There's never been a more important time to support the Horniman. We rely on your generous support to ensure we can shape a positive future for generations to come. The Museum and Gardens are open. You must have a ticket to visit the Museum. There is a charge to visit the Aquarium, Butterfly House, and some of our events and exhibitions.
Forest Hill is on the London Overground, is 15 minutes from London Bridge by train, and is served by lots of buses. Our Caf and kiosks are open, serving a fresh and delicious range of takeaway snacks, treats, and hot & cold drinks. The Cafe is closed on Wednesdays. The specially-planted habitat is the perfect place to experience butterflies free-flying all.
Forest Hill is on the London Overground, is 15 minutes from London Bridge by train, and is served by lots of buses. Our Caf and kiosks are open, serving a fresh and delicious range of takeaway snacks, treats, and hot & cold drinks. The Cafe is closed on Wednesdays. The specially-planted habitat is the perfect place to experience butterflies free-flying all.
Services
The Horniman is a five to ten minute walk from Forest Hill station and is signposted from the platform 1 exit. Please be aware this walk is uphill, although there are several bus services which stop at both the station and Museum. Forest Hill is on the London Overground line between Highbury and Islington and West Croydon / Crystal Palace line which offers a high frequency service from North, East and South London.
The collection comprises approximately 80,000 objects from around the world, and includes artefacts of major national and international significance. Through the anthropology collection you can find a path into understanding the everyday lives and beliefs of people from all over the world, including ourselves.
Music making around the world is represented by the Horniman's collection of musical instruments, one of the most comprehensive in the UK. The Horniman has over 9,500 objects made to produce sound. The oldest is a pair of bone clappers in the form of human hands made in Egypt around 3,500 years ago.
Our collections are complemented by a separate Handling Collection containing over 3,700 objects. It is an excellent resource providing unique opportunities to touch and study closely a wide selection of objects and specimens, similar to those in the galleries. The Handling Collection contains musical instruments, masks, puppets, clothing, and many other items from all over the world.
Our Natural History collection contains over 250,000 specimens of local, national and worldwide origin. They were assembled from the mid-19th to the early 21st centuries for public display, education, reference and research.
The collection contains biological and geological material of national and international significance and includes taxidermy, skeletal material, pinned insects, fossils, minerals, rocks, models, dried pressed plants, fungi, shells, and birds' eggs.
The collection contains biological and geological material of national and international significance and includes taxidermy, skeletal material, pinned insects, fossils, minerals, rocks, models, dried pressed plants, fungi, shells, and birds' eggs.
Reviews (26)
Spacey Hong
Jan 07, 2022
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We had an absolutely amazing time today at the museum. My kids, 5 and 2 years old, were really intrigued by the specimen of the animals and the aquarium.
The butterfly house receptionist was a bit aloof but the man working there was really friendly. He showed us a very long hanging caterpillar and made a butterfly origami for my daughter. She is holding on to it as her treasure. Thank you.
The cafe is very efficient and clean and the food is one of the best in the parks and museums we’ve been to. The Guineas cake was superb. They are still serving delicious mull wine and mull cider as well
The butterfly house receptionist was a bit aloof but the man working there was really friendly. He showed us a very long hanging caterpillar and made a butterfly origami for my daughter. She is holding on to it as her treasure. Thank you.
The cafe is very efficient and clean and the food is one of the best in the parks and museums we’ve been to. The Guineas cake was superb. They are still serving delicious mull wine and mull cider as well
Joanna B.
Jan 06, 2022
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The Horniman is slightly eccentric compared to some of the larger London museums but they have a great display on anthropology around the world with loads of different sections which I really enjoyed. The gardens are pretty and big considering their location, and it's very conveniently located if you're based in South East London as you can drive and park nearby.
There's also an aquarium which is cool (though you have to pay for this) and lots of stuffed animals which would be good for people interested in taxidermy, although this is avoidable if (like me!) you're not so keen on it!
There's also an aquarium which is cool (though you have to pay for this) and lots of stuffed animals which would be good for people interested in taxidermy, although this is avoidable if (like me!) you're not so keen on it!
