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
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
£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
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
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
At Home with Music
- 1 July — 31 December 2014 *on now
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
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
Revisiting Romania: Dress and Identity
- 4 October 2014 — 6 September 2015
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
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
Horniman Farmers Market
- 1 July — 31 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
- Family friendly
Admission
Every Saturday
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/horniman-farmers-market
Hands on Family Workshops
- 26 July 2014 11:45am-12:30pm, 1-1:45pm
- 2 August 2014 11:45am-12:30pm, 1-1:45pm
- 9 August 2014 11:45am-12:30pm, 1-1:45pm
- 16 August 2014 11:45am-12:30pm, 1-1:45pm
- 23 August 2014 11:45am-12:30pm, 1-1:45pm
- 30 August 2014 11:45am-12:30pm, 1-1:45pm
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/
Art Makers
- 2 August 2014 1:30-2:15pm, 2:45-3:30pm
- 9 August 2014 1:30-2:15pm, 2:45-3:30pm
- 16 August 2014 1:30-2:15pm, 2:45-3:30pm
- 23 August 2014 1:30-2:15pm, 2:45-3:30pm
- 30 August 2014 1:30-2:15pm, 2:45-3:30pm
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/
Bandstand Concert: Benoit Villenfon Hot Club
- 23 July 2014 7-8:30pm *on now
Bandstand Concert: Benoit Villenfon Hot Club
Join us around the Bandstand for an evening of hot swinging music inspired by Parisian Cafes and nightclubs at the turn of the 20th century.
The Horniman Cafe will be open serving food and drinks.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/jazz-picnic-benoit-viellefon-hot-club
Nature Explorers: Pond Dipping
- 24 July 2014 11am-12pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 3-4pm
- 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
Please contact venue for further information.
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events
Dress to Express Yourself
- 25 July 2014 2-3pm
Join Tom Crowley, our Assistant Curator of Anthropology. Do you dress like your grandparents? Find out why fashions are changing high in the mountains of Pakistan and all over the world.
Suitable for
- 7-10
- 11-13
- 14-15
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/meet-the-expert
Up the Garden Path with Miss Horniman
- 25 July 2014 11:30am-12:15pm, 1:15-2pm, 1:15-2pm, 3-3:45pm, 3-3:45pm
- 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
Meet the Expert
- 25 July 2014 2-3pm
- 8 August 2014 2-3pm
- 15 August 2014 2-3pm
- 22 August 2014 2-3pm
- 29 August 2014 2-3pm
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
The Great Animal Orchestra Party
- 27 July 2014 11am-5:30pm
Celebrate the opening of our new installation, the Great Animal Orchestra, with a day of concerts and family activities inspired by the animal world. Listen to music on the bandstand by Jazz masters Adriano Adewale and Byron Wallen, make rainforest masks and listen to some fascinating storytelling inspired by animals around the world.
Suitable for
- Any age
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/the-great-animal-orchestra-party
Nature Explorers – Minibeast Safari
- 28 July 2014 11am-12pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 1:15-2:15pm, 3-4pm, 3-4pm
- 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
£2.00 for children accompanying adults are free.
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/nature-explorers-minibeast-safari-766
Summer Family Art Fun
- 28 July 2014 11am-2:45pm
- 31 July — 1 August 2014
- 4 August 2014 11am-2:45pm
- 7 — 8 August 2014 11am-2:45pm
- 11 August 2014 11am-2:45pm
- 14 — 15 August 2014 11am-2:45pm
- 18 August 2014 11am-2:45pm
- 21 — 22 August 2014 11am-2:45pm
- 25 August 2014 11am-2:45pm
- 28 — 29 August 2014 11am-2:45pm
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
Big Wednesday: Edwardian Tea Party
- 30 July 2014 11am-3pm
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
Take a Tour with Mr Horniman
- 1 August 2014 11:30am-12:15pm, 1:15-2pm, 3-3:45pm
- 8 August 2014 11:30am-12:15pm, 1:15-2pm, 3-3:45pm
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
The Turbans: Sunday Bandstand Concert
- 3 August 2014 3-5pm
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
Big Wednesday: Edwardian Games
- 6 August 2014 11am-3pm
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
Edwardian Late
- 7 August 2014 6:30-9:30pm
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
Family Atlantica: Sunday Bandstand Concert
- 10 August 2014 3-5pm
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
Big Wednesday: Edwardian Adventures
- 13 August 2014 11am-3pm
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
Behind the Scenes: Tour of the Natural History Collections
- 14 August 2014 7-8pm
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
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
The Wonderful Adventures of Mary Seacole
- 15 August 2014 11:30am-12:15pm, 1:15-2pm, 3-3:45pm
- 22 August 2014 11:30am-12:15pm, 1:15-2pm, 3-3:45pm
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
Wara: Sunday Bandstand Concert
- 17 August 2014 3-5pm
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
A World of Summer Stories
- 28 July 2014 12:15-1pm
- 4 August 2014 12:15-1pm
- 11 August 2014 12:15-1pm
- 18 August 2014 11-11:45am, 12:15-1pm
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
The Journeys of Georges Méliès: Outdoor Film Screening
- 21 August 2014 8-11pm
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
Please contact venue for further information.
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
Adult £5.00, child £3.00. Please buy tickets online.
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
Tantz: Sunday Bandstand Concert
- 24 August 2014 3-5pm
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
Big Wednesday: Edwardian Entertainment
- 27 August 2014 11am-3pm
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
Please contact venue for further information.
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
Horniman Music Festival
- 31 August 2014 12-6pm
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
Behind the Scenes: Tour of the Gardens
- 4 September 2014 7-8pm
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
£5.00 per person.
Website
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/visit/events/behind-the-scenes-at-the-horniman-tour-of-the-gardens
Horniman Halloween Fair
- 25 — 26 October 2014 10:30am-4pm
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
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