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Horniman Museum and Gardens

Horniman Museum and Gardens An inspiring, surprising, family-friendly, free Museum and Gardens in South London’s Forest Hill.

The Horniman connects us all with global cultures and the natural environment, encouraging us to shape a positive future. Our mission is central to everything we do, whilst our values help shape our work and give the Horniman its unique character. Our mission is:

The Horniman connects us all with global cultures and the natural environment, encouraging us to shape a positive future for the world we all share.

We’ve been open since Victorian times, when Frederick John Horniman first opened his house and extraordinary collection of objects to visitors. Since then, our collection has grown tenfold and includes internationally important collections of anthropology and musical instruments, as well as an acclaimed aquarium and natural history collection. Unusually for such an important museum, you can see our collection up-close and face-to-face. You can even pick up, try on and play with some of our objects. Our visitors come time and again to explore our free Museum, take part in our activities and enjoy our 16-acre Gardens. And they discover something fascinating and mesmerising every time.

- The Museum is open daily, except for Wednesdays.
- The Gardens are open from 7.15am (8am Sundays and Bank Holidays) until Sunset.
- The Butterfly House is open from 10.30am - 4pm (last admission 3.30pm) daily, except Wednesdays. See the website for more details about how to plan your visit: https://www.horniman.ac.uk/plan-your-visit/

Operating as usual

We strongly advise visitors to book tickets for Brick Dinos, Aquarium and Butterfly House in advance to avoid queuing, d...
18/03/2023

We strongly advise visitors to book tickets for Brick Dinos, Aquarium and Butterfly House in advance to avoid queuing, due to reduced till points at the Ticket Desk.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/plan-your-visit/

Food waste is a massive problem in the UK. Turning that waste into compost isn't as daunting as it may seem. By composti...
13/03/2023

Food waste is a massive problem in the UK. Turning that waste into compost isn't as daunting as it may seem.

By composting our organic matter we are returning nutrients back into the soil, and allowing the cycle of life to continue ♻

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/a-beginners-guide-to-compost/

When you become a member of the Horniman you get unlimited access to our exhibitions, Butterfly House and Aquarium, plus...
10/03/2023

When you become a member of the Horniman you get unlimited access to our exhibitions, Butterfly House and Aquarium, plus discounts in our shop and access to exclusive events, just for members.

Membership starts at £40 a year 🎫

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/plan-your-visit/membership/

Back in the early 1890s, Frederick Horniman bought a polar bear to sit in the Natural History Gallery. It was a popular ...
09/03/2023

Back in the early 1890s, Frederick Horniman bought a polar bear to sit in the Natural History Gallery. It was a popular exhibit for over 60 years, before it was sold in the 1940s.

Since then, the fate of our once star polar bear has been a mystery. We managed to track the polar bear to Southend-on-Sea, but can't find where it ended up after that 🤷‍♀️

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/the-case-of-the-missing-polar-bear/

Annie Horniman, daughter of our founder Frederick Horniman, was thoroughly modern for her time. At 22 she enrolled into ...
08/03/2023

Annie Horniman, daughter of our founder Frederick Horniman, was thoroughly modern for her time. At 22 she enrolled into the Slade School of Art, the first fine art school to allow both sexes.

She cut her hair, joined an occult society, financed Irish theatre, and rode her bike around Europe, journeying twice over the Alps.

She was a pretty impressive woman.

https://cms.thehorniman.net/story/the-thoroughly-modern-annie-horniman/

We are looking for stall-holders for Second-hand Sundays, part of Horniman Market. This new sale will launch on 30 April...
07/03/2023

We are looking for stall-holders for Second-hand Sundays, part of Horniman Market.

This new sale will launch on 30 April and will focus on repurposing, recycling and reusing. If you’re having a spring clean it’s the perfect chance to see your pre-loved things go to a new home, and make a bit of extra cash!

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/horniman-market/

We are hiring! We are looking for an Aquarist (£25,344) to help look after our aquatic displays. We are also looking for...
06/03/2023

We are hiring!

We are looking for an Aquarist (£25,344) to help look after our aquatic displays.

