Horniman Museum and Gardens
An enjoyable experience for all set in the striking Arts and Crafts building designed by Harrison Townsend. The Horniman has a unique range of exhibitions, events and activities illustrating the cultural and natural world. Its collections of anthropology, natural history and musical instruments provide the inspiration for a programme of exhibitions and events and activities. Adjoining the museum are 16 acres of landscaped gardens with a beautiful conservatory. The museum hosts a variety of concerts, festivals, shows, workshops and activities.
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| Booking and payment details | Free |
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Lonely Planet review of Horniman Museum and Gardens

This museum is an extraordinary place, comprising the original collection of wealthy pack rat tea merchant Frederick John Horniman, who had the Art Nouveau building with clock tower and mosaics specially designed to house it in 1901. Today it encompasses everything from a dusty stuffed walrus and voodoo altars from Haiti and Benin to a mock-up of a Fijian reef and a wonderful collection of concertinas. On the ground and 1st floors is the Natural History Gallery, the core of the Horniman collection with the usual animal skeletons and pickled specimens. In the basement you'll find African Worlds, the first permanent gallery of African and Afro-Caribbean art and culture in the UK. The Music Gallery next door has instruments from 3500-year-old Egyptian clappers and early English keyboards to Indonesian gamelan and Ghanaian drums, with touch screens so you can hear what they sound like and videos to see them being played in situ. The Centenary Gallery traces the history of the museum's first 100 years. The new aquarium is small but state of the art. The café, with seating in the stunning conservatory, is a delight as are the surrounding hillside gardens with views of London.To get here from Forest Hill station, turn left out of the station along Devonshire Rd and then right along London Rd. The museum is about 500m on the right.
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Wrapping Japan Exhibition
Recurring event
Discover the technical artistry of the costumes and textiles of Japan through indigo-dyed farmer's coats, silk kimonos, rope sandals and ladies platform shoes.Musical Instruments Gallery Exhibition
Recurring event
The Horniman's internationally renowned collection of musical instruments is now displayed in a dynamic new gallery.Sound Designs:The Story of Boosey and Hawkes Exhibition
Recurring event
An exhibition on instrument makers Boosey and Hawkes. Featuring a glass flute from 1816, a silver trumpet belonging to Queen Victoria's head trumpeter and early designs of instruments that were the foundation of the British Brass Band tradition.Every Third Mouthful Exhibition
Recurring event
An exhibition which looks at the assertion that 'Every third mouthful of food we eat is dependent upon the unmanaged pollination services of bees'. Peter Chatwin and Pamela Martin explore this subject, highlighting the importance of biodiversity upon our food supply, and the uncertain future as bee numbers diminish globally.
Location Information Horniman Museum and Gardens
| Address: | 100 London Road London SE23 3PQ |
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| Telephone: | +44 (0)20 8699 1872 |
| Fax: | +44 (0)20 8291 5506 |
| By road: | Rail: Forest HillBus: 63,122,176,185,312,P4,P13 |
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