Entry to the aquarium for less than a cup of coffee or an ice cream seems good value. The annual ticket seems an excellent way for local people (especially families) to show their support for the museum which is such an asset to the local area.

If the money is going to support the new education centre, new animal enclosure, and revamped gardens, then I will be very pleased to know that the Horniman are using my money to make my family's experience at the museum even better in the future.

There is also a small note on the website stating that there will be:
Free entry on the first Tuesday of every month from 4–5.30pm
That is a bit of a limited amount of time but for those that can't/won't pay but want to go, you just need to rearrange your life to fit with this 30 minute window every month!