The Horniman Museum

The Horniman Museum is located in Forest Hill South London and is the work of one family dedicated to displaying artefacts from around the world to the people of London.

Victorian tea trader Frederick John Horniman founded the collection/museum in the late 19th century; he at first opened room of his private home and allowed visitors to view the various items of natural history he had collected during his travels abroad. Inevitably as Horniman collected more and more the collection outgrew his home and in 1901 the collection moved to a commissioned museum surrounded by extensive gardens that Horniman dedicated as a gift to the people.

Nowadays the museum is run by a team of staff and volunteers and has in its collection over 250,000 natural history specimens, 7,000 musical instruments, and 60,000 ethnographic objects. The museum also houses a library and aquarium.

The permanent exhibitions are as follows:

African Worlds is an exhibition dedicated to exploring African art and culture, here you can view African masks, religious altars, Egyptian mummies and more.

A Natural History collection with a distinct Victoria feel features a giant stuffed walrus, a fossil collection, life size model of a dodo and numerous other extinct birds.

The Centenary Gallery features anthropological artefacts from every continent and focuses on the changes ways of collectors like Frederick John Horniman over the past 100 years highlights of the exhibition include a 'Spanish Inquisition' torture chair.

Over 1,600 instruments are displayed in the Music Gallery; items have been collected from all over the world and include brass and woodwind instruments, the Dolmetsch collection of early English keyboards and Egyptian clappers.

Hands On Base is a 'unique opportunity to touch and study closely objects from around the world'. Hands On objects include musical instruments, masks, puppets and other amazing and historical artefacts.

The Environment Room showcases photographs and takes a look at global environmental issues to show how every individual can make a difference. The centre piece of the exhibition is the largest observation bee hive in the country.

At the Horniman's Aquarium you can experience the underwater world of the British rockpools, Mangrove swamps, Fijian coral reefs as well as viewing a spectacular South American Rainforest display. Tank viewing dens and interactive displays contain jellyfish, seahorses and monkey frogs.

In addition to the permanent exhibitions the Horniman also present various short-term spectacles and family events. Find out more about these in our Exhibitions and Family sections.

If you don't fancy being inside then you can always visit the museums gardens that are open every day except Christmas Day from 7.30am until sunset. The gardens are spread over 16 acres of award winning formal and natural landscapes, with rose gardens, sunken gardens and wild flower displays.

The Horniman Museum is open every day except Chistmas Eve and Christmas Day between 10.30am and 5.30pm, visitors should note that the Library is only open Wednesday to Saturday and is open between 2pm till 5.30pm on Sundays.

Find out more about the Horniman Museum.

How to get there

The closest over ground train station is at Forest Hill. If travelling by bus jump on the 176, 185, 197, 356 or P4.

Images - Main Image - Cliff Van Coevorden, Small Image -  Michael Harding