Horniman Museum and Gardens

The Art of Harmony

• 26 March 2011 — 1 September 2014 *on now

This free exhibition focuses on particular instrument traditions of Western classical music and features some of the finest, rarest and most ornate examples of their types.

They are divided into six groups: according to function under the titles Consort, Continuo and Salon, and according to constructional or acoustical features under the titles Resonances, Virtuoso and Encore.

The oldest instrument on display, the Jerome of Bologna harpsichord from 1521, is seen together with its red and gold tooled leather outer case. Many of the stringed instruments, including lutes and viols, have intricate inlay work in ivory, ebony and mother of pearl. Others, like the exquisitely carved octagonal recorder by Anciuti, are made entirely of ivory.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/current-exhibitions/the-art-of-harmony#image-0

Extremes

• 15 February — 2 November 2014 *on now

Come on an expedition to see how animals and plants survive in extreme heat, cold, dryness and constant darkness or with little oxygen in our new family friendly exhibition.

See some of the animals that live in these environments, watch films that make you shiver, feel the air-conditioning inside an ostrich’s beak, try to keep up with the drinking speed of a camel or see how much fat you have compared with a seal.

Extremes mixes hands-on experiences including games and experiments, with films and taxidermy animal specimens. This exhibition is in three languages – English, Spanish and French.

Suitable for

• Any age
• Family friendly

Languages

• Spanish
• French

Admission

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/upcoming-exhibitions/extremes#image-4

Whisper of the Stars: Traditional Life in Arctic Siberia

• 8 March — 7 September 2014 *on now

Taken by British photographer Bryan Alexander, this exhibition of 40 photographs reveals aspects of the lives of the Chukchi, Dolgan, Even, Khanty, Komi, Nenets, and Nganasan people, showing how they live today in their native communities, their traditional camps, transportation and dress as well as activities such as herding, hunting and fishing.

This series of striking images includes a herd of 1,000 reindeer being driven across the tundra in Khanty Mansiysk; the Northern Lights over a Nenets reindeer herders camp and Khanty women in traditional dress in Pitlyar.

The vast size of Siberia, combined with the isolation of many of its northern communities, has ensured that these unique Arctic cultures have survived to this day. Only a minority of Arctic peoples still maintain the old ways, but traditional activities remain important both culturally and economically.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions/whisper-of-the-stars-traditional-life-in-arctic-siberia#image-0

Extremes Garden

• 26 May — 1 September 2014 *on now

This specially-created Extremes Garden showcases the amazing adaptations plants have made to survive in extreme environments.

The Extremes Garden includes more than 50 plants to recreate a desert setting in the leafy surroundings of SE23, linking with the our current popular Extremes exhibition.

Its centrepiece is a 10-foot Giant Cycad – a slow-growing South African species resembling a palm tree and estimated to be about 150 years old – which has been kindly loaned to us by the Rotal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/current-exhibitions/extremes-garden#image-2

Visit our new permanent display of keyboard instruments. This display explores domestic keyboards from the past five centuries that were brought into homes from parlours to palaces and brings together highlights of the keyboard instrument collections from the Horniman and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The display includes organs, harpsichords, pianos and clavichords and features rare and beautiful instruments.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/displays/music-gallery#image-3

The Great Animal Orchestra

• 27 July — 31 August 2014 *on now

Explore nature's music and hear the fascinating sounds of animals, birds and insects from around the world in this free sound installation. Designed by Bernie Krause, a leading expert in natural sound, the installation has been created from his rare recordings of natural habitats in Borneo, Costa Rica, Sumatra and Zimbabwe, and reveals nature's music and its 'orchestra' through Krause’s distinctive spectrograms, offering a visual representation of what can be heard.

Suitable for

• Any age

Website

http://horniman.ac.uk/visit/upcoming-exhibitions/great-animal-orchestra-natural-soundscapes-by-bernie-krause#image-0

Exploring how Romanian folk art has been used to express social and political ideas within the village and on the national and international stage.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/exhibitions

Revisiting Romania

• 4 October 2014 — 6 September 2015

An exhibition exploring how Romanian folk art has been used to express social and political ideas within the village and on the national and international stage.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/upcoming-exhibitions/revisiting-romania-dress-and-identity#image-0

A locally sourced, locally sold farmers' market selling vegetables, meat, fish, bread, flowers, hot food and much more in our glorious Gardens.

Suitable for

• Any age

A locally sourced, locally sold farmers’ market selling vegetables, meat, fish, bread, flowers, hot food and much more in our glorious Gardens.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Admission

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/horniman-farmers-market

Discover and handle real museum objects in these popular themed sessions for families.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/

Have fun with different art techniques to create something fabulous to take home inspired by the Horniman’s collections or seasonal celebrations.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/

Nature Explorers: Pond Dipping

• 31 July 2014 11am-12pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 3-4pm
• 7 August 2014 11am-12pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 3-4pm
• 14 August 2014 11am-12pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 3-4pm
• 21 August 2014 11am-12pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 3-4pm
• 28 August 2014 11am-12pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 3-4pm

Try your hand at pond dipping in this fun family session exploring the summer environment in the Nature Trail pond. Suitable for ages 5+. Not accessible for pushchairs.

