Horniman Museum's new gallery to open in February

The Horniman Museum is set to open its new Nature Gallery in February 2027.

The south-east London museum said the fully refurbished space, previously named the Natural History Gallery, had been reimagined to celebrate the variety of life on earth and explore humankind's place within, and impact on, nature.

The opening is the final part of the museum's £12.5m Nature + Love transformation project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Michael Salter-Church MBE, chairman of the museum, said: "Opening these wonderful new spaces marks the end of the Horniman's extraordinary 125th anniversary year."

The Nature Gallery will combine more than 2,300 objects from the Horniman's collection, including its famously overstuffed walrus, as well as artist commissions and multisensory activities.

These include a ceiling projection showcasing life on the planet, a display on plastic pollution by a Deptford school and a hands-on nature discovery zone focused on local wildlife.

The museum said the gallery explored human connection to and reliance on nature, stories of extinction and climate change, and ideas about how people can shape the planet's future.

It is one of a number of developments at the Horniman as part of its Nature + Love project, and is being supported by a £30,000 crowdfunding campaign, which has raised more than £14,000 to date.

Stuart McLeod, from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said they were proud to support the project.

"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," he said.

Arts minister Ruth Mackenzie added that she was "delighted" to have supported the refurbishment with £1.4m in infrastructure funding.

Gordon Seabright, chief executive at the Horniman, said: "We can't wait for these new spaces to be open so we can welcome everyone to share the wonder and beauty of nature."

The project was also funded by the Wolfson Foundation, Kusuma Trust, Garfield Weston Foundation, the Foyle Foundation and other donors.

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