Horniman Museum and Gardens

An inspiring, surprising, family-friendly, free Museum and Gardens in South London’s Forest Hill. The Horniman connects us all with global cultures and the natural environment, encouraging us to shape a positive future.
Our mission is central to everything we do, whilst our values help shape our work and give the Horniman its unique character. Our mission is:
The Horniman connects us all with global cultures and the natural environment, encouraging us to shape a positive future for the world we all share.
We’ve been open since Victorian times, when Frederick John Horniman first opened his house and extraordinary collection of objects to visitors. Since then, our collection has grown tenfold and includes internationally important collections of anthropology and musical instruments, as well as an acclaimed aquarium and natural history collection. Unusually for such an important museum, you can see our collection up-close and face-to-face. You can even pick up, try on and play with some of our objects. Our visitors come time and again to explore our free museum, take part in our activities and enjoy our 16-acre gardens. And they discover something fascinating and mesmerising every time.
Mission: The Horniman connects us all with global cultures and the natural environment, encouraging us to shape a positive future for the world we all share.
Operating as usual