Suitable for

• Family friendly
• Any age

Admission

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events

Up the Garden Path with Miss Horniman

• 29 August 2014 11:30am-12:15pm, 1:15-2pm, 3-3:45pm

Miss Horniman leads you on a story telling tour of the Gardens to discover its stories and secrets.

Suitable for

• Any age

Website

http://horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/up-the-garden-path-with-miss-horniman--768

Come and meet our curators and other experts to find out about excites the Horniman, from beetles that live in horse poo to why we wear what we do

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/meet-the-expert

Nature Explorers – Minibeast Safari

• 28 July 2014 11am-12pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 3-4pm, 3-4pm *on now
• 4 August 2014 11am-12pm, 11am-12pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 3-4pm, 3-4pm
• 11 August 2014 11am-12pm, 11am-12pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 3-4pm, 3-4pm
• 18 August 2014 11am-12pm, 11am-12pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 3-4pm, 3-4pm

A fun family session exploring the vibrant summer environment in the nature trail’s meadow and log pile habitats. Search for creepy crawlies, bugs and other insects! Suitable for ages 3+. Not accessible for pushchairs.

Suitable for

• Any age

Admission

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/nature-explorers-minibeast-safari-766

Join free and fabulous Horniman craft activities inspired by our Edwardian summer. Different activities each day including dragonfly magnets, rainforest masks, binoculars and maps for adventurers, flying garden birds and Punch and Judy finger puppets. See website for full listings. Suitable for ages 3+.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events

Nature Notebooks

• 29 July 2014 11am-2pm
• 5 August 2014 11am-2pm
• 12 August 2014 11am-2pm, 11am-2pm
• 19 August 2014 11am-2pm, 11am-2pm
• 26 August 2014 11am-2pm, 11am-2pm

Make a nature notebook and use it to explore the Gardens and record the things you find.

Suitable for

• Any age

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/nature-notebooks

Join us for a day of activities inspired by the Edwardian tea party, including group performances from Trinity Laban’s Big Dance weekend earlier this month. Suitable for playschemes.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/big-wednesdays-edwardian-tea-party

Bandstand Concert: Old Hat Jazz Band

• 30 July 2014 7-8:30pm

Bandstand Concert: Old Hat Jazz Band

Join us for an evening of favourite tunes from 1910s ragtime to 1930s hot swing around the Bandstand. Soak up the London views and relax with a drink.

The Horniman Cafe will be open serving food and drinks.

Suitable for

• Any age

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/jazz-picnic-old-hat-jazz-band

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow?

• 1 August 2014 2-3pm

Join Catherine Basford, our Animal Keeper. Meet Majestic, Daisy, George and others to find out how many of our sheep breeds are endangered. See some examples of our wool and how it has been traditionally spun and knitted.

Suitable for

• 7-10
• 11-13
• 14-15

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/meet-the-expert

Mr Horniman has stepped out of his time machine in his top hat and tails to give you a special tour of the Museum. He has some fantastic stories to tell and loves an audience!

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/take-a-tour-with-mr-horniman-884

Wild travelling collective The Turbans perform musical bites of Balkan, Turkish, Middle Eastern and Persian music, influenced by the multi-national band members of their collective.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/concert-the-turbans

Join us for a day of activities inspired by Edwardian games. This event is part of Playday – a nationwide festival celebrating play of all kinds. Suitable for playschemes.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/big-wednesdays-edwardian-games

Edwardian Games

• 6 August 2014 11am-3pm

Big Wednesday: Edwardian Games

Join us for a day of activities inspired by Edwardian games. This event is part of Playday – a nationwide festival celebrating play of all kinds.
Suitable for playschemes.

Suitable for

• Any age
• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/big-wednesdays-edwardian-games

A sumptuous evening of Edwardian pleasure and entertainment, including tea dance with live music, extravagant music hall acts, silent film screenings, a period photo booth, street performances, tours, food, drinks and more.

Suitable for

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/edwardian-late

A World of Music

• 8 August 2014 2-3pm

Join Margaret Birley, our Keeper of Musical Instruments and Mimi Waitzman, our Deputy Keeper of Musical Instruments. Tell us how music is part of your life and find out about how music is part of people’s lives around the world.

Suitable for

• 7-10
• 14-15
• 11-13

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/meet-the-expert

Combining rhythms from Venezuela to Ghana, this exuberant collective takes you on a musical expedition across two continents and beyond.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/concert-family-atlantica

Join us for a day of activities inspired by the famous Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, go on an exploration inspired by our Extremes exhibition and other Edwardian adventures. Suitable for playschemes.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/big-wednesdays-edwardian-adventurers

Nature Trail Discovery

• 13 August 2014 2-3:30pm
• 20 August 2014 2-3:30pm
• 27 August 2014 2-3:30pm

Discover our mile-long Nature Trail, the oldest in London. Encounter wildlife and pond, meadow and log pile habitats.

