The Livesey Museum for Children was built by George Livesey in 1890 as a public library for the people of Camberwell. Despite being badly damaged during the Blitz, the building remained as a lending library until 1966.

In 1974 Sir John Betjeman converted the building into an children's museum which today houses interactive hands-on exhibitions and educational workshops aimed specifically at children under 12 years of age.