We are also looking for a Digital Assistant (£25,698) to have day-to-day responsibility of our website, intranet and social media.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/about-the-horniman/jobs/

Frederick Horniman died  in 1906. He first opened up his collection to the public in 1890, as the Surrey House Museum, w...
05/03/2023

Frederick Horniman died in 1906.

He first opened up his collection to the public in 1890, as the Surrey House Museum, which at the time was in the Horniman family residence.

As the collection grew, a purpose-built museum building was created, opening in 1901. This became the Horniman Museum we know today.

Frederick Horniman is buried in Camberwell Old Cemetery.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/our-history/

The Horniman Nature Trail sits on the site of the original Crystal Palace and South London Junction Railway. 🚂After the ...
03/03/2023

The Horniman Nature Trail sits on the site of the original Crystal Palace and South London Junction Railway. 🚂

After the railway closed in 1954 it was reclaimed by wildlife before being carefully managed by the Horniman to encourage it to become the rich and important habitat for flora, fauna, mammals and invertebrates that it is today.



https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/nature-trail/

Botanist and scientific illustrator Anna Atkins used cyanotyping to approach botanical illustration in a new way. Her us...
02/03/2023

Botanist and scientific illustrator Anna Atkins used cyanotyping to approach botanical illustration in a new way.

Her use of this early photographic method saw her produce the first book to be published with photographic illustrations - Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions.

The Horniman holds one of 17 copies of the book along with institutions like Kew, the British Library and the Royal Society.



https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/celebrating-women-in-science-anna-atkins/

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus - Happy St David's Day!Traditionally on this day, leeks or daffodils are worn. The tradition of wea...
01/03/2023

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus - Happy St David's Day!

Traditionally on this day, leeks or daffodils are worn. The tradition of wearing a leek came from the patron saint telling Welsh warriors to wear the vegetable to distinguish between a friend and foe in battle. However the daffodil is a newer tradition.

The national flower of Wales, daffodils start to spring up in March - around the time of St David's Day. The daffodils are certainly making an appearance in the Gardens, just in time for St David's Day. 💐🌻

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/gardens/

Blue Badge Parking is closed all day on Wed 1 March while we improve paths in the Gardens. Tomorrow (Tuesday 28 February...
27/02/2023
Works Across the Estate - Horniman Museum and Gardens

Blue Badge Parking is closed all day on Wed 1 March while we improve paths in the Gardens.

Tomorrow (Tuesday 28 February), contractors will be laying new paths on the lower part of the Avenue and entrance ramp, and the path past the Bee Garden next to London Road. This means the main London Road gates will not be accessible - the small London Road gate to the left of them will be open.

On Wednesday 1 March contractors will be laying new paths on the upper part of the Avenue. Blue Badge Parking will be closed all day. Visitors to the Museum or Gardens can do so from London Road. Visitors coming from Horniman Drive will need to walk towards London Road to enter the Avenue to gain entrance to the Museum.

Visitors to the Cafe will need to enter by the entrance ramp.

The Gardens Toilets will remain open on both days.

You can see which paths are closed and how to enter the Museum and Gardens on the maps on our website: https://www.horniman.ac.uk/project/works-across-the-estate/

We are giving our site some TLC during 2023. This means that some areas will be inaccessible at various times.

"Curating this exhibition was an attempt to highlight the wonderful work undertaken by huge teams, from archaeologists, ...
23/02/2023

"Curating this exhibition was an attempt to highlight the wonderful work undertaken by huge teams, from archaeologists, to foremen, to manual staff. Whatever position they held, they made a significant contribution."

We spoke to Sherry Davis about Ode to the Ancestors, and the process of finding archival photos of African Kenyan archaeologists, when their names are absent from records.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/about-the-art-ode-to-the-ancestors/

Calling all neurodiverse families!We are holding an early morning viewing of our temporary exhibitions for those who are...
21/02/2023

Calling all neurodiverse families!

We are holding an early morning viewing of our temporary exhibitions for those who are unable to visit when we are busy.

