Horniman Museum and Gardens
Horniman Museum and Gardens
100 London Road
Forest Hill
London
Greater London
SE23 3PQ
England
Website
Telephone
020 8699 1872
Fax
020 8291 5506
The Horniman has a unique range of exhibitions, events and activities which illustrate the cultural and natural world. Our collections of anthropology, natural history and musical instruments provide the inspiration for our programme of permanent and temporary exhibitions and events and activities. A full range of events and activities take place for different audiences including storytelling and art and craft sessions for children, and courses and workshops for adults.
This museum has Designated Collections of national importance.
Venue Type:
Museum, Library, Archive, Garden, parklands or rural site
Additional info
Our library is open to the public by appointment only.
The Ethnography and Music collections are Designated Collections of national importance.
The Museum holds in total some 350,000 objects and related items. The Horniman has three main collections, World Cultures (Ethnography) comprising 80,000 objects, Natural History with 250,000 specimens, and Music with over 7,000 instruments plus 1,000 archive documents. There is also a parallel education handling collection which has over 3,700 objects drawn from all three main disciplines and a library collection with texts and related items covering the main collection areas.
The Museum also has an active collecting policy with regular fieldwork to acquire new objects and to find out more about existing ones carried out by curators. Over 90% of the collections of Ethnography and Music have been acquired since the original bequest by Frederick Horniman in 1901. Most objects not currently on display are held in storage at the Museum's Study Collection Centre in Greenwich, while the Museum also loans objects to other institutions for exhibitions.
Collection details
World Cultures, Weapons and War, Social History, Science and Technology, Photography, Performing Arts, Natural Sciences, Music, Decorative and Applied Art, Costume and Textiles, Coins and Medals, Archives, Archaeology
Key artists and exhibits
- Designated Collection
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
£3.30 Child, £6.60 Adult, £16.50 Family (prices include 10% voluntary Gift Aid donation)
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/upcoming-exhibitions/extremes#image-4
Horniman Farmers' Market
- 21 September 2013 — 20 December 2014 *on now
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
Easter Family Art Fun
- 7 — 18 April 2014 *on now
Join free and fabulous Horniman craft activities this half term holiday inspired by spring and Easter.
Suitable for
- Family friendly
Community Teachsport: ParkActive
- 18 April 2014 11am-3:30pm *on now
For tiny tots, there will be soft play and baby gym, while older participants can have a go at sports of all kinds from around the world.
Please note that this activity may be subject to change or cancellation due to weather conditions.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/community-teachsport-parkactive-777
Horniman Easter Fair
- 19 — 20 April 2014 10:30am-4:30pm
Go on an Easter Egg hunt, meet our rabbits at Bunny World, find goodies in our special arts and crafts market, join in Bandstand fun and enjoy some food and drink.
Suitable for
- Any age
- Family friendly
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/horniman-easter-fair-782
Art Makers: Garden Bells
- 26 April 2014 1:30-2:15pm, 2:45-3:30pm
- 3 May 2014 1:30-2:15pm, 2:45-3:30pm
Garden Bells: Decorate a terracotta plant pot and make it into a bell which can be hung in your garden or indoors.
Each week at Art Markers, we have a different theme, including Easter Bunny Glove Puppets to celebrate Easter, Giant Flower Masks linked to the Chelsea Fringe Festival, Bobbing Butterflies for Butterfly Awareness Day and Creepy Crawly Puppets for Insect Week
Suitable for
- Any age
Admission
£3.00 per participating child, adults free.
Purchase tickets on the day from the Information Desk.
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/art-makers-garden-bells
Hands On Costume
- 3 May 2014 11:45am-12:30pm, 1-1:45pm
Come to the Hands on Base and join our knowledgeable tutors for fun family sessions exploring different themes using real museum objects. Use all your senses to explore costume from around the world in interactive sessions suitable for families with children aged 3+.
Suitable for
- Any age
Admission
Session passes are available from the Information Desk area 30 minutes before each session.
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/hands-on-costume-799
Adinkra Cloth Printing
- 13 May 2014 7-9pm
- 20 May 2014 7-9pm
Create something to take home to enjoy in these relaxing creative workshops.
13 & 20 May: Adinkra Cloth Printing
Create a personalised printing stamp and use this Ghanaian printing technique to stamp your personality onto fabric. No experience necessary!
Limited places. To reserve your place please book online or call 020 8291 8686.
Suitable for
- 18+
- 16-17
Admission
£45.00 per person, for a 2 week workshop.
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/adinkra-cloth-printing-
Extremes Late, as part of Museums at Night
- 15 May 2014 6:30-9:30pm
Visit the Horniman after hours and enjoy a night of extreme art, music and quirky performances across the Museum and Gardens.
To celebrate the opening of our new family friendly exhibition Extremes, the Horniman will present how artists react to extreme environments: expect some extremely hot music from Zimbabwe, extremely high acrobatics, storytelling by candlelight, surreal film screenings depicting submarine life, as well as installations and performances by satirical artists Modern Toss.
Suitable for
- 18+
- Not suitable for children
Admission
£5
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/extremes-late
Up the Garden Path with Miss Horniman
- 30 May 2014 11:30am-12:15pm, 1:15-2pm, 3-3:45pm
Discover the stories and secrets of the Horniman Gardens, past and present with Miss Horniman. She will bring alive the history of the site with memories of her father's gardens, and share stories inspired by plants and the natural world.
Please note: In the event of very wet weather there will be an indoor alternative. Please check on the day.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/up-the-garden-path-with-miss-horniman--768
Art Makers: Bobbing Butterflies
- 7 June 2014 1:30-2:15pm, 2:45-3:30pm
- 14 June 2014 1:30-2:15pm, 2:45-3:30pm
Bobbing Butterflies: Make and decorate a beautiful butterfly, with a wooden clothes peg body. Attach a string and make it "bob" up and down as it flies.
Each week at Art Markers, we have a different theme, including Easter Bunny Glove Puppets to celebrate Easter, Giant Flower Masks linked to the Chelsea Fringe Festival, Bobbing Butterflies for Butterfly Awareness Day and Creepy Crawly Puppets for Insect Week.
Suitable for
- Any age
Admission
£3.00 per participating child, adults free.
Purchase tickets on the day from the Information Desk.
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/art-makers-bobbing-butterflies
Planting a Miniature Herb Garden
- 1 July 2014 7-9pm
- 8 July 2014 7-9pm
Do the children have all the fun at the Horniman? Now it’s your turn! Create something to take home to enjoy in these relaxing creative workshops.
1 & 8 July: Planting a miniature herb garden
Plant your own miniature herb garden and learn how to maintain it. Take it home to add flavour to your meals or brighten up your windowsill. No experience necessary!
Suitable for
- 18+
- 16-17
Admission
Limited places. To reserve your place please book online or call 020 8291 8686. £45.00 per person, for a 2 evening workshop. Concessions £40.00.
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/planting-a-miniature-herb-garden
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