Salvatore Figueroa
Dec 30, 2021
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Liz Taylor
Dec 28, 2021
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Malone Casper
Dec 15, 2021
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Dec 09, 2021
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David Hever
Nov 04, 2021
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Kerry Lodge
Oct 26, 2021
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Alice Prince
Oct 16, 2021
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Alan Tigg
Oct 03, 2021
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Heather Tyure
Oct 03, 2021
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We attended recently and it was a lovely day out. The staff were so helpful both in email and person.
the museum is the perfect size for small children. there's a buggy park in the museum but also plenty of space to manover one around the museum and step free access via slopes and lifts.
the gardens are lovely, even in the rain and there is a nice… sensory music area as well as a water bottle refill port.
glass houses are beautiful, plenty of places to get food and drink. Great views of London.
wheelchair accessible, although you'll need someone strong to push you up the hill, its very steep
the museum is the perfect size for small children. there's a buggy park in the museum but also plenty of space to manover one around the museum and step free access via slopes and lifts.
the gardens are lovely, even in the rain and there is a nice… sensory music area as well as a water bottle refill port.
glass houses are beautiful, plenty of places to get food and drink. Great views of London.
wheelchair accessible, although you'll need someone strong to push you up the hill, its very steep
Doug Tibbetts
Sep 28, 2021
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Sadia Sukai
Sep 07, 2021
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Enjoyable day out. Manicured gardens, clean tidy and a bonus of lovely weather. Toilets in the gardens as well as museum. Wheelchair and pushchair access all around gardens and musuems have lifts. Museum it self was clean and not too packed so you can walk through freely and apply social distancing.
Nelson Silva
Sep 07, 2021
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I’m so very lucky to live so close to such a gorgeous museum and gardens. The museum itself is like a small natural history museum with lovely Victorian exhibits and also the famous Walrus! Lots of new and interesting exhibits also with a wonderful music room. The animal walk and butterfly houses within the grounds are also a
Must see!
Must see!
Haima Dos Santos
Aug 19, 2021
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Wow! I was blown away why is this museum is not as popular as the others I don’t know! But it’s definitely one of my favourite. Perfect size to be able to see everything at a leisurely phase, lots of informative bits and bobs. The children and myself thoroughly enjoyed it. The Gardens is also fab, you can have a picnic, have a nice walk around, there’s a mini golf and also a little farm. A very well day spent here and will definitely be recommending this place to my friends :) staff are also lovely and helpful couldn’t fault it
Matt
Aug 16, 2021
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Such an awesome day out. Genuinely worthwhile coming here. Although it is of course smaller than some of the others in central London, the displays are outstanding. In addition, the gardens are beautiful and they have an aquarium and butterfly house. The cafes do excellent coffee and have a very wide range of cakes and sandwiches too.
Kate W.
Mar 19, 2019
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This fascinating little museum is a great day out trip from central London. They have just about any taxidermied animal that you could want on display, plus an interesting exhibit about cultures across the globe - all for free! There's also an aquarium, a butterfly house, and an extra exhibit (currently Lego sculptures) that you can pay to visit.
The museum grounds are a great place to walk around. There are some really stunning views of the city center, plus a small farm, and lots of walking trails.
This place was absolutely teeming with children, so it would be a great place to bring
The museum grounds are a great place to walk around. There are some really stunning views of the city center, plus a small farm, and lots of walking trails.
This place was absolutely teeming with children, so it would be a great place to bring
George P.
Aug 22, 2017
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Perfect place to visit for adults and children alike. Lovely gardens with a petty farm (very friendly sheep and a giant rabbit), interesting plats, great view of the city and outdoor instruments. When I went there was a pumpkin patch with all sorts of pumpkins and squashes - some of the were huge. The kids absolutely loved this. Inside there is taxidermy, an interactive nature room and a high instrument room. All these bits are free of charge.
There's also ticket exhibits, aquarium and a butterfly house.
There's also ticket exhibits, aquarium and a butterfly house.
Sunny K.
Oct 20, 2016
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This spot has been on my to-go list forever! I was really glad to have a chance to visit for their Magic Late last week. The atmosphere was sexy and spooky all at once, with bizarre timed events to see. I loved the footless pigeon who was performing opera and the earth/dance performance. My favourite was the creepy Breathe short film and of course, topped with the awesome veggie Ghanaian food (mmm, plantain), it was a perfect date night!
Richard B.