If you or your family are neurodiverse or have autism spectrum conditions you can come along to this relaxed view of Brick Dinos and ELMER and Friends.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/bright-and-early/

Join our amazing volunteers on Saturday to celebrate LGBTQ History Month by making your own rainbow tree, inspired by th...
17/02/2023

Join our amazing volunteers on Saturday to celebrate LGBTQ History Month by making your own rainbow tree, inspired by the colours of the Pride flag 🌈

The Family Craft Saturdays sessions take place every Saturday afternoon 2pm-4pm in the Education Centre - just drop in and get crafty! ✂

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/saturday-craft-afternoons/

The Transgender flag was designed in 1999 by Monica Helms, a trans Naval officer and advocate for trans rights and visib...
16/02/2023

The Transgender flag was designed in 1999 by Monica Helms, a trans Naval officer and advocate for trans rights and visibility in the US military.

The blue represents boys, the pink represents girls, and the white strip through the middle represents those who are transitioning, gender neutral or intersex.

We've made our own Transgender flag using items from the collections 🏳️‍⚧️

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/a-horniman-transgender-flag/

15/02/2023
How can a stone protect against witches?

Do you have any lucky charms? Our charms case in the World Gallery features charms collected by two men, Alfred William Rowlett and Edward Lovett. The charms are all sorts of things - stones, moles feet, a sheep heart, as well as things carried by soldiers during the First World War.

Tom Crowley, who curated the case, tells us more about the men that collected these charms, and the beliefs that surround them.

Valentine's Day has been linked to Pagan feasts, and Christian martyrs, but it wasn't until the industrial revolution of...
14/02/2023

Valentine's Day has been linked to Pagan feasts, and Christian martyrs, but it wasn't until the industrial revolution of the Victoria era that cards could be mass produced, and the tradition of sending Valentine's Day notes to your loved ones really took off.

This Portuguese Valentine gift is a small heart shaped cushion decorated with sequins and bows, with a little love note attached. Who would you send it to? ❤

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/where-does-valentines-day-come-from/

This  is looking dino-tastic... 🦖 Make your own dinosaur tail out of old clothes with the creative team from Make Mee st...
13/02/2023

This is looking dino-tastic...

🦖 Make your own dinosaur tail out of old clothes with the creative team from Make Mee studio throughout the week

🦖 Join the volunteers on Saturday 11 February for a dinosaur inspired Family Craft Saturday

🦖 Meet dinosaurs and other prehistoric giants face to face, each one masterfully built using LEGO® bricks in Brick Dinos - on until October

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/whats-on/

Brick Dinos is now open! 🦖Meet dinosaurs and other prehistoric giants face to face, each one masterfully built using LEG...
10/02/2023

Brick Dinos is now open! 🦖

Meet dinosaurs and other prehistoric giants face to face, each one masterfully built using LEGO® bricks, in this family friendly exhibition.

See incredible models like the raptor-like Masiakasaurus, get hands on in the play areas, and learn about rarely seen specimens from the Horniman’s stores.

Get your tickets now 🏃‍♀️

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/brick-dinos/

"I hope visitors will sit with these stories, places, people, and get inspired by them. I did, greatly."We spoke to Dima...
09/02/2023

"I hope visitors will sit with these stories, places, people, and get inspired by them. I did, greatly."

We spoke to Dima Karout about Internal Landscapes, working with communities, and curating conversation.

See the free display until 5 March ✨

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/about-the-art-dima-karout/

Are you on the hunt for  fun? 🔍🦖 Brick Dinos🐟 Aquarium 🐘ELMER and Friends 🧵 Make your own dinosaur tail workshop🦋 Butter...
08/02/2023

Are you on the hunt for fun? 🔍

🦖 Brick Dinos
🐟 Aquarium
🐘ELMER and Friends
🧵 Make your own dinosaur tail workshop
🦋 Butterfly House
🔍 Montgomery Bonbon: museum mystery trail

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/whats-on/

We are looking for stallholders for our Spring Fair! We're especially looking for stalls with a focus on family and chil...
03/02/2023

We are looking for stallholders for our Spring Fair! We're especially looking for stalls with a focus on family and child-friendly goods or activities.

