Avenue. There is an accessible toilet here. There is another accessible toilet in the Pavilion. 

The hand dryers are noisy.  

Illustration of person with hands over their ears

A small building amongst the Gardens and slightly blocked from view by a tree branch.

Bandstand Terrace

The Bandstand Terrace is the busiest area of the event. This is where you will find food stalls, music, and dancing.  

There are lots of benches for sitting down. 

It will be noisy and crowded in this area. There may be strong food smells.  

Illustration of person with hands over their ears

People sat on chairs in front of the Bandstand Terrace

Pavilion

The Pavilion is an indoor space next to the Bandstand Terrace. There are toilets in here including an accessible and baby change facility.  

This will be used as a space for performers and elders to sit down.  

Sometimes it is busy. 

If you need to use the toilet, please let the steward on the door know that you need to use the accessible toilet and they will let you straight in. 

Illustration of person with hands over their ears

Inside a light room with a big glass window at the back. It is filled with tables and chairs and people sat at them

Meadow Field

The Meadow Field is the big grassy area behind the bandstand. There is step free access on either side of the bandstand terrace. Please note that the paths are very sloped and the meadow field itself is on an incline. In wet weather it may be difficult for wheelchair users to move around on the grass.

In this area we will have market stalls, music, dancing, crafts and games.

Meadow field at the Horniman with deckchairs dotted around

Animal Walk and Butterfly House

The Animal Walk and Butterfly House are both open to ticket holders at events. The Butterfly House has a reduced ticket price of £2.50 on event days.  

A blue building with text on it which reads 'Butterfly House' although it is partially covered by the trees that surround it. The building is also decorated with large and colourful butterfly illustrations

Inside the Butterfly House it is very hot.

Large plant beds on either side of a room with a glass ceiling. There is also a plant bed containing trees in the centre.

We sometimes have activities in this part of the gardens, such as bouncy castles, bubbles, and crafts. It may be busy and noisy. The quiet South Downs Garden is close by.  

Illustration of person with hands over their ears

A stretch of grass with a flower bed in front of it. On the grass are three bouncy castles.

When you are ready to leave

When it is time to leave, you can exit back through the ticket gate.  

We hope you enjoy Music, Jerk ‘n Tings at the Horniman.