Suitable for

• Family friendly
• Any age

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/nature-trail-discovery-886

Find out more about the history of our Natural History collections and discover some rarely displayed specimens, such as Frederick Horniman’s insects collection.

Suitable for

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/behind-the-scenes-at-the-horniman-tour-of-the-natural-history-collections

Beetling Around

• 15 August 2014 2-3pm

Join Jo Hatton, our Keeper of Natural History. Discover why she enjoys nothing more than spending a warm summer’s day looking for beetles in dung!

Suitable for

• 7-10
• 14-15
• 11-13

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/meet-the-expert

Let 1800s war nurse Mary Seacole take you on a tour of the Horniman to tell her amazing story and show you the Museum and Gardens.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/the-wonderful-adventures-of-mrs-seacole-in-many-lands-876

A fusion of Latin and African sounds with some of the best musicians from Cuba to Congo.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/concert-wara

Our popular storytellers bring the collections and gardens alive with enchanting stories from around the world told on our Edwardian Bandstand. Suitable for ages 5+

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/a-world-of-summer-stories

Big Wednesday: Edwardian Nature Lovers

• 20 August 2014 11am-3pm

Join us for a day of activities inspired by Edwardian nature lovers. See owl displays, explore our Nature Trail, identify birds in our Gardens and discover more about trees. Suitable for playschemes.

Suitable for

• Any age

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/big-wednesdays-edwardian-nature-lovers

A night of Edwardian cinema in the Horniman Gardens featuring short films by master of fantasy and dream worlds Georges Méliès: A Trip To the Moon (1902), The Impossible Voyage (1904) and The Conquest to the Pole (1912). Presented by MASH Cinema and Electric Pedals.

Suitable for

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/outdoor-summer-screening-the-journeys-of-georges-melies

Family Bat Walk

• 22 August 2014 7-9pm

Learn some bat facts and using real detectors, find the bats that live in the Horniman Gardens and help with our bat survey.

Suitable for

• Family friendly
• Any age

Admission

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/family-bat-walk

Family Bat Walk

• 22 August 2014 7-9pm

Learn some bat facts and using real detectors, find the bats that live in the Horniman Gardens and help with our bat survey.

Suitable for

• 7-10
• 14-15
• 18+
• 11-13
• 16-17
• Any age

Admission

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/family-bat-walk

Gold Dust and Hidden Codes

• 22 August 2014 2-3pm

Join Johanna Zetterstrom-Sharp, our Assistant Curator of Anthropology. Learn the hidden codes the Akan people from Ghana used to measure gold dust and share secret messages, then have a go at making your own message.

Suitable for

• 7-10
• 14-15
• 11-13

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/meet-the-expert

A blend of Eastern European folk and contemporary beats keep audiences glued to the dance floor wherever Tantz play.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/concert-tantz

Join us for a day of activities inspired by Edwardian entertainment. Suitable for playschemes.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/big-wednesdays-edwardian-entertainment

Bat Walk

• 29 August 2014 7-9pm

Learn about South East London’s local bats and use detectors to find which bats live in the Horniman Gardens.

Suitable for

• 18+
• 16-17

Admission

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/adult-bat-walk

Bones and Skeletons

• 29 August 2014 2-3pm

Join Paolo Viscardi, our Deputy Keeper of Natural History. See and touch different animal skeletons and find out why we all need them for different things.

Suitable for

• 7-10
• 14-15
• 11-13

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/meet-the-expert

Join us for an afternoon of concerts and carnival performances in the Gardens to celebrate the end of our summer season. The programme will include carnival parades, extravagant brass bands, curious pop-up performances and concerts bringing together musicians and influences from across the world in an homage to Mr Horniman’s vision to bring the world to Forest Hill.

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/horniman-music-festival

Learn more about our botanical collections on a guided tour with the Horniman Head of Horticulture. Find out about the history and secrets of the Gardens and discover how they are related to the Museum's Collections. 

Suitable for

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/behind-the-scenes-at-the-horniman-tour-of-the-gardens

Behind the Scenes at the Horniman - Tour of the Gardens

• 4 September 2014 7-8pm

This week, learn more about our botanical collections on a guided tour with the Horniman Head of Horticulture. Find out about the history and secrets of the Gardens and discover how they are related to the Museum's Collections

Suitable for

• 18+

Admission

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/behind-the-scenes-at-the-horniman-tour-of-the-gardens

Join us at the Horniman Halloween Fair where you can enjoy a spooky trail, find goodies in our arts and crafts market and take part in family craft activities – plus lots more.   Come dressed in your favourite Halloween costume and join the Halloween parades taking place throughout the weekend. 

Suitable for

• Family friendly

Website

http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/horniman-halloween-fair