Find all the information on our website, and apply by 3 March 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/horniman-spring-fair/

 comes from the superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its own shadow, it will retreat back t...
02/02/2023

comes from the superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its own shadow, it will retreat back to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks. If it doesn't see it's shadow, it means that spring has arrived.

We don't have any groundhogs in the garden but the snowdrops are appearing and the crocuses are peeking out from the soil 🌷

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/gardens/

Us leaving January like...
31/01/2023

Us leaving January like...

Members and Benefactors can get exclusive tickets for a tour of the Horniman Gardens with Head of Horticulture, Errol Fe...
30/01/2023

Members and Benefactors can get exclusive tickets for a tour of the Horniman Gardens with Head of Horticulture, Errol Fernandes 🌸

Learn all about looking after the Gardens, and all the things we're doing to make our gardening practices more sustainable.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/members-garden-tours/

Every Sunday 10am-3pm you'll find the Horniman Market team on the Bandstand Terrace.There's seasonal produce, fresh brea...
28/01/2023

Every Sunday 10am-3pm you'll find the Horniman Market team on the Bandstand Terrace.

There's seasonal produce, fresh bread, luxury chocolate, drinks, cakes, and body and beauty products too 🛀

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/horniman-market/

Are you thinking about  already?We're running a series of Make Your Own Dinosaur Tail workshops throughout the week. Get...
27/01/2023

Are you thinking about already?

We're running a series of Make Your Own Dinosaur Tail workshops throughout the week. Get your roars at the ready, and use old fabric to make the perfect dino accessory 🦖

Book early to avoid disappointment ⏰🏃‍♂️

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/make-your-own-dinosaur-tail/

Alfred William Rowlett was a Victorian dustman, who sold the Horniman dozens of items that were believed to have curativ...
26/01/2023

Alfred William Rowlett was a Victorian dustman, who sold the Horniman dozens of items that were believed to have curative powers, including a wood pigeon's foot.

People believed that as wood pigeons never get foot cramps, carrying a wood pigeon's foot would stop them too from getting cramp. This is known as 'sympathetic magic'.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/the-charming-case-of-alfred-william-rowlett/

Address

100 London Road
London
SE233PQ

Buses: 176, 185, 197, 356, P4 (Stop outside the Museum and Gardens) and 122, 363, P13 (Stop nearby) Train: To Forest Hill (trains from London Bridge, Victoria, Clapham Junction, New Cross Gate, East Cryodon, Sutton and Purley)

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 10am - 5:30pm
Thursday 10am - 5:30pm
Friday 10am - 5:30pm
Saturday 10am - 5:30pm
Sunday 10am - 5:30pm

Telephone

+442086991872

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The Horniman Story

We’ve been open since Victorian times, when Frederick John Horniman first opened his house and extraordinary collection of objects to visitors. Since then, our collection has grown tenfold and includes internationally important collections of anthropology and musical instruments, as well as an acclaimed aquarium and natural history collection. Unusually for such an important museum, you can see our collection up-close and face-to-face. You can even pick up, try on and play with some of our objects. Our visitors come time and again to explore our free museum, take part in our activities and enjoy our 16-acre gardens. And they discover something fascinating and mesmerising every time.

Bring the world to Forest Hill

Frederick John Horniman, Victorian tea trader and philanthropist, began collecting objects, specimens and artefacts 'illustrating natural history and the arts and handicrafts of various peoples of the world' from around 1860. His overarching mission was to 'bring the world to Forest Hill' and educate and enrich the lives of the local community.

His travels took him to far flung destinations such as Egypt, Sri Lanka, Burma, China, Japan, Canada and the United States collecting objects which 'either appealed to his own fancy or that seemed to him likely to interest and inform those who had not had the opportunity to visit distant lands'. Mr Horniman’s interest as a collector was well known and many travellers approached him with specimens and curiosities.

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Comments

We strongly advise visitors to book tickets for Brick Dinos, Aquarium and Butterfly House in advance to avoid queuing, due to reduced till points at the Ticket Desk.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/plan-your-visit/
Join us and the Wild Fangs team over the Easter holidays and get up close and personal with crawly critters and fluffy friends. Meet the animals, and learn lots of fun facts, about the important role that they play in their natural habitats.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/habitat-heroes-with-wild-fangs/
Members! Get up close to some of the Horniman's creepy crawly collection in this exclusive interactive talk with Assistant Curator Chris Hughes.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/members-meet-the-creepy-crawlies/
By the time we get to march and flower shoots start appearing, we are definitely ready to celebrate spring, and all that it brings with it.

