Tuesday 25 May 2021

Returning to One of My Favourite London Museums

Visiting museums is one of the things I've most missed over the past months, but yesterday I returned to one of my favourites - the Horniman Museum in South East London. I have to say I felt completely safe as well.  

Entry is free, but you do have to book a timed ticket in advance. That means you're guaranteed to get in but the place isn't crowded. At the entrance, you scan the QR code using the Test and Trace phone app or give the staff your details if you don't have the app. Inside there are plenty of hand-sanitiser points and a clearly marked one-way system. I know that level of crowd control isn't popular with everyone, but frankly I'm perfectly happy to go along with it at the moment for the pleasure of seeing places that aren't my own home or the local shops.

Although I've visited the Horniman Museum and Gardens countless times in my life, as it's pretty close to where I live, I always find something new to see whenever I go. This time I discovered a little corner of the garden where there's a colourful bug hotel (pictured above left)

Inside, many of the exhibits are like old friends - including the over-stuffed walrus in the centre of the Natural History Gallery (pictured at the top). I'm particularly fond of the walrus because I was once a runner up in a photography competition the museum ran, with a photo that included a walrus stuff toy. My favourite section is the World Gallery (pictured right), with thousands of objects from cultures across the continents, including oodles of items that are folkloric in nature, such as magical charms and a healing doll I blogged about in the past

The cafe is open, and you can choose to eat inside or outside. There are also picnic spots if you bring your own food.

The Horniman Museum and Gardens is at 100 London Road, Forest Hill, London SE23 3PQ. It is open daily, except Wednesdays, from 10am to 5.30pm. You can book tickets and find out more at the website: https://www.horniman.ac.uk/

Previous related posts
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2016/10/a-night-of-magic-at-horniman-museum.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2018/07/pagan-eye-horniman-museum-wonderful.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2019/11/occult-london-merman-in-cabinet-of.html

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