Jan 13, 2016
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The Horniman Museum is pretty out of the way. First things first, look past the suggestive name (yes, I still laugh at Cockfosters). Then, check out the lazy alpacas outside the museum. Finally, in the museum itself, let loose and revel in all the stuffed animals. That's taxidermy, not plush toys, and there's pretty much one of every species located here. It's like the Noah's Ark of taxidermy, and you could stare at the collection for at least an hour or so. Remember to say hi to the gigantic walrus (you can't miss it), the standout star of the museum. Great quirky place
E. J.
Sep 23, 2015
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This often skipped museum is worth the trip out of London to visit. The beautiful gardens and view of the city are worth the trip alone.
Inside there is a fascinating range of Anthropological finds from around the world, and the famous walrus in the Natural History section is a sight to behold. Unlike the sea mammals in the Kensington NHM, this guy is the real deal and sits centre stage amongst the other taxidermy animals on display.
Inside there is a fascinating range of Anthropological finds from around the world, and the famous walrus in the Natural History section is a sight to behold. Unlike the sea mammals in the Kensington NHM, this guy is the real deal and sits centre stage amongst the other taxidermy animals on display.
Kristopher K.
Mar 22, 2015
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Usually I find museums a little bit dull, but the Horniman really surprised me. The gardens possess a beautiful vantage point to see the London skyline, and inside you'll find an array of curio content and taxidermy. And a massive fat walrus, which is a big plus.
Currently there's a photo exhibit on Romanian immigrants, which is really interesting and gives an intimate "Humans of New York" style insight into lives of another culture.
8/10 would definitely wander around again.
Currently there's a photo exhibit on Romanian immigrants, which is really interesting and gives an intimate "Humans of New York" style insight into lives of another culture.
8/10 would definitely wander around again.
Amy S.
Apr 22, 2013
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Cute little museum. Its quite small but has a load of really interesting, unique items. The overstuffed walrus was one of my faves and I really liked all the areas about the indigenous people of different countries. They have a huge section about different instruments as well.
I stopped in the cafe and had a wander around the gardens. Its a great day out!
I stopped in the cafe and had a wander around the gardens. Its a great day out!
Emma M.
Mar 19, 2013
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Brilliant place, but full of children. Really - it's teaming with them! I personally love the grounds for a walk and the aquarium. I am planning to take two friends and their progeny here next month, on a Saturday, I must be mad!
Seriously, it's a very educational, fun and interactive place - really good for kids and absolutely packed with stuff to look at, read, touch and enjoy. For the weary, there is a good cafe that does surprisingly good coffee, but no skimmed milk though :-(
Seriously, it's a very educational, fun and interactive place - really good for kids and absolutely packed with stuff to look at, read, touch and enjoy. For the weary, there is a good cafe that does surprisingly good coffee, but no skimmed milk though :-(
Michelle B.
Feb 01, 2013
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I just have to keep going back.
I love the Horniman because it's always changing, developing, growing and always has something new I want to see.
The gardens are lovely. For such a relatively small space, they do so much with it.
On my last visit they had completed a new section to the gardens. With plants and flowers growing there that are used to create musical instruments and medicines. It was fascinating and of course, educational.
They're also expanding their life-stock. There were a couple of chickens and sheep.
I'm so excited to go back and see any new additions.
I love the Horniman because it's always changing, developing, growing and always has something new I want to see.
The gardens are lovely. For such a relatively small space, they do so much with it.
On my last visit they had completed a new section to the gardens. With plants and flowers growing there that are used to create musical instruments and medicines. It was fascinating and of course, educational.
They're also expanding their life-stock. There were a couple of chickens and sheep.
I'm so excited to go back and see any new additions.
Katey H.
Sep 25, 2009
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I was shocked at how quiet it was here...because its so flippin fantastic. No one seems to have heard of it! As soon as i saw the totem pole outside the main building, i knew this place was going to be special.
Their collections are insanely big and fascinating. Especially the musical instruments and stuffed animals! I would also go back just to watch the jelly fish in the aquarium. And maybe the seahorses!
The gardens were an unexpected delight.
If i lived closer, i would go here once a week!
Their collections are insanely big and fascinating. Especially the musical instruments and stuffed animals! I would also go back just to watch the jelly fish in the aquarium. And maybe the seahorses!
The gardens were an unexpected delight.
If i lived closer, i would go here once a week!
