Horniman Museum at Forest Hill
I had been meaning to go to the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill for a long time and this Easter’s long weekend gave me the perfect chance to get out and explore this amazing institution which features collections from anthropology, musical Instruments and natural history collections displayed in six free galleries, with an acclaimed aquarium and award-winning Gardens.
My husband and I met up with our two friends Fiona and Amelia in the morning and had a lovely stroll around the grounds. The Horniman Museum has the most fantastic view across London from their extensive grounds as well as lovely plants, a children’s play section (musical instruments made up from day-to-day materials such as pipes – you can see Fiona having a play in the photos below!) and there is an animal section soon to arrive, at the moment there are only some chickens and some rather sweet goats!
I have to admit that as an animal lover I didn’t really enjoy the collection of stuffed specimins on display in the musem – however my friends found it fascinating and I can understand if you’re not of a sensitive disposition this would be a thrilling display.
On the other hand I really loved the aquarium, one of the paid areas of the museum – with a great variety of water-creatures from frogs and starfish to seahorses and crabs, this was my favourite area of the museum. I have a bit of a soft spot for aquariums and have spent a lot of time in sea-centres and the like in my life. Despite it’s smaller size the aquarium at the Horniman was a fantastic experience.
I had seen advertisements for the Amazon Adventure exhibit for some time around London and was excited to see what it was all about. This exhibition showcased the diverse landscape of exotic plants, unusual animals and fascinating cultures of the Amazon with some great learning activities for kids such as exploring the tummy of a giant catfish and feeling the simulated zap of an electric eel, with multimedia and live fish displays where you can meet a stingray and tank of tetras.
Overall I really enjoyed the Horniman Museum – it is a fantastic learning centre for children (and adults!) whom want to learn more about our natural world. I recommend the Museum & gardens to anyone wanting to get away from the hustly and bustle of the city.
