Horniman Museum Forest Hill New Garden Attractions 2026

Key Points

• The Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill, South London, will open new garden features on May 21, 2026, marking its 125th anniversary.
• New attractions include the Kusuma Nature Play area, a family-friendly café run by Colicci, an improved Nature Trail with step-free access, an augmented reality (AR) trail, Community Garden, and a transformed Gardens Nursery.
• These form part of the £10 million Nature + Love transformation project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and others.
• The museum’s Natural History Gallery, home to the famous overstuffed walrus, remains closed until early 2027 due to ongoing renovations that began in March 2024.
• Special opening events are planned for June 27-29, 2026.

Forest Hill (South London News) April 10, 2026 –The Horniman Museum and Gardens has announced the launch of several new outdoor attractions in its 16-acre grounds, set to open from May 21, 2026. These developments aim to enhance family engagement with nature amid the ongoing refurbishment of its indoor galleries.

What New Garden Features Are Coming to Horniman Museum?

The Kusuma Nature Play area headlines the additions, designed by Feilden Fowles Architects as a nature-themed space for children. It includes a wooden jetty and slide, climbing webs, lookout points, log steps, timber balance beams, and a den building frame.

Younger children will find a collecting table, leaf stools, a finger maze, and a robin-themed section with a timber rocker, nest hedge, and robin eggs, all inspired by local wildlife.

As reported by the museum’s official announcement, Kusuma Nature Play will encourage learning and wellbeing through exploration and play, with direct access to the historic Nature Trail.

Alistair Hardaker, Museums and Heritage Advisor, noted that the play area offers a new destination for families, alongside step-free access to the 700-metre trail for the first time, complete with site-specific interpretation for visitors and school groups.

Why Is the Family-Friendly Café Being Added at Horniman?

Adjacent to the play area, a new family-friendly café operated by Colicci will provide slow-fermented sourdough pizzas, seasonal ingredients, artisan gelato, and speciality coffee.

Colicci, a family-owned group already running the museum’s existing café and kiosks, brings its signature offerings to this expanded space.

Andrew Smith, Head of Commercial at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, stated in a March 2024 press release:

“We’re delighted to welcome Colicci to run the new café in the Gardens as part of our Nature + Love project.”

The café forms part of the Kusuma Nature Play destination, enhancing the outdoor family experience.

How Will the Community Garden and Gardens Nursery Enhance Visitor Experience?

A new Community Garden and transformed Gardens Nursery will provide secluded spaces for activities across all ages. Adults can participate in nature-based wellbeing sessions on planting, creativity, and art, while young people will engage in seed bomb creation and practical plant-growing workshops.

The Nursery features new glasshouses, a public boardwalk route, a terrace, and workshop space open to locals for sustainable gardening learning.

As detailed on the museum’s Nature + Love project page, these aim to consolidate gardening facilities, support community outreach, and improve accessibility. The Horniman plans to run the Community Garden with local groups.

What Improvements Are Planned for the Nature Trail?

The 700-800 metre Nature Trail receives upgrades, including ramped access, signposts on local creepy crawlies, and better interpretation. This ensures step-free enjoyment for more visitors, including school groups.

An interactive ‘Animals Everywhere!’ augmented reality trail, developed with Smartify, launches across the gardens. It features animated animals, challenges, and mini-games, offering a free, fun digital layer to the outdoor exploration.

Why Was the Overstuffed Walrus Removed and When Will It Return?

Visitors have missed the museum’s iconic overstuffed walrus since March 2024, when the Natural History Gallery closed for redevelopment. The Victorian taxidermy specimen, lacking typical wrinkles due to overstuffing and displayed since 1901, resides at the gallery’s centre.

Renovations, part of Nature + Love, push the gallery’s reopening to early 2027, leaving another walrus-less year in 2026.

The museum reassures fans that the walrus will return to its central position with refreshed displays exploring humankind’s relationship with nature.

Who Is Funding the Horniman’s Nature + Love Project?

The £10 million Nature + Love project receives support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Kusuma Trust (for Kusuma Nature Play and trail access), Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s Public Bodies Infrastructure Fund, Wolfson Foundation, Oak Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, and The Foyle Foundation.

Museums Minister Baroness Twycross commented:

“I am delighted we have been able to provide increased support for the Horniman to help deliver their Nature + Love project. It is a great example of how our cultural institutions can connect communities with the world around them.”

Stuart McLeod, Director of London and South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, added: “Nature + Love will create inclusive, engaging spaces that offer a deeper connection to our natural heritage.”

What Do Horniman Leaders Say About These Developments?

Michael Salter-Church MBE, Chair of the Horniman, said:

“Opening in the Horniman’s 125th year, these new features in the Gardens will help visitors learn about the natural world and provide new welcoming spaces for everyone to enjoy for years to come.”

Gordon Seabright, Chief Executive, stated:

“We are delighted to reveal a first glimpse of what’s to come at the Horniman as part of our Nature + Love project. The Gardens are a beloved and integral part of the Horniman, and we hope the new attractions opening in 2026 will provide new and familiar visitors with fun and enriching encounters with the precious natural world we all share.”

Kirsten Walker MBE, Director of Collections Care & Estate, noted:

“We have improved accessibility to the Gardens, as well as creating new features – a new play area, family-friendly cafe and AR trail which are set to offer all visitors, at any age, opportunities for interactive outdoor learning and play.”

Background of the Development

The Horniman Museum and Gardens opened in 1901, gifted by tea trader Frederick John Horniman to bring the world to Forest Hill. Its 16-acre gardens, part of the Great North Wood heritage, have long complemented the museum’s 350,000-object collection focused on global cultures and nature.

The Nature + Love project builds on this legacy, addressing accessibility and engagement needs. Renovations to the Natural History Gallery started in early 2024, coinciding with Colicci’s café partnership expansion. Announcements in November 2025 detailed garden openings for summer 2026, tying into the 125th anniversary celebrations on June 27-29.

Predictions: How This Can Affect South London Families and Communities

These garden attractions can increase family visits by providing free, accessible outdoor play and learning spaces, filling the gap left by indoor closures. Local communities may benefit from workshop access and events, fostering sustainable gardening skills and wellbeing activities.

School groups could utilise the step-free trail and AR experiences for educational outings, enhancing nature education. The café and play area’s proximity might boost dwell time, supporting the local economy through increased footfall.