Dragons and unicorns on show

I've finally got around to visiting the Myths and Monsters exhibition at the Horniman Museum - and it was brilliant!

Myths and Monsters is only open for about another week and I am so glad I didn't miss it. On show are huge animated models of monsters from myth and legend with displays explaining the stories about them and possible factual explanations for mysterious beasts such as dragons, unicorns, the yeti and the Loch Ness monster.

OK, there isn't actually a life-size animated model of the Loch Ness monster - that would be just too big, but there is an amazing dragon that bares its teeth in a most menacing way.

Another of my favourite exhibits is a unicorn amid a forest of wishing trees. In legend, unicorns are reputed to have amazing healing powers and can grant wishes to those who are pure of heart. Looking at the messages tied to the trees, most seemed to be from kids wishing they had their own pet dragon or unicorn to ride. I do hope their wishes are granted!

Of course the exhibition is primarily aimed at children, but if you are a grown-up kid like me you will definitely still enjoy it.

Entry to Myths and Monsters is £5 for adults, £3 concessions and £2.50 for children. However, entry to the rest of the museum is free and is well worth seeing too. It includes a huge gallery of shrines and religious objects from all over the world, which, as a pagan, I find fascinating.

There is also a temporary exhibition of healing plants in the museum gardens, open until August 30, which is fascinating for anyone interested in herbalism.

Horniman Museum and Gardens is at 100 London Rd, Forest Hill, London, SE23 3PQ. It is open daily from 10.30am - 5.30pm. For more details or to book tickets for Myths and Monsters call 020 8699 1872 ext. 119. For further details, visit the website at http://www.horniman.ac.uk/

Links:
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/01/review-on-monsters-history-of-our-fears.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/02/exhibition-of-myths-and-monsters.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2010/04/dragons-of-london.html