From May Day to Holi, we take a look at spring festivals and celebrations from around the world 🌸

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/spring-festivals-around-the-world/
Home educators! Join us on 20 April for a session exploring evolution.

Handle real fossils from the Horniman's collection and discuss what they are and what we can learn from them 📚✏

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/home-education-workshops/
Food waste is a massive problem in the UK. Turning that waste into compost isn't as daunting as it may seem.

By composting our organic matter we are returning nutrients back into the soil, and allowing the cycle of life to continue ♻

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/a-beginners-guide-to-compost/
When you become a member of the Horniman you get unlimited access to our exhibitions, Butterfly House and Aquarium, plus discounts in our shop and access to exclusive events, just for members.

Membership starts at £40 a year 🎫

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/plan-your-visit/membership/
Back in the early 1890s, Frederick Horniman bought a polar bear to sit in the Natural History Gallery. It was a popular exhibit for over 60 years, before it was sold in the 1940s.

Since then, the fate of our once star polar bear has been a mystery. We managed to track the polar bear to Southend-on-Sea, but can't find where it ended up after that 🤷‍♀️

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/the-case-of-the-missing-polar-bear/
Annie Horniman, daughter of our founder Frederick Horniman, was thoroughly modern for her time. At 22 she enrolled into the Slade School of Art, the first fine art school to allow both sexes.

She cut her hair, joined an occult society, financed Irish theatre, and rode her bike around Europe, journeying twice over the Alps.

She was a pretty impressive woman.

https://cms.thehorniman.net/story/the-thoroughly-modern-annie-horniman/
We are looking for stall-holders for Second-hand Sundays, part of Horniman Market.

This new sale will launch on 30 April and will focus on repurposing, recycling and reusing. If you’re having a spring clean it’s the perfect chance to see your pre-loved things go to a new home, and make a bit of extra cash!

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/horniman-market/
We are hiring!

We are looking for an Aquarist (£25,344) to help look after our aquatic displays.

We are also looking for a Digital Assistant (£25,698) to have day-to-day responsibility of our website, intranet and social media.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/about-the-horniman/jobs/
Frederick Horniman died in 1906.

He first opened up his collection to the public in 1890, as the Surrey House Museum, which at the time was in the Horniman family residence.

As the collection grew, a purpose-built museum building was created, opening in 1901. This became the Horniman Museum we know today.

Frederick Horniman is buried in Camberwell Old Cemetery.

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/our-history/
The Horniman Nature Trail sits on the site of the original Crystal Palace and South London Junction Railway. 🚂

After the railway closed in 1954 it was reclaimed by wildlife before being carefully managed by the Horniman to encourage it to become the rich and important habitat for flora, fauna, mammals and invertebrates that it is today.



https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/nature-trail/
Botanist and scientific illustrator Anna Atkins used cyanotyping to approach botanical illustration in a new way.

Her use of this early photographic method saw her produce the first book to be published with photographic illustrations - Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions.

The Horniman holds one of 17 copies of the book along with institutions like Kew, the British Library and the Royal Society.



https://www.horniman.ac.uk/story/celebrating-women-in-science-anna-atkins/
Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus - Happy St David's Day!

Traditionally on this day, leeks or daffodils are worn. The tradition of wearing a leek came from the patron saint telling Welsh warriors to wear the vegetable to distinguish between a friend and foe in battle. However the daffodil is a newer tradition.

The national flower of Wales, daffodils start to spring up in March - around the time of St David's Day. The daffodils are certainly making an appearance in the Gardens, just in time for St David's Day. 💐🌻

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/event/gardens/
Do you want to gain new skills and support the Horniman in our work? Visitor facing or behind-the-scenes, there are all sorts of ways to get involved.

Apply for one of our open roles 👇

https://www.horniman.ac.uk/about-the-horniman/volunteering/
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