The much-loved Horniman Museum and Gardens in south east London has today announced its Natural History Gallery will reopen as the Nature Gallery on Friday 5 February 2027.
The Gallery has been fully refurbished and the displays reimagined to celebrate the amazing variety of life on earth and explore humankind’s place within, and impact on, nature. The opening is the final part of the ambitious £12.5m Nature + Love transformation project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and marks the end of the Horniman’s 125th anniversary year.
Bringing together familiar favourites – including the famous walrus – with over 2,300 objects from the Horniman’s collection, artist commissions and multisensory interactives, the Nature Gallery will explore our connection to and reliance on nature, stories of extinction and climate change, and ideas for how we can all positively shape the future of the planet.
Highlights will include a dramatic new ceiling projection, including footage from the Horniman’s own Gardens, showcasing the wonder of life on the planet. A display on plastic pollution by young curators from Addey & Stanhope School in Deptford is one of many co-produced contributions by local schools and community groups.
Adjacent to the Gallery will be a new hands-on Nature Discovery Den focused on local wildlife that has been developed with and for families with young children to inspire a lifelong love of nature.
Nature Discovery Den at the Horniman Museum and Gardens visualisation by StudioMB
The Grade II listed historic gallery space, originally built in 1901, has also undergone extensive renovation to future-proof it for decades to come, while preserving many of the historic display cases and architectural features.
The opening of the Nature Gallery is one of a number of exciting new developments at the Horniman as part of its ambitious Nature + Love project, supported by the Heritage Fund, which aims to inspire a greater understanding of and appreciation for the world we all share. In spring 2026 the Horniman opened Kusuma Nature Play featuring a free permanent outdoor play area, Animals Everywhere! – a free augmented reality trail across the Gardens, a family-friendly Gardens Cafe, and improved access to the historic Nature Trail, as well as a new Gardens Nursery facility and Community Garden.
The Horniman is currently running a crowdfunding campaign, asking supporters to raise funds towards the reopening of the Nature Gallery – with exciting rewards on offer to bring you closer to the Horniman, from behind-the-scenes tours to limited edition prints. Inspiring Nature (crowdfunder.co.uk/inspiring-nature) runs until 29 October 2026 and aims to raise £30,000 to support the redevelopment of the new gallery. In addition, between 1 and 21 October a prize draw is offering ticket holders the chance to win a return trip for two in a luxury cabin on the Caledonian Sleeper with an overnight stay, as well as many other incredible prizes.
Arts Minister Ruth Mackenzie said:
“I am delighted we have been able to support the Horniman Museum and Gardens with £1.4 million of infrastructure funding to help deliver its Nature + Love project. As the Horniman celebrates its 125th anniversary, this project will give children, young people and families fresh ways to explore nature, culture and the world around them.”
Michael Salter-Church MBE, Chair of the Horniman, said:
“Opening these wonderful new spaces marks the end of the Horniman’s extraordinary 125th anniversary year, and the culmination of our transformational Nature + Love project. Our thanks go to our generous funders and to the expert partners, both local and global, who worked with us to shape these bold new experiences. They also go to our dedicated and visionary staff, our volunteers and Trustees who have guided this project, and to the community groups and visitors who have shaped it. These new spaces will inspire visitors for years to come.”
Gordon Seabright, Chief Executive at the Horniman, said:
“Humankind’s impact on the planet has never been more obvious. We hope that through our ambitious Nature + Love project and the opening of the Nature Gallery we can help to foster a love of the living world and a sense that we can all play our parts in protecting it. We can’t wait for these new spaces to be open so we can welcome everyone to share the wonder and beauty of nature through fun and inspiring encounters here at the Horniman.”
Stuart McLeod, Director of London and South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:
“The Horniman Museum and Gardens has long inspired people to explore and better understand our natural heritage. Thanks to National Lottery players, we are proud to support their ambitious Nature + Love project, which is transforming the Nature Gallery and bringing collections, stories and experiences together in innovative ways. It will help people of all ages connect with nature, understand the challenges it faces today and be inspired to play their part in protecting it. This project will leave a lasting legacy, ensuring that the Horniman’s natural heritage continues to be valued, cared for and shared for many years to come.”
The Horniman’s Nature + Love project has been made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players. The project is supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Public Bodies Infrastructure Fund (PBIF), the Wolfson Foundation, Kusuma Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, the Foyle Foundation and many other generous donors.
More details about the new Nature Gallery will be revealed in the coming months.
