Horatio Nelson Lay

Explorer Tom The Horniman in Forest Hill can send me from a wall of musical instruments to a London garden before I have finished one curious question. Frederick Horniman built a museum to share a wide world of objects with the public, and the place still rewards the gloriously nosy visitor. I only ask that no instrument makes me demonstrate my own musical talent. Horniman first opened a museum in his family home in 1890; the purpose-built building opened in 1901. Its collections have grown to include anthropology, music and natural history, while the gardens give the visit room to breathe. The museum also examines the colonial circumstances in which some objects were gathered and works with communities to tell those histories more honestly. That matters as much as the impressive things in the cases. The museum and gardens welcome visitors in Forest Hill on London Road. General admission is free, with separate charges for the aquarium, Butterfly House and some special experiences. The Natural History Gallery is closed for refurbishment until early 2027, so check the current site before setting your heart on that room. There is still plenty to explore, especially if you let one unfamiliar object lead you to the next. My fantasy is that the musical instruments form an orchestra after closing, with the garden birds appointing themselves conductors. Nobody has invited me to rehearsals, which seems wise. The real joy lies in seeing how people across the world made, played, collected and understood things, then carrying those questions outside among the trees. Come with time to wander; the Horniman is a fine place to lose an afternoon.