One of London’s best-known museums is also one of the country’s quirkiest; Forest Hill’s Horniman Museum comprises a selection of natural history artefacts and examples of handicrafts from all around the world. As the collection grew, museum founder Frederick Horniman commissioned the construction of a London museum in which to fit it all.
The Horniman Museum was eventually completed and opened to the public on 29th June 1901. Despite numerous additions over the years, it still stands on its original spot today.
The first thing that greets you as you arrive outside the museum is an imposing 20-foot totem pole, which prepares you for the many different exhibits that await you inside.
The truly eclectic collection ranges from traditional sand paintings to a huge number of stuffed animals showing off the true skill of taxidermy. There’s also a collection of anthropological items collected from the four corners of the world – 80,000 different pieces in total.
The museum is also very well known for its vintage musical instruments, the oldest of which is a pair of bone clappers made in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago.
The living world is represented in the museum’s aquarium where there are 15 exhibits displaying habitats from around the world, including a live coral reef complete with exotic tropical fish.
The museum is also set in 16 acres of gardens where you’ll not only find a Victorian bandstand, but also a sound garden with large musical instruments that visitors are welcome to play. There are also nature trails as well as a fascinating collection of sundials, some of which are tucked away deep in the gardens.
For full details visithttp://www.horniman.ac.uk/