Victorian south-east London was much more interesting than most other parts of the capital thanks to tea trader Frederick John Horniman, who wished to ‘bring the world to Forest Hill’, bringing us the Horniman Museum. He started collecting specimens and artefacts of natural history and culture from all over the world to create his own museum in the late 1800s. The present museum opened in 1901 and the 130-year-old over-stuffed walrus is still its best-known attraction! See our Museums guide for more things to see and do.

Horniman Museum, 100 London Rd, London SE23 3PQ