Hidden Gem: Horniman Museum

By Charlotte Coulson

If you’re in South London and in need of a museum fix, the Horniman Museum in Forest Hill is a great place to go.

The museum was founded in 1901 by Frederick John Horniman, who had inherited his father's tea business which, by 1891, had become the biggest in the world. Horniman used his vast wealth to indulge his lifelong passion for collecting and having travelled extensively around the world, his collection included some 30,000 items covering natural history, cultural artefacts and musical instruments.

The resulting museum is small but perfectly formed, ideally set up for children and to see animals and artefacts from across the globe without leaving SE London.

Attached to the museum are 16 acres of garden, with animal walks, bee gardens and wildlife meadows. They’re perfect for picnics on a sunny afternoon too, with epic, far reaching views over the City.