What is it?
While it might not be as big as South Kensington’s Natural History Museum, The Horniman is an anthropological museum packed with charm from its eccentric-looking art nouveau building to its huge gardens packed with a petting zoo, bee hives and meadows. The Natural History Gallery is full of weird and wonderful specimens with glass cabinets containing pickled animals, stuffed birds and insect models. Its famous ancient walrus – overstuffed by Victorian taxidermists, who thought they ought to get the wrinkles out of the animal’s skin – is currently being refurbished (to add the wrinkles back in, presumably) and will return to its glorified position in the centre of the gallery in 2026.
There's also a permanent gallery dedicated to African, Afro-Caribbean and Brazilian art, The Music Gallery contains hundreds of instruments: their sounds can be unleashed via touch-screen tables, while the popular showpiece aquarium is a series of tanks and rock pools covering seven distinct aquatic ecosystems. It also provides extensive activities for families, including a nature trail, weekend workshops and a hands-on base where children can touch museum objects.
Why go?
You can’t not have a good time at this eclectic place. Whether you want to gaze at the peculiar exhibits relax in the beautiful gardens or take part in its brilliant events programme, there’s enough here to fill an entire weekend.
Don’t miss:
Make time to look around the brilliant butterfly house which is filled with hundreds of free-flying winged creatures.
When to visit:
Daily 10am-5.30pm. Peak times at weekends and school holidays.
Ticket info:
Free entry, some areas – including the aquarium and butterfly house – and exhibitions are ticketed
Time Out tip:
I love going to the Horniman Museum lates. Every first Thursday of the month the galleries stay open until 9pm and you can get discounted tickets to the aquarium, or grab a drink with friends. It’s essentially a very chic night out.
See more of London's best museums and discover our guide to the very